Types of Therapy Explained in Plain English: No Medical Jargon

3 min read

Ever Googled therapy and felt like you need a dictionary?

"CBT" "Psychodynamic" "DBT" "EMDR"

It sounds like alphabet soup. And when you’re already stressed, the last thing you need is more confusion.

At MindMed, we believe you deserve to know what you’re signing up for.

So let’s break down the most common types of therapy in plain Nigerian English. No big grammar.

1. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Plain English: "Let’s check your thoughts and change the ones making you suffer"

What it is: CBT is about the link between Thoughts → Feelings → Actions.

If your thought is "I will fail this interview", you feel anxious, then you avoid applying. CBT helps you catch that thought and test if it’s true.

What happens in session:

Your therapist asks: "What went through your mind?" "What’s the evidence for and against this thought?" Then you practice new ways to think.

Best for: Anxiety, depression, overthinking, procrastination, panic attacks

Example:

Thought: "If I don’t reply my boss in 2 mins, he’ll fire me" → Anxiety → You can’t sleep

CBT helps you challenge: "Is that true? Has he ever fired someone for that?"

2. Psychodynamic Therapy

Plain English: "Let’s understand how your past is affecting your present"

What it is: This one digs into childhood, relationships, and patterns you don’t even notice. The idea: a lot of what we do now comes from way back.

What happens in session:

More open conversation. "Tell me about your parents" "Why do you think you keep dating the same type of person?"

Best for: Relationship issues, low self-esteem, repeating the same problems, "I don’t know why I feel like this"

Example:

You keep people-pleasing at work. In therapy you realize: "I had to keep my parents happy growing up so I wouldn’t get shouted at."

3. DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy:

Plain English*: "How to handle big emotions without blowing up or shutting down"

What it is: DBT was made for people with very intense emotions. It teaches 4 skills: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Relationship Skills.

What happens in session:

Very practical. You get worksheets and skills to use at the moment. "When I’m angry, do this instead of shouting."

Best for: Mood swings, self-harm thoughts, borderline traits, anger, feeling "too much"

Example:

Instead of blocking everyone and deleting WhatsApp when you’re upset, DBT teaches you: "Breathe, ride the wave, then respond."

4. ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Plain English: "Stop fighting your feelings. Do what matters anyway."

What it is: ACT says you can’t control every thought. Instead, accept the pain and still live by your values. "I’m anxious AND I’ll still go for the interview."

What happens in session:

Lots of exercises and metaphors. "Thoughts are like cars on the road. You don’t have to jump in every one."

Best for: Anxiety, chronic stress, grief, "I’m tired of trying to be positive all the time"

5. EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Plain English: "Therapy to help process trauma so it stops haunting you"

What it is: Used mainly for PTSD and trauma. While you recall a memory, the therapist guides you with eye movements or tapping. It helps your brain "file" the memory properly so it’s less painful.

What happens in session:

You focus on a bad memory while following the therapist’s fingers with your eyes. Sounds weird, but research backs it.

Best for: Trauma, flashbacks, nightmares, accident survivors, assault survivors

6. Solution-Focused Therapy

Plain English: "Less gist about the problem. More action on the solution."

What it is: Short-term. Instead of spending 10 sessions on "why", we ask "what do you want to be different next week?"

What happens in session:

Goal-setting. "On a scale of 1-10, how close are you to your goal? What would make it 1 point higher?"

Best for: Specific problems, work stress, decision making, people who want quick results

7. Family/Relationship Therapy

Plain English: "Let’s fix how we’re talking to each other"

What it is: Not just for married couples. Can be siblings, parent-child, or business partners. The "problem" is the relationship pattern, not one person.

Best for: Communication issues, conflict, marriage counseling

So... Which One Is Right For Me?

Here’s the honest truth: There’s no "best" therapy. There’s "best for you right now".

At MindMed, most of our psychologists use CBT as the base because it’s practical and research-backed. But we blend it.

Example:

Depression + low self-esteem = CBT + Psychodynamic

Anxiety + panic = CBT + ACT

Trauma = EMDR + CBT

It’s not one-size-fits-all.

If your question has been, "Does online really work?” Then you should read our piece on it.

3 Questions To Ask Your Therapist

1. "What type of therapy do you use and why for me?"

2. "How will I know it’s working?"

3. "How long do you think this will take?"

If they can’t explain it in plain English, find someone else.

Final Word From MindMed

Therapy shouldn’t feel confusing. It should feel like talking to someone who gets you and gives you tools.

You don’t need to know the jargon before you start. That’s our job.

At MindMed, we do online therapy from ₦7,000. We’ll explain everything as we go, and pick the approach that fits you.

Our guide on psychiatric hospital vs mental health clinic will help you choose your clinician and decide which one to go to.

Book a Session, or Chat With Us on WhatsApp

Let’s start with a conversation. No pressure.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.