Therapeutic Services

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) provides practical skills to better regulate moods and emotions. It also provides tools to better manage high-intensity emotions, such as panic attacks, and crisis situations. DBT also serves as a wonderful intervention for relationship problems and coping with social stress, whether in personal or professional relationships. It provides easy-to-use tools for better communication and boundaries with others. DBT therapy also borrows from ancient wisdom and spiritual traditions by exploring concepts such as pain versus suffering. 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful technique to aid in the relief of trauma symptoms. EMDR is premised on the fact that rapid eye movement provides bilateral stimulation to the brain that enhances the mind’s ability to sit with and healthily process trauma. The bilateral stimulation can also be achieved through tapping techniques such as tapping alternatively on the right and left leg. Some patients prefer to tap on themselves, and others prefer the therapist tap for them. Recent brain imaging studies show changes in brain functioning indicative of less reactivity, less anxiety, and other trauma-related symptoms after EMDR treatment.

Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a wonderful intervention that provides tools and techniques to help a person attain more “psychological flexibility.” Its foundational principle is that at times we must radically accept our thoughts and emotions, but commit to making choices based on our values rather than being governed by negative thoughts and fears. ACT provides tools for self-discovery, allowing one to get more connected to their essence in terms of what they consider important in this life and how to more authentically spend their time here on Earth.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) allows us to take a closer look at the impact of what we call Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) on our emotions and behaviors. CBT allows us to become more aware of repetitive negative thought patterns, and in gaining awareness we are able to catch these thoughts rather than have them take over our emotions or behaviors. In CBT we also learn that not all thoughts are facts, and sometimes our perceptions are distorted or skewed by past experiences or false truths.

Mindfulness is a state of mind in which one is more acutely aware of their thoughts and emotions and can thereby take a more top-down view of their ongoing internal mental events. I often like to say that mindfulness allows us to be more in control of our attention and focus, so that we can more readily step outside of negative states of mind and allow them to pass, rather than being enmeshed and overtaken by them. There are many techniques to attain a state of mindfulness, including mindfulness walking or meditation. I provide many avenues to attain a state of mindfulness, including guided practice within session.