Therapeutic Techniques

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) explores the relationship between beliefs, thoughts, and feelings, and the behaviors that follow. CBT teaches people that perceptions about the world, self, and others influence their response to life events.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes problem-solving skills and acceptance-based strategies. The premise of DBT is that opposite concepts, such as change and acceptance, can exist simultaneously. The four components of DBT are: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Each component is comprised of skills that can be learned in both individual and/or group therapy, which may include phone coaching.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is one of a variety of targeted trauma-informed techniques. CPT lasts approximately 12 sessions and aims to help people manage distressing thoughts more effectively through activities such as writing an impact statement, reviewing “stuck points”, as well as the corresponding beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors. Clients who engage in CPT are guided by a counselor to gain a deeper understanding of how traumatic experiences can influence the way they think about themselves, others, and the world.

Narrative Therapy is based on the belief that a person’s experiences become his/her personal story, which creates meaning and individual identity. The technique encourages clients to rely on their inner strengths and skills to reduce the impact of negative life experiences.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a goal-oriented therapy that emphasizes a person’s present and future circumstances rather than his or her past experiences. Unlike other treatment modalities, SFBT does not focus on the reason for treatment but rather helps clients identify the skills, resources, and innate abilities needed to achieve a positive outcome.

Reality Therapy is based on the premise that behavior is driven by a client’s choices and focuses on current challenges. The technique encourages problem-solving in the areas of survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. Clinicians practicing reality therapy believe that one of the five psychological needs are not being met and aims to help the client accept his or her current reality or make different choices geared toward improvement.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), formerly Motivational Interviewing (MI), focuses on a person’s motivation to change. The modality targets a person’s negative, self-destructive behaviors, and his or her corresponding willingness to change. The target behavior often falls in the realm of a person’s outlook on health, family life, or social functioning.

*Adapted from GoodTherapy.org

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an eight-phase approach that helps clients process traumatic memories without having to provide details about an specific experience or event (Click here to view a listing of the phases). EMDR is an evidence-based treatment in which I will help you process distressing aspects of your story. I will help you identity negative beliefs about yourself as well as "target" memories, and we will discuss the relationship to your current symptoms. Phases 1-3 of EMDR involve gathering your history, developing coping skills, and setting up the target memory by identifying thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and images associated with the event. Additionally, we will identify an appropriate method for implementing bilateral stimulation (BLS), which is intended to facilitate processing of the event. During Phase 4, reprocessing, I will ask you to notice what comes up as I administer the BLS.

During Phases 5-8, we will pair a positive belief with the target memory once the event no longer causes distress. I believe the main goal of EMDR is to help you, the client, view your traumatic experience from a place of neutrality rather than with an emotional charge. Secondly, EMDR aims to help clients change their internal dialogue and self-perception.

* Adapted from EMDRIA