PSYCHOTHERAPY

Psychotherapy

How can therapy help?

​I can provide support and use problem-solving skills and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood concerns, grief, stress management, body image issues, parenting problems and creative blocks. You may find therapy useful for managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, marital differences and the problems of daily life. Therapy will give you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome your challenges. Therapy can help provide encouragement and help with skills to get through challenging periods and make changes to your life by increasing your sense of well being.

On your first visit you can expect an evaluation of your concerns. A full history, including medical, mental health and social will be discussed and a recommendation for treatment will be shared and agreed. Your visit will last about 45 minutes to one hour.

Your first psychotherapy session will be based along the particular problem or condition you and I have agreed to treat. Some relaxation and stress management skills may be taught to help many conditions, including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention and concentration. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short term, for a specific issue, or longer, to deal with more difficult behaviors or for personal development. This visit will last about 45 minutes to an hour. It is common to schedule regular sessions usually weekly, but for severe symptoms you may be seen twice weekly.

Children

With children I will use play therapy to help engage the child and teach skills. Parents may be asked to participate in the treatment. Some parenting skills may be taught to the parents to manage a child at home. With regards to older teens, effort will be made to teach skills using mindfulness based cognitive therapy combined with an effort to support individuating within a supportive and safe family environment. Relaxation technique will be taught as needed.

On your first visit, parents of children under 18 years old are expected to attend without the child to provide information regarding early childhood development and the nature of the concerns. The child will be seen individually on the 2nd visit and treatment recommendations will be shared and agreed. Sessions will run 45 mins to one hour.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY 

Cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT ) aims to solve problems concerning dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic procedure.

Research shows that CBT is effective for the treatment of a variety of problems, including mood, anxiety, personality, eating, substance abuse, and psychotic disorders.  Treatment follows specific techniques; it is direct, and time-limited treatment for specific psychological disorders.

CBT focuses on the here and now and symptom reduction. Since it is an evidence based therapy it is recommended above and beyond other approaches. 

MINDFULLNESS BASED TRAINING

Mindfullness based Training is drawn from the Dialectical Behavior Therapy approach. It is based on Eastern Spiritual Training and teaches skills compatible with most Western contemplative and Eastern meditation practices.

Skills are taught to “attend” to events and emotions, increase awareness and interpersonal effectiveness.

The ability to attend to events requires the person to step back from the event. This allows the person to experience the moment and face the issue. Skills are taught on how to attend and be effective in a nonjudgmental way.