Methods of psychotherapy in France – Source: FF2P
Psychotherapy aims to relieve the discomfort and suffering that everyone may experience at some point in life. Depending on the situation and the individual’s willingness to change, therapy helps move toward a more balanced and targeted state.
Today, there are nearly 400 recognized methods of psychotherapy. But which one should you choose? In Western practice, five major schools dominate.
1. Humanist–Existential Approaches
Examples: Bioenergetic analysis, Transactional Analysis (7%), Psycho-organic therapy, Art Therapy, Gestalt Therapy (7%), Hypnotherapy, NLP Therapy, Psychodrama, Motivational Therapy, Sex Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Transpersonal Psychotherapy.
Emerging in the 1950s, these approaches sought to bring the human dimension back to the center of psychology, in contrast to the more “cold” or scientific traditions such as psychoanalysis and behaviorism.
Key principles include respect for the five main dimensions of human experience:
Physical
Emotional
Cognitive
Social
Spiritual
This school emphasizes respect for individual differences and the right to personal growth. It represents about 50% of psychotherapy practices in France.
2. Dynamic or Analytic Approaches
Examples: Psychoanalysis (12%), Analytic Psychotherapy (face-to-face, 10%).
Founded by Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), this current focuses on:
Libidinal impulses and their repression
The structure of the psyche: Unconscious, Ego (defensive), Superego (values), and Id (instincts)
France has around 5,000 psychoanalysts, with roughly 1,000 officially recognized.
3. Cognitive–Behavioral Approaches
Examples: Classical and Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, Sophrology, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, 12%).
Here, the focus is on the link between thoughts (cognitions) and behaviors (verbal and nonverbal).
The guiding principle: “What matters is not what happens to us, but how we interpret and respond to it.”
Difficulties often arise from distorted thinking and maladaptive perceptions. The therapist’s role is to question the validity of these thought processes and help reshape them for healthier living.
4. Systemic Approaches
Examples: Family Therapy (10%), Systemic Therapy.
This model views individuals, families, and even organizations as systems. The goal is to spark change in the here and now, rather than dwelling on the past, and to break harmful cycles of interaction.
5. Multireference and Integrative Approaches
These methods combine elements of the four main traditions above. The aim is to create a flexible, personalized approach, adapting techniques to the specific needs of each person.
Key Concepts
Consciousness: The ability to subjectively perceive external phenomena (sensations) and internal phenomena (emotions, thoughts).
The Ego: Both the representation and awareness of self. It can be the foundation of personality—or, conversely, an obstacle to deeper personal and spiritual development.
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