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You do not need to decode therapy acronyms before asking for help. Here is a plain introduction and the questions that reveal what a session would involve.

Therapy acronyms can feel like a secret code. CBT, DBT, ACT and many more are handy shorthand among practitioners, but for someone considering support for the first time they can add to the sense of not knowing where to begin. The good news is that you do not need to decode them before asking for help.

A very brief orientation

Broadly speaking, cognitive behavioural therapy looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions; dialectical behaviour therapy includes skills for managing intense emotions and relationships; and acceptance and commitment therapy explores living alongside difficult inner experiences while moving towards what you value. These are simplified descriptions, and each approach is richer in practice.

Start with the difficulty, not the label

What matters first is what you want help with. Perhaps it is persistent worry, a pattern in relationships, overwhelming feelings or a sense of drifting away from what you care about. Naming that is a far more useful starting point than choosing a method because its initials sound familiar.

Ask what a session would actually look like

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, is also qualified in psychotherapy and works with clients at the Lane Cove clinic. You can ask her to describe what an ordinary session would involve for you. Would you be learning and practising skills? Reflecting on past and present experiences? Trying small tasks between appointments? Noticing how emotions show up physically? An explanation tied to your goals makes it easier to decide whether the approach feels right.

Keeping it collaborative

Your priorities should shape the direction of the work. Share what you hope to understand, what seems hardest to change and the signs that would tell you things are moving. Christine can explain how you will check in on the approach together and where else you can turn if circumstances change. If another service would suit you better, she will say so and can talk through options that may involve your GP.