Hi, and welcome to the therapeutic ideology supermarket. On your right we have our widely popular CBT section. Here you will find a lot of worksheets and a lot of debating your core, irrational beliefs. CBT is the "logical," "rational" therapy. Or at least CBT proponents like to tell themselves that. Here, your feelings will be put on trial and each testimony from the prosecution and defense will be analyzed.

To your left, we have the second most popular option, DBT. DBT requires a lot of meditation and focus. There's often a lot of discussion and worksheets but there is not much of a heated debate occurring as much as something called "acceptance."

In the back, you will find our small psychoanalysis section. This is our most controversial section and is generally practiced only by older psychiatrists. The newer wave of mental health professionals are quick to dismiss psychoanalysis, if they even know what it is.

There are, of course, several other methods that are used sparingly and lie on the fringes of mental health care located throughout the store.

Thank you for your visit! We hope to see you again.

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So, to actually attempt to answer your question... I think it largely depends on what kind of view you subscribe to. However, no one approach can satisfy everyone... that's why there are so many different kinds of therapy!

Being supportive in the right kind of way takes a lot of work and practice. Look at these therapists who go to school, get a Master's or Ph.D., and are still horrible at being... even remotely helpful. I've certainly had some therapists like that, anyway.

Maybe the best approach is to be flexible and willing to amend your approach given the circumstances and persons involved? And being genuine, no matter what approach you go with...