Therapies - evidence-based or experience-based, and ecclectic counselling
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also includes Theories, Frameworks, and Assessment tools
- about Theories, Therapies, Frameworks, and Assessments
- Theories
- Therapies
- Frameworks
- Assessments
about Theories, Therapies, Frameworks, and Assessments
The psychotherapy and counselling industry is as fragmented as the diet, exercise, medical model, or Information Technology industry which I worked in for 25 years.
So you have to find what best fits your current needs, or which evidence satisfies your needs from formal reviews such as the Australian Psychological Society (APS) review and/or from informal research conducted on your own and/or with the support of a team of trusted professionals: your allies.
Your needs will change over time. So will the evidence that a therapy works or doesn't work for some type of issues such as anxiety or grief or shame or childhood trauma.
For example, by 2024, the APS had already published five editions of The Evidence-based psychological interventions in the treatment of mental disorders, the 4th Ed. in 2018 and the 5th and current edition in 2024 (APS, EPB, 2024 and 2018). Without even considering the content, the mere fact that there is a need for regular review indicates that as in all industries, knowledge evolves and what may not be thought of as an evidence-based therapy today for lack of evidence such trials and studies, may still be very appropriate to your needs. In doubt, consult your trusted allies.
Interested in the APS EPB 2018 and 2024 publications and criticism?
On this page find a list of therapies as highlighted as evidence-based by the (APS, EPB, 2024) together with therapies which were experienced as positive by members of our support group for adult survivors of child abuse as listed on the Healing page. When known, you will also find the art-therapy equivalent.
Underlying most therapies are the theories. Find an overview of the theories underlying these therapies, the frameworks guiding the profession of therapists in Australia, and the assessment tools publicly available to the public.
These lists are not exhaustive and will grow and change over time.
So you have to find what best fits your current needs, or which evidence satisfies your needs from formal reviews such as the Australian Psychological Society (APS) review and/or from informal research conducted on your own and/or with the support of a team of trusted professionals: your allies.
Your needs will change over time. So will the evidence that a therapy works or doesn't work for some type of issues such as anxiety or grief or shame or childhood trauma.
For example, by 2024, the APS had already published five editions of The Evidence-based psychological interventions in the treatment of mental disorders, the 4th Ed. in 2018 and the 5th and current edition in 2024 (APS, EPB, 2024 and 2018). Without even considering the content, the mere fact that there is a need for regular review indicates that as in all industries, knowledge evolves and what may not be thought of as an evidence-based therapy today for lack of evidence such trials and studies, may still be very appropriate to your needs. In doubt, consult your trusted allies.
Interested in the APS EPB 2018 and 2024 publications and criticism?
On this page find a list of therapies as highlighted as evidence-based by the (APS, EPB, 2024) together with therapies which were experienced as positive by members of our support group for adult survivors of child abuse as listed on the Healing page. When known, you will also find the art-therapy equivalent.
Underlying most therapies are the theories. Find an overview of the theories underlying these therapies, the frameworks guiding the profession of therapists in Australia, and the assessment tools publicly available to the public.
These lists are not exhaustive and will grow and change over time.
Theories
For each theory, there is a brief statement on how it might apply in practice in our experience and a link to further details with referenced content.
Disclaimer: The list of theories included below is not exhaustive. If there is a theory you believe is worth adding to the list, make contact so it can be considered. Thank you.
Motivation and Personality theory
The theory originates from Abraham Harold Maslow's research on what drives human motivation. Maslow, an American psychologist, first published his theory in a 1943 article published in the Psychological Review, 50, 370-396.
in practice: The theory identifies and classifies a number of needs, deemed hierarchical, which affect human behaviour and human motivation. For example, a person fearing for their life is unlikely to be motivated to plan for their education path; safety and physiological needs such as access to enough food, water, oxygen to breathe are foundational needs to satisfy first.
The needs highlighted in the theory may be used to increase awareness on, and address the areas of deficiencies and opportunities for growth, relevant to the personal needs of anyone seeking to improve their wellbeing.
Interested in this theory?
The theory originates from Abraham Harold Maslow's research on what drives human motivation. Maslow, an American psychologist, first published his theory in a 1943 article published in the Psychological Review, 50, 370-396.
in practice: The theory identifies and classifies a number of needs, deemed hierarchical, which affect human behaviour and human motivation. For example, a person fearing for their life is unlikely to be motivated to plan for their education path; safety and physiological needs such as access to enough food, water, oxygen to breathe are foundational needs to satisfy first.
The needs highlighted in the theory may be used to increase awareness on, and address the areas of deficiencies and opportunities for growth, relevant to the personal needs of anyone seeking to improve their wellbeing.
Interested in this theory?
the Client-Centered theory
Carl Ransom Rogers, an American psychologist, developed the client-centered theory in the early 1940s. It is the foundation of the person-centered therapy in humanistic psychology.
in practice: Carl Rogers's theory is based on the premise that given the right conditions a person has the natural ability to heal and grow.
In a therapeutical setting, the conditions which were theorised to be both necessary and sufficient to foster psychological growth and therapeutic change include:
Interested in this theory? read more on the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC) website
Natalie Rogers, daughter of Carl Rogers, states "I evolved my psychotherapeutic approach, expanding my father's person-centered philosophy to include the expressive arts." book: The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts as Healing, pXV, 1993.
Interested in this therapy?
Carl Ransom Rogers, an American psychologist, developed the client-centered theory in the early 1940s. It is the foundation of the person-centered therapy in humanistic psychology.
in practice: Carl Rogers's theory is based on the premise that given the right conditions a person has the natural ability to heal and grow.
In a therapeutical setting, the conditions which were theorised to be both necessary and sufficient to foster psychological growth and therapeutic change include:
- Congruence
- Unconditional Positive Regard
- Empathy
Interested in this theory? read more on the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC) website
Natalie Rogers, daughter of Carl Rogers, states "I evolved my psychotherapeutic approach, expanding my father's person-centered philosophy to include the expressive arts." book: The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts as Healing, pXV, 1993.
Interested in this therapy?
the Ego State theory
Ego state theory is most famously attributed to Canadian-born psychiatrist Eric Berne, who developed it in the 1950s and later used it as the foundation for Transactional Analysis as a therapy.
in practice: Berne's model divides human personality into three distinct states: the Parent (further subdivided into the Nurturing parent and the Critical parent), the Adult (reflecting a level of maturity rather than age), and the Child (subdivided into the Wonder child and the Wounded child).
When two people communicate, each thread in the communication comes from either of these states. When a person initiates a thread in an adult state, the respondent may react in a child state rather than respond in a mature adult state.
Understanding which state a person responds from helps improve communication in relationships.
See an example under the Transactional Analysis therapy below.
in our experience
Parts of the Ego State theory was used to re-parent the wounded child in the context of healing Childhood Trauma.
Interested in this theory? read more on Eric Berne official website
Ego state theory is most famously attributed to Canadian-born psychiatrist Eric Berne, who developed it in the 1950s and later used it as the foundation for Transactional Analysis as a therapy.
in practice: Berne's model divides human personality into three distinct states: the Parent (further subdivided into the Nurturing parent and the Critical parent), the Adult (reflecting a level of maturity rather than age), and the Child (subdivided into the Wonder child and the Wounded child).
When two people communicate, each thread in the communication comes from either of these states. When a person initiates a thread in an adult state, the respondent may react in a child state rather than respond in a mature adult state.
Understanding which state a person responds from helps improve communication in relationships.
See an example under the Transactional Analysis therapy below.
in our experience
Parts of the Ego State theory was used to re-parent the wounded child in the context of healing Childhood Trauma.
Interested in this theory? read more on Eric Berne official website
the Attachment theory
The Pioneers: John Bowlby and later, Mary Ainsworth
"His trilogy Attachment (Bowlby 1969), Separation (Bowlby 1973) and Loss (Bowlby 1980) form the foundation stones for what has come to be known as attachment theory" (p326) "Bowlby’s co-creator of attachment theory was the Canadian psychologist Mary Ainsworth"(p326) The trilogy is published as one volume John Bowlby’s A Secure Base. Together with Mary Ainsworth’s Patterns of Attachment (1978), they remain foundational in the attachment literature.
in practice: Attachment styles fall into four categories: secure, and three ‘insecure’ types, anxious, avoidant and disorganised. Long-term studies show that attachment styles in infancy, while far from irreversible, predict later character traits" (pp 326-327)
Becoming aware of one's attachment style helps in addressing underlying issues stemming from early childhood with the aim of improving relationships with others.
Interested in Holmes' review? Holmes Jeremy, BJPsych Advances (2024), vol. 30, 326–328 doi: 10.1192/bja.2023.53
The Pioneers: John Bowlby and later, Mary Ainsworth
"His trilogy Attachment (Bowlby 1969), Separation (Bowlby 1973) and Loss (Bowlby 1980) form the foundation stones for what has come to be known as attachment theory" (p326) "Bowlby’s co-creator of attachment theory was the Canadian psychologist Mary Ainsworth"(p326) The trilogy is published as one volume John Bowlby’s A Secure Base. Together with Mary Ainsworth’s Patterns of Attachment (1978), they remain foundational in the attachment literature.
in practice: Attachment styles fall into four categories: secure, and three ‘insecure’ types, anxious, avoidant and disorganised. Long-term studies show that attachment styles in infancy, while far from irreversible, predict later character traits" (pp 326-327)
Becoming aware of one's attachment style helps in addressing underlying issues stemming from early childhood with the aim of improving relationships with others.
Interested in Holmes' review? Holmes Jeremy, BJPsych Advances (2024), vol. 30, 326–328 doi: 10.1192/bja.2023.53
the Polyvagal theory
Origins: Stephen Porges
Description: Content is coming soon
Origins: Stephen Porges
Description: Content is coming soon
the Analytical Psychology as a theory
Origins: Carl Jung
Description: Content is coming soon
Origins: Carl Jung
Description: Content is coming soon
the Id - Ego - SuperEgo theory
Origins: Freud
Description: Content is coming soon
Origins: Freud
Description: Content is coming soon
the Family Systems theory
Origins: a psychological framework, originally developed by psychiatrist Dr. Murray Bowen, that views a family as an interconnected emotional unit. It posits that individuals cannot be understood in isolation; instead, a person's behavior, functioning, and mental health are deeply shaped by the roles, patterns, and communication dynamics of their family system. Bowen family systems theory is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the unit’s complex interactions. It is the nature of a family that its members are intensely connected emotionally. Often people feel distant or disconnected from their families, but this is more feeling than fact. https://www.thebowencenter.org/introduction-eight-concepts
Description: Content is coming soon
Origins: a psychological framework, originally developed by psychiatrist Dr. Murray Bowen, that views a family as an interconnected emotional unit. It posits that individuals cannot be understood in isolation; instead, a person's behavior, functioning, and mental health are deeply shaped by the roles, patterns, and communication dynamics of their family system. Bowen family systems theory is a theory of human behavior that views the family as an emotional unit and uses systems thinking to describe the unit’s complex interactions. It is the nature of a family that its members are intensely connected emotionally. Often people feel distant or disconnected from their families, but this is more feeling than fact. https://www.thebowencenter.org/introduction-eight-concepts
Description: Content is coming soon
Therapies
Disclaimer:
The list of therapies included below is not exhaustive and currently in early stages of development.
If there is a therapy you believe is worth adding to the list, make contact so it can be considered. Thank you.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Expressive Art Therapies
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Re-processing
Exposure Therapy
Flash Technique
Mindfulness
Narrative Therapy
Process-Oriented Psychology
Somatic Experiencing® (SE™)
Psychodrama and Relational Repair
Transactional Analysis therapy
Eric Berne developed transactional analysis as a method for studying interactions between individuals based on the identification of the ego states behind each and every transaction.[...]An example is as follows:
Agent’s Adult: “Do you know where my cuff links are?” (note that this stimuli is directed at the Respondent's Adult).
Respondent’s Child: “You always blame me for everything!”
This is one the classic crossed transactions that occurs in marriage. Instead of the Respondent’s Adult responding with “I think they’re on the desk”, it is the Respondent’s Child that responds back.
The ability to identify which ego states are involved in specific communication with others, especially in intimate relationships, such as in the above example, helps to understand the dynamics, and address the underlying issues.
Life Script is a core concept in Eric Berne's TA theory, as an unconscious life narrative formed in early childhood and guiding adult life.
in practice: Someone's lifescript can be worked on through a powerful Art Therapy activity and analysis of the same name.
Interested in the potential of Art Therapy?
Interested in TA as a therapy? access the International Transactional Analysis Association (ITAA) official website
Walk-Talk Therapy
Psychoanalysis find the right term for Freud's therapy
Analytical Psychology
Frameworks
Disclaimer:
The list of frameworks/standards included below is not exhaustive and currently in very early stages of development.
It includes such frameworks which I.T.Matters(Aus) are aware of as guiding the counselling approaches in Australia.
If you believe a framework has been missed for the Australian context, make contact so it can be considered. Thank you.
The National Standards for Mental Health Services (2010)
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A national framework for recovery-oriented mental health services, 2013
access official website
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Assessments
Disclaimer:
The list of assessment tools included below is definitely not exhaustive and currently in very early stages of development.
It includes the assessment tools which I.T.Matters(Aus) are aware of as publicly available to the public for self-assessment, with professional guidance if necessary.
If you believe an assessment tool has been missed for the Australian context, make contact so it can be considered. Thank you.
DVSAT: Domestic Violence Self-Assessment Tool