Psychotherapy Modalities Explained
I incorporate Brain-Based Therapy and Practical Neuroscience to improve attachment, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindful practices, and memory reconsolidation which is faster than just traditional talk therapy.
The Humanistic Approach focuses on individual uniqueness and consciousness. The personality is studied and explored from your personal experience and worldview. The study of self, human potential and Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. "YOU" are the expert in your story, I am the facilitator.
Logotherapy & Existentialism is a philosophical approach seeking deeper meaning, exploring human capacities, helping you examine patterns, while shifting towards purpose, finding meaning in suffering and altruism.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Is influencing brain behavior "neuro," through the use of language, "linguistic," and non-verbal communication to enable a person to "recode" the way the brain responds to stimuli "programming." Neuro-Linguistic Programming: focuses on the relationship between positive patterns and the subjective experiences increasing self-awareness, effective communication, and underlying subconscious mechanisms.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an extensively researched integrative psychotherapy proven "gold standard" for trauma treatment. EMDR utilizes eye movements, bi-lateral sound or pulsations to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain. Traumatic memories are stored in parts of the brain where they can’t be processed then images, sounds and emotions related to the memory become “frozen in time.” EMDR “unfreezes” these memories, as this occurs, the memory loses its emotional charge and becomes less distressing.
Brainspotting is known to harnesses the body’s innate self-scanning capacity using peripheral vision. It is known to release the maladaptive homeostasis modes more commonly known as the fight, flight, or freeze reactions in the body. The eye position, paired with external and internal windows pair with experienced reflexive responses, a "Brainspot" holds an attentional focus on the body’s “felt sense” of that issue or trauma stimulates a deep integrating and healing process within the brain.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an integrative approach that combines systems thinking with the view that mind is made up of subpersonalities each with its own viewpoint and qualities. IFS is composed of three parts: managers, exiles, and firefighters. Each individual part has its own perspective, interests, memories, and viewpoint. The IFS method promotes internal connection, harmony and integration.
Gottman Couples Counseling is an approach that includes a thorough assessment of the couple and integrates research-based interventions with intensive longitudinal studies. Interventions are designed to help couples strengthen their relationships in three primary areas: friendship, conflict management, and creation of shared meaning. The goals of Gottman Method 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.
Attachment Based Therapies looks at the connection between an early attachment experiences with primary caregivers and aims to build or rebuild a trusting, supportive relationship that will help prevent or treat anxiety or depression. An attachment-based approach can be used in individual and couples therapy, it helps clients mend or recover from fractured/dysfunctional family relationships. Those who may benefit from attachment-based therapy include adoptees, children in foster care, children of depressed mothers, alcoholic parents and victims of trauma.
The Polyvagal Theory Explains the biology of safety and danger, the balance between visceral experiences of our own bodies and the voices and faces of the people around us. It explains why a kind face or a soothing tone of voice can dramatically alter the way we feel. It clarifies why knowing that we are seen and heard by the important people in our lives can make us feel calm and safe, and why being ignored or dismissed can precipitate rage reactions or mental collapse. It helped us understand why attuning with another person can shift us out of disorganized and fearful states. In short, Porges’s theory makes us look beyond the effects of fight, flight, freeze and Porges’ put social relationships front and center in our understanding of trauma. It also suggested new approaches to healing that focus on strengthening the body’s system for regulating arousal.” ~Bessel Van Der Kolk
Somatic Experiencing is a form of alternative therapy aimed at relieving the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Complex and/or Developmental Trauma by focusing on the client's perceived body sensations (somatic experiences) An element of SE therapy is "pendulation" -the movement between regulation and dysregulation. This relieves the fight, flight and freeze state while expanding the "window of tolerance." Resources are defined as anything that helps the client's autonomic nervous system return to a regulated state of homeostasis. This might be the memory of someone close to them, a physical item that might ground them in the present moment, or other supportive elements that minimize distress. In the face of arousal, "discharge" is facilitated to allow the client's body to return to a regulated state. The intention of this process is to reinforce the client's inherent capacity to self-regulate and integrate the mind-body connection.
