Psychotherapy Modalities Explained

As an Integrative Therapist, I blend cutting-edge theories of human functioning, attachment, neuroscience and psychotherapy, grounded in extensive developmental research. Experience true integration in counseling, where we unite every aspect of your being - from the emotional and cognitive to the behavioral, physiological, and spiritual dimensions. Elevate your well-being by embracing a holistic neurocounseling approach tailored to you.  

Adaptive Disclosure is a therapeutic technique designed for combat veterans to facilitate safe processing, disclosure, and overcome neurobiological and physiological aspects of traumatic experiences at each veteran's unique needs and pace (window of tolerance), ensuring comfort, adaptability while building resilience throughout the healing process.  Grounded in trauma-informed principles, Adaptive Disclosure empowers combat veterans to restore control, integrate their experiences, and develop mastery over their traumatic narratives.

Attachment-Based Therapies looks at the connection between an early attachment experience with primary caregivers and aims to rebuild trusting relationships, aiding in anxiety, depression, developmental trauma, and fractured family dynamics. Address disruptions in early life attachments, fostering secure attachments and managing challenges within current 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.

Brainspotting is known to harnesses the body’s innate self-scanning capacity using peripheral vision to release (maladaptive homeostasis modes) fight, flight, or freeze reactions, fostering deep integration and healing. 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.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a goal-oriented therapeutic approach that focuses on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. It emphasizes the client's strengths and resources, encouraging them to envision a preferred future and identify small, achievable steps to reach their goals. SFBT is typically brief in duration, emphasizing collaboration between the therapist and client to create positive change by building on the client's existing strengths and abilities.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Gold standard trauma treatment, unfreezing traumatic memories to reduce distress. 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.

Existentialism/Logotherapy is a philosophical approach seeking deeper meaning, exploring human capacities, helping you examine patterns, while shifting towards purpose, finding meaning in suffering and altruism.

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 strengthen relationships through friendship, conflict management, and 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.

HeartMath is a biofeedback technique focuses on regulating heart rate variability. Through breathwork and specific techniques synchronizing heart rhythms, it aims to promote emotional well-being and resilience, influencing overall emotional states through coherent heart rhythms.
Humanistic Approach: Focus on uniqueness and consciousness, emphasizing personal experience and worldview. You are the expert; I am the facilitator.

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.  Harmonize subpersonalities for internal connection, promoting harmony and integration.
Interpersonal Neurobiology explores the impact of early attachment experiences on current relationships and emotional well-being. By integrating the mind and brain new neural connections are created, fostering a deeper understanding of self-regulating, attachment, experiential and how relationships shape emotional well-being.

Memory Consolidation refers to the process by which the brain stabilizes and strengthens newly formed memories. Therapeutic interventions may target this process to promote adaptive memory integration, aiding in emotional regulation and the resolution of past experiences.

NeuroCounseling is an integrative therapeutic approach that incorporates insights from neuroscience research into the practice of counseling. Grounded in the understanding of how the brain influences thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, utilizing scientific findings to enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.  Neuroscience-informed counseling fosters a holistic and evidence-based approach to promote mental and emotional well-being, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between neurological processes and psychological experiences.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Influence brain behavior “neuro” through language “linguistic” and non-verbal communication, enhancing self-awareness and “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.

Polyvagal Theory emphasizes the physiological aspects of the autonomic nervous system, shedding light on the role of fight, flight, and freeze responses, influencing emotional states and social interactions. This theory delves into the biology of safety and danger, highlighting the balance between visceral experiences and social connections in trauma. Increasing awareness supports the recognition and regulation of emotional reactions. Applied in counseling, Polyvagal Theory informs trauma-focused interventions, helping clients regulate their nervous system and gradually process traumatic experiences for enhanced well-being.

Prolonged Exposure Involves systematic and gradual confrontation of traumatic memories to reduce avoidance and emotional distress.

Somatic Therapies are mind-body 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." 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.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques with trauma-sensitive interventions, aiming to address distorted thought patterns, emotional regulation difficulties, and behavioral challenges resulting from trauma. The therapy typically involves both the individual who experienced the trauma and their family, incorporating education, skill-building, and processing of the traumatic memories to facilitate healing and resilience.