What Is Therapy?
(OT, PT, SLP, and Mental Health)

Globally, at least 1 in 3 people has a health condition that may benefit from therapy.¹ In the simplest sense, therapy is guided healing in which a trained therapist works alongside you to tackle a difficult health challenge. 

Because there are so many different types of physical and mental health challenges, therapy comes in many forms. This article will help you understand the various types of therapy, the benefits of each, and where to find therapists who provide the kind of therapy you’re looking for.

A simple definition of therapy 

The word “therapy” is derived from the Greek word therapon, which at its root means: a companion in service.

By its very definition, therapy is not a standalone protocol or checklist, therapy is an active healing process you undertake with another human being. Because many health challenges are deeply complex—and because therapy can literally change the way you function—certain forms of therapy require a clinical companion who is licensed by your state. This ensures you receive the same regulated protection you would expect from a primary care physician (or any other healthcare provider).

Who are therapists? 

There are many types of licensed therapists, but we can divide them into two main categories: “talk” therapists and “doing” therapists. We cover these categories more in-depth in our post on Types of Therapy and Therapists. But for our purposes here, the most common types of therapists are:

“Talk” therapists

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

• School Counselor

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)

• Psychiatrist

• Clinical and Counseling Psychologist

“Doing” therapists

• Physical Therapist (PT)

• Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)

• Occupational Therapist (OT)

• Massage Therapist

• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

• Creative Arts Therapist

• Recreation Therapist (RT)

Types of therapy

Several types of therapy have arisen over the years to help people meet a variety of needs. These range from ultra-complex clinical therapies (like drug cancer therapy) to more laid-back, informal therapies (like retail therapy—a.k.a. shopping with friends).

The types of therapy done with a licensed healthcare professional are subject to very strict, very high standards of evidence and safety. Unregulated types of therapy, on the other hand, may help you blow off steam—but they do not have the same power to create lasting change (and may even have downsides).

While clinical therapy is often delivered by the licensed therapists listed in the section above, it can sometimes be delivered by other types of licensed healthcare practitioners, including physicians. In our blog post on Different Types of Therapy and Therapists, we provide a detailed overview of all the different forms of therapy delivered by licensed therapists, specifically. But we wanted this post to present a wider view of therapy, which is why the chart below includes types of therapy that are not provided by therapists. We’ve also included some of the most common unregulated therapy options as well as emerging digital options for both regulated and unregulated therapy (e.g., digital therapeutics and AI chatbots).

How does therapy work? 

One of the biggest reasons therapy works is something called the therapeutic alliance², which is just a fancy way of describing the relationship you have with your therapist. Therapy treatment is much more effective when you have a strong bond with the person guiding you through it.³

We are still in the early stages of learning just how powerful this connection is. However, recent research involving brain scans⁴ shows that during therapy, the brainwaves of a patient and their provider can actually sync up and match rhythms! This is called interpersonal synchrony. Emerging science⁵ also suggests that when this brain-syncing happens, it helps create a stronger bond between a patient and their therapist (which we already know leads to better results). This effect has been observed in music therapy, pain therapy, and even patient-doctor conversations about prescriptions.

A strong therapeutic alliance sets the perfect stage for healing. Once you have that foundation of trust, your therapist can apply different techniques based on your specific health challenge. In some cases, there is one clear “gold-standard” treatment that works best. For example:

• For a specific form of dizziness called BPPV: A therapist can do a special movement (called the Epley Maneuver) that literally shifts tiny “stones” inside your inner ear canals to stop the feeling of spinning.⁶

• For bad sleep: Research has proven over and over that a type of treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia is the absolute best path to address this problem.⁷

But for most health challenges, there isn’t one perfect answer. Instead, there are often many paths to recovery.⁸ For example, if you have neck pain, your therapist might apply hands-on manual therapy, guide you through active exercises, or use a mix of both.

On average, research⁹ shows that these different options are equally effective. But because every person is unique, individual patients may respond very differently to the exact same treatment.¹⁰ One person might thrive on an active exercise plan, while another gets better mostly through hands-on techniques.

That’s why the most important step in your therapy journey is talking with your therapist about your personal goals and preferences. Together, you can look at what we here at OT Potential call a “menu of evidence-based options” and pick the approach that you believe is right for you!¹¹

And, this isn’t just about comfort. Research¹² shows that when you believe in your treatment plan and feel involved in creating it, you’re actually more likely to get better.

How do we measure whether therapy is working? 

Speaking of getting better: because there are so many types of therapy to address all the different types of health challenges, there are of course many ways to measure therapy’s effectiveness. But, as licensed therapy providers, the most important question we consider is:

Is therapy helping you meet your health goals?

No one understands your health and your needs better than you, so this is our north star. 

One of the core measures all therapists can use to help you track this is called the PROMIS Global Health-10.

We also have hundreds of specialized assessments. We divide these into two categories:

1. Assessments that measure your overall health, and

2. Assessments that measure condition-specific indicators of progress.

Measuring your progress is important to us, because it helps us make sure therapy is working for you. It also gives you a chance to share valuable feedback^13–14, so we can adjust your plan together.

While therapy often requires a lot of time and effort on your part, one of its biggest benefits compared to other treatment paths is how cost-effective it can be. By addressing problems early, therapy can help you avoid more expensive care down the road. In fact, therapy has been shown to reduce:

• Unnecessary surgeries¹⁵

• Trips to the ER and, in some cases, re-hospitalizations

• The need for long-term pain medications

Metrics like these are often tracked at the organizational level to show the financial upside of therapy.

Wait! Can’t I just take a pill? 

There is no way around it: therapy often involves hard work. 

There are times when you can visit a therapist and they do have a quick fix for you. But, the vast majority of therapy work involves teaching your brain and body a new way of doing things. This is exactly why having a companion is so important. They help you navigate when to keep pushing and when to rest, all while making sure the care you receive is evidence-based and effective.

But, here’s the incredible upside: therapy often comes with what we call “side-benefits.” If you go to sleep therapy, for example, you will likely sleep better at night. But you may also find lots of benefits during the day, like more energy, a boost in your mood, or even improved mental health symptoms!¹⁶

Pills are amazing inventions—thank goodness for them! But, for many health challenges, there simply is not a long-term chemical fix. A pill can’t encourage a person learning to walk again, help a child communicate their first words, or accompany you through a difficult diagnosis. Therapy often works alongside medication to fill that gap.

Plus, while taking a pill might seem easy, many common medications come with side effects that can add up over time, especially with long-term use.¹⁷ After a while, those side effects could turn into yet another problem to manage.

Find a therapist near you

Okay! Now that you know all about therapy and its benefits, you might be ready to find a therapist near you. Luckily, you shouldn’t have to look far. There are about 2 million therapists in the U.S. and approximately 6 million around the globe.

To make finding the right care simple, we built a fully integrated Therapy Directory that allows you to filter providers across all core discipline. Use our directory below to search by primary profession, focus area and more:

Conclusion

Therapy, in all of its forms, comes back to the simple idea that you don’t have to face your toughest health challenges alone.

Whether you’re working through difficult emotions with a psychologist or rebuilding strength and mobility with a physical therapist, the true value of therapy is having an expert companion at your side to guide you, support you, and advocate for you along the way.

That companion is at the heart of what makes therapy so effective. And, it’s what separates clinically proven, evidence-based treatment from the sea of unregulated wellness options that may promise healing, but don’t offer the accountability to back it up.

When you’re ready, that companion is out there waiting for you!

References

1. Cieza A, Causey K, Kamenov K, Hanson SW, Chatterji S, Vos T. Global estimates of the need for rehabilitation based on the Global Burden of Disease study 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2021;396(10267):2006-2017. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32340-0

2. Wampold BE, Flückiger C. The alliance in mental health care: conceptualization, evidence and clinical applications. World Psychiatry. 2023;22(1):25-41. doi:10.1002/wps.21035

3. Flückiger C, Del Re AC, Wampold BE, Horvath AO. The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy (Chic). 2018;55(4):316-340. doi:10.1037/pst0000172

4. Adel L, Moses L, Irvine E, Greenway KT, Dumas G, Lifshitz M. A systematic review of hyperscanning in clinical encounters. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2025;176:106248. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106248

5. Ellingsen DM, Isenburg K, Jung C, et al. Dynamic brain-to-brain concordance and behavioral mirroring as a mechanism of the patient-clinician interaction. Sci Adv. 2020;6(43):eabc1304. Published 2020 Oct 21. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abc1304

6. Walter K. What Is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo? JAMA. 2026;335(22):1994. doi:10.1001/jama.2026.2507

7. Morin CM, Buysse DJ. Management of Insomnia. N Engl J Med. 2024;391(3):247-258. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp2305655

8. Powell JK, McDevitt A, Cook C. Many Paths to Recovery: The Case for Treatment Pluralism. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2026;56(6):331-333. doi:10.2519/jospt.2026.13992

9. Cook, C. E., O’Halloran, B., Clewley, D., Keefe, F., Green, C., & McDevitt, A. (2026). Specific and shared mechanisms mediating pain intensity and functional outcomes in chronic neck pain. Pain Management, 1–10.

10. Powell JK, McDevitt A, Cook C. Many Paths to Recovery: The Case for Treatment Pluralism. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2026;56(6):331-333. doi:10.2519/jospt.2026.13992

11. S. Sabadis, R. F. Childs, J. L. Young, and C. E. Cook. Patient Expectations as Predictors: Understanding Patient-Reported Outcomes in Musculoskeletal Conditions. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice31 (2025): 1-11.

12. Sepucha KR, Atlas SJ, Chang Y, et al. Informed, Patient-Centered Decisions Associated with Better Health Outcomes in Orthopedics: Prospective Cohort Study. Med Decis Making. 2018;38(8):1018-1026. doi:10.1177/0272989X18801308

13. Barkham M, De Jong K, Delgadillo J, Lutz W. Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM) and Feedback: Research Review and Recommendations. Psychother Res. 2023;33(7):841-855. doi:10.1080/10503307.2023.2181114

14. Lockwood KJ, Porter J. Effectiveness of Hospital-Based Interventions by Occupational Therapy Practitioners on Reducing Readmissions: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses. Am J Occup Ther. 2022;76(1):7601180050. doi:10.5014/ajot.2022.048959

15. Skou ST, Poulsen E, Bricca A, et al. Benefits and Harms of Interventions With Surgery Compared to Interventions Without Surgery for Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2022;52(6):312-344. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.11075

16. Scott AJ, Webb TL, Martyn-St James M, Rowse G, Weich S. Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Sleep Med Rev. 2021;60:101556. doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101556

17. Bicket MC, Bateman BT. Long-Term Opioid Therapy for Pain: What Is Known About Harms—and Still Not Known About Benefits. JAMA. 2025;334(12):1057–1058. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.13225