Types of Therapy
My Approach
I take an eclectic approach to my counseling practice, meaning that I adapt each session to the needs, treatment goals, and expectations or motivations of each client. This approach allows me to be flexible and adapt to each client or family. I am able to pull from a variety of different therapeutic modalities to create the best set of therapeutic tools and strategies for each client. Below are the main therapeutic modalities that I pull from for each session.
Trauma-Informed Approach
Trauma-Informed Therapy is not a specific intervention or approach but rather tailoring each intervention utilized in the context of an individual's trauma history, triggers, and specific needs. Trauma-Informed clinicians promote a space that is physically and emotionally safe, collaboration between client and therapist, transparency in communication, and competency in best practices for working with clients who have experienced trauma. Taking a Trauma-Informed Approach to therapy has shown to be highly beneficial for children, teens, and adults as it can address issues of guilt and shame that trauma survivors often carry. Trauma-Informed Therapy is utilized even if client's are not coming to therapy for anything relating to a trauma as it is used to provide emotional safety in each session and does not harm individuals who have not experienced traumatic experiences.
Client-Centered Therapy
Client-Centered Therapy or Person-Centered Therapy is a non-directive therapeutic model where the client is an equal part of the therapeutic process with the clinician. Client-Centered Therapy is often utilized with individuals who struggle with anxiety, depression, other mood-disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder. This approach works to provide individuals with a space where they can reach a more attuned and realistic view of themselves and the world around them. Clinician's in this therapeutic model utilize genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy to provide support to the client.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is a common form of talk therapy that has shown to be effective in treating a variety of different challenges, including anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, and more. CBT focuses on how our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes impact our emotions and behaviors and providing coping strategies for many different problem areas. CBT works to change negative or unhelpful thinking patterns and is often seen as the first step in treatment for many individuals.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or DBT is another form of talk therapy that was adapted from CBT for individuals who experience emotions in a very intense way. DBT can be used for a wide variety of challenges, including anxiety disorders, depression, suicidal thoughts or self-harm behaviors, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and more. DBT focuses on helping individuals accept the reality of their lives for what it is and learn strategies for changing their lives.
Play Therapy
Since children primarily communicate through play, Play Therapy is seen as one of the main therapies utilized with children struggling with social, emotional, or behavioral challenges. This can include children going through significant life transitions such as parental divorce, children showing signs of distress, children demonstrating behavioral problems, and more. Play Therapy typically takes place in a playroom or office setting that has a variety of toys and games that children can utilize to act out their feelings or experiences. This space is typically free from strict rules and allows the child to be spontaneous and free in expressing their emotions. Play Therapy can teach children to express their emotions or thoughts in healthy and appropriate ways, learn about others feelings, learn about problem solving, and more.
Expressive Arts Therapy
Expressive Arts Therapy combines psychology and the creative process to help individuals initiate positive change in their lives. Expressive Arts Therapy is utilized with both children and adults struggling with a variety of different challenges including depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, and more. It often includes a variety of different art forms including drawing, painting, sculpting, journaling, poetry, listening to or playing music, reading, and is often combined with a variety of other therapeutic modalities such as CBT, Mindfulness, or DBT. Expressive Arts Therapy helps us to better express and describe our emotions that we may not have words for otherwise.
Equine-Assisted Therapy
Equine-Assisted Therapy is a form of therapy that brings children (age 6+) and adults together with a mental health professional and horses or other equines (Donkeys, Mules, etc.) to help individuals or families build coping strategies, communication skills, confidence, self-awareness, empathy, among other things. Horses are known to be quite attuned with the humans around them and are often seen as being a 'mirror' of the emotions that an individual may show, making them an excellent addition to the therapeutic space. Clinicians often pair Equine-Assisted Therapy with other forms of therapy such as Narrative Therapy, DBT, CBT, and others. Equine-Assisted Therapy has shown to be beneficial for individuals struggling with depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, addictions, eating disorders, and more.