Treatment Approaches
Therapy is on of many paths to self-improvement, change and healing. Part of what I love about this work and what transpires in and because of therapy, is that it both art and science. Each practitioner selects and masters approaches that have gone through such rigorous research and testing they are awarded the label "evidence-based". Each practitioner differs as they integrate approaches that speak to them both professionally and personally. These are mine.
Psychodynamic Therapy
The goal of psychodynamic therapy is to recognize negative patterns of behavior and feelings that are rooted in past experiences and resolve them. This type of therapy often uses open-ended questions and free association so that people have the opportunity to discuss whatever is on their minds. The therapist then works with a person to sift through these thoughts and identify unconscious patterns of negative behavior or feelings and how they have been caused or influenced by past experiences and unresolved feelings. By bringing these associations to the person’s attention they can learn to overcome the unhelpful behaviors and feelings which they caused.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem solving. It’s goal is to change patterns of thinking or behavior that are behind people’s difficulties, and so change the way they feel.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
DBT is heavily based on CBT with one big exception: it emphasizes validation or accepting uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and behaviors instead of struggling with them. By having an person come to terms with the troubling thoughts, emotions or behaviors that they struggle with, change no longer appears impossible and we can work to create a gradual plan for recovery. The four primary skill areas of focus are emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness.
www.linehaninstitute.org
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
ACT is the “third wave” of behavioral therapy (along with DBT and CBT) that uses mindfulness skills to develop psychological flexibility and helps clarify and direct value-guided behavior. ACT, pronounced “act” (not by its initials A-C-T) is a directive and experiential form of therapy. Act does not see people has damaged for flawed and does not define unwanted experiences as “symptoms” or “problems” but resolves to define the function and context of behavior to determine its “workability” in creating a rich and meaningful life.
Family Systems Therapy
The Family Systems Theory suggestions that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another, but rather as a part of their family. The family is understood as an “emotional unit” and uses system thinking to describe the complex interactions. While people often feel distant or disconnected from their family, it is more of a feeling than a fact. Family’s so profoundly affect their member’s thoughts, feelings and actions. Therapy can help people differentiate their true selves from this system as well as learn to navigate it more effectively.
www.thebowencenter.org
Eye Movement De-Sensitivation & Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is an evidenced based psychotherapy treatment that is effective at resolving emotional difficulties caused by disturbing, difficult or frightening life experiences. EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information, so that following the intervention a person no longer relieves the images, sounds, and feelings when the event is brought to mind. THe person will still remember what happened but it is in a less distressing way.
www.emdria.org