Treatment Approaches
I use a blend of evidence-based techniques that work together or on their own to fit my clients’ individual needs. These include:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy)
Originally designed to treat trauma, EMDR is now shown to be effective for many different conditions, including anxiety, chronic pain, substance abuse, and adverse childhood experiences/painful life experiences. Based on over 30 years of research from Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR uses the brain’s inherent adaptive ability to reprocess information that has been “frozen” in raw form in the central nervous system due to trauma or other painful experiences. The reprocessing of the information will allow you to have a new, more constructive perspective of the trauma/painful event or events, which can greatly decrease your distress and improve functioning in your daily life.
I am trained in EMDR, and I will complete advanced training in the summer of 2020. More information about EMDR and how it works can be found on the EMDRIA website.
MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction)
Stress is part of our everyday lives, and we can learn to handle it productively, rather than feeling beaten down by it. I use principles and techniques from MBSR, an 8-week program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, to teach clients how to find new ways of responding to unpleasant situations in their lives. These include using principles such as non-judging, patience, non-striving, compassion for self and others, and beginner’s mind. Using small exercises of mindfulness and meditation, you can begin to feel less stressed, anxious, depressed, and to find new options when responding to challenging relationships or life situations.
I am a graduate of the MBSR program, and I have had a regular mindfulness meditation practice for the last 20 years. I have experience with week-long silent meditation retreats that have helped me to deepen my practice and understanding of how to quiet and train the mind to improve mental health.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
CBT focuses clients on identifying inaccurate thought patterns which lead to or worsen anxiety, depression, and stress. It is based on the premise that our thoughts lead to our emotions, and then to our behavior. When we are stressed in any way, our thoughts often become inaccurate, leading to problems with mood or issues with others. You can learn to identify these inaccuracies, and then to challenge and replace them with thoughts that are more accurate. This leads to improved mood states and healthier behaviors.