Treatments/Services

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a structured evidence-based therapy that requires the patient to focus on their trauma memories, while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (eye movements; auditory stimulation; tactile stimulation). This is associated with the reduction of the vividness of the images, emotions, and sensations associated with trauma memories.

EMDR is grounded in the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model of how memories are stored adaptively, or maladaptively in the case of traumatic memories. EMDR allows trauma memories to get reprocessed in memory are adaptively.

EMDR is appropriate for people of all ages, and has even been effective for preverbal/nonverbal patients. Proponents of EMDR believe that most mental health concerns (e.g. substance abuse, mood disorders, eating disorders) are an expression and/or attempt to cope with the trauma that is at its core. Thus, EMDR can benefit numerous conditions. Research indicates it can be delivered effectively online, in addition to face-to-face therapy sessions.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that treats issues and boosts happiness by modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. CBT focuses on solutions, encouraging patients to challenge distorted cognitions and change destructive patterns of behavior.

CBT rests on the idea that thoughts and perceptions influence behavior. Feeling distressed, in some cases, may distort one’s perception of reality. CBT aims to identify harmful thoughts, assess whether they are an accurate depiction of reality, and if they are not, employ strategies to challenge and overcome them.

CBT is appropriate for people of all ages, including children, adolescents, and adults. Evidence has mounted that CBT can benefit numerous conditions, such as major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, OCD, and many others. Research also indicates that CBT can be delivered effectively online, in addition to face-to-face therapy sessions.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a time-limited, focused, evidence-based approach to treat mood disorders. The main goal of IPT is to improve the quality of a client’s interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce their distress. IPT provides strategies to resolve problems within four key areas. First, it addresses interpersonal deficits, including social isolation or involvement in unfulfilling relationships. Second, it can help patients manage unresolved grief—if the onset of distress is linked to the death of a loved one, either recent or past. Third, IPT can help with difficult life transitions like retirement, divorce, or moving to another city. Fourth, IPT is recommended for dealing with interpersonal disputes that emerge from conflicting expectations between partners, family members, close friends, or coworkers.

IPT was originally developed to treat major depressive disorder. It’s also used effectively to treat eating disorders, perinatal depression, substance addiction, dysthymia, and other mood disorders—including bipolar disorder. IPT differs from other traditional psychodynamic approaches in that it examines current rather than past relationships, and recognizes—but does not focus on—internal conflicts. The practice differs from cognitive and behavioral therapy approaches because it addresses maladaptive thoughts and behaviors only as they apply to interpersonal relationships. IPT aims to change relationship patterns rather than the associated depressive symptoms, as well as target relationship difficulties that exacerbate these symptoms. IPT is less directive than cognitive behavioral approaches—focusing on the patient’s specified target areas without dwelling on his or her personality traits.

Interventions are designed to help couples strengthen their relationships in three primary areas: friendship, conflict management, and creation of shared meaning. Couples learn to replace negative conflict patterns with positive interactions and to repair past hurts. 

The goals of Gottman Method Couples Therapy are to disarm conflicting verbal communication, increase intimacy, respect, and affection, remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy in conflicting situations, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.

The term “family of origin” specifically refers to the small unit that cared for you as a child. Your family of origin has a considerable impact on your development. The way you were raised affects every aspect of your future. That’s why it’s often helpful to consider your family of origin if you’re working through trauma, mental health concerns, or similar issues.

Family of origin work with a trained psychologist goes beyond the scope of asking yourself questions, giving you the understanding and emotional support you need as you delve into family of origin issues. Therapeutic work can provide introspection as you learn more about your own thoughts and behaviors; aiding you to move beyond any unhealthy relationships, ideas, or belief systems, you may want to question your beliefs. 

Motivational interviewing is a therapeutic method that aids people in resolving ambivalent feelings and insecurities by identifying the internal motivation they need to change their behavior. It is a practical, empathetic, and short-term therapy approach that takes into consideration how difficult it is to make life changes.

Motivational interviewing is often used to address addiction, and the management of physical health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. This intervention helps people become motivated to change the behaviors that are preventing them from making healthier choices. 

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. DBT specifically focuses on providing therapeutic skills in four key areas. First, mindfulness focuses on improving an individual’s ability to accept and be present in the current moment. Second, distress tolerance is geared toward increasing a person’s tolerance of negative emotion, rather than trying to escape from it. Third, emotion regulation covers strategies to manage and change intense emotions that are causing problems in a person’s life. Fourth, interpersonal effectiveness consists of techniques that allow a person to communicate with others in a way that is assertive, maintains self-respect, and strengthens relationships.

DBT treatment typically consists of individual therapy sessions and DBT skills groups. Individual therapy sessions consist of one-on-one contact with a trained therapist, ensuring that all therapeutic needs are being addressed. The individual therapist will help the patient stay motivated, apply the DBT skills within daily life, and address obstacles that might arise over the course of treatment.

As its name suggests, DBT is influenced by the philosophical perspective of dialectics: balancing opposites. The therapist consistently works with the individual to find ways to hold two seemingly opposite perspectives at once, promoting balance and avoiding black and white—the all-or-nothing styles of thinking. In service of this balance, DBT promotes a both-and rather than an either-or outlook. The dialectic at the heart of DBT is acceptance and change.

Unlike traditional psychology that focuses more on the causes and symptoms of mental illnesses and emotional disturbances, positive psychology emphasizes traits, thinking patterns, behaviors, and experiences that are forward-thinking and can help improve the quality of a person’s day-to-day life. These may include optimism, spirituality hopefulness, happiness, creativity, perseverance, justice, and the practice of free will. It is an exploration of one’s strengths, rather than one’s weaknesses. The goal of positive psychology is not to replace those traditional forms of therapy that center on negative experiences, but instead to expand and give more balance to the therapeutic process.

Positive psychology is sometimes referred to as “the science of happiness.” One of the questions positive psychologists try to address is: “Can a person be happy and realistic at the same time?” While acknowledging the problems of the world and of the individual, positive psychologists believe one can still lead a productive, meaningful, and satisfying life. The goal is to minimize negativity in one’s thinking and behavior, to develop a more optimistic attitude that will enhance, rather than disrupt one’s social, professional, and spiritual life. Positive therapists and counselors use a variety of exercises and interventions to help their clients become more self-aware and identify their own positive traits and strengths.

Lifestyle therapy deals with lifestyle management and includes: behavioral and dietary modifications, exercise, stress management, and addiction control. Lifestyle therapy is similar to life coaching in that therapists help clients identify goals and the obstacles they are facing. Additionally, it involves guidance and support, while also placing a great deal of emphasis on accountability, enabling people to do more than they might on their own.  Lifestyle therapy diverges from coaching in that it involves some examination of your life history of ideas and beliefs. This is crucial as it facilitates garnering deeper understanding of your lifestyle choices, resulting in longer lasting results and change. The goal is to guide and help you help yourself to achieve your optimum state of being through self-improvement in all areas of your life. There is an evaluation of body, mind, emotions and spirit wherever possible in an atmosphere of full acceptance and understanding in an atmosphere that is supportive, warm and friendly. You will learn to free yourself of unwanted habits, addictions, emotional eating and excess weight and gain more energy and an appreciation of yourself and life by making responsible choices.