Techniques
CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a method of treatment which underpins how we approach counseling. It is based on the understanding that behavior affects thoughts and thoughts change behaviors. CBT offers improved coping strategies and self-understanding. Rooted in well-documented evidence, it is a tried and tested means of achieving tangible results within the therapeutic environment.
DBT
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a specialized approach to counseling under the larger umbrella of CBT. It focuses on increasing mindfulness and emotional regulation while tolerating stress and improving communication with others. Additionally, it has been shown to help in coping with certain personality disorders where balancing opposite perspectives can be a significant challenge.
PCT
Person Centered Therapy (PCT) is a type of talk therapy focused on facilitating self-discovery. It puts a special emphasis in session on the client’s thoughts and beliefs without interruption from the therapist. PCT has been shown to help with grief, depression, anxiety, stress, and identity formation. Congruence and empathy ultimately culminate in deeper self-knowledge and acceptance.
RT
Relational Therapy (RT) is based in Relational-Cultural Theory, an intersectional approach to understanding the context of individuals in society. RT examines cultural elements of power and privilege in order to improve communication and foster understanding in relationships. By acknowledging the unique components of our identities and backgrounds, intimacy and trust serve to facilitate therapeutic work while helping us feel seen.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is primarily used for engaging and re-thinking our traumatic memories, though it can be effective in treating other mental health disorders as well. The idea here is that some memories get stuck in a state of stress or discomfort when they are stored in our brains. With EMDR techniques, you and your therapist can work on processing those stuck memories while grounding yourself in the present where it is safe and calming. Because it is not for everyone, please discuss with your therapist if you think EMDR therapy might be an option you would like to explore.
Areas of Practice
Anxiety
Have you ever felt an unpleasant inner turmoil? That is anxiety. It might feel like nervousness, racing thoughts, or even physical discomfort like knots in your stomach. It differs from fear in that it isn’t necessarily linked to a direct threat. There are many different types of anxiety including test or performance anxiety, anxiety related to decision making, panic disorders, and social anxiety. Anxiety can be short or long term and while everyone feels it from time to time, it can feel more intense for some. If anxiety is negatively impacting your life, we are here to help.
Depression
Millions of people experience depression during their lifetimes. The good news is that you’re not alone in it and we’re here to help. Depression may look like an aversion to activity, low mood, a lack of motivation, or a decreased sense of well being. It can be triggered by a life event, a side effect of the medication you’re taking, nutritional deficits, chemical imbalance, or even be a part of your personality. An important first step in treating depression is acknowledging that it may have found its way into your life and seeking a way forward. We want to be a safe place for you.
LGBTQ+
In regards to the LGBTQ+ community, we mostly want you to know with certainty that our offices are a safe space for you. We recognize that you may face unique forms of discrimination and that clinical environments have not always been supportive or friendly to LGBTQ+ individuals historically, but we want you to know that we see you and recognize you. We are not here to gate-keep. We have experience helping transgender clients through transition, we love our enby’s, and we are on the same page about the differences between sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity. If we fall short, know that we’re also here to listen and learn.
Addiction
Influenced by biology and society, addiction can create very complex situations to navigate. Its origins are further complicated by its many manifestations. Whether you’re struggling with a substance based addiction, sexual addiction, gambling, gaming, or food addictions, we are here for you. We are in your corner and we want to help you through this potentially difficult season.
Bipolar
Approximately 1% of the global population and up to 3% of individuals in the United States are estimated to be affected by bipolar in their lives. While the causes may be environmental or genetic, it is characterized by periods of depression followed by periods of elevated mood for days or weeks. This swing in emotions and energy level can disrupt work and social pursuits alike. There are well known medications typically prescribed in the management of clients struggling with bipolar disorder, but there is also value in talk therapy. Most importantly, you are not alone. We are here to help you through the difficulties of living life with bipolar.
Couples Counseling
Being in a couple is rewarding and sometimes equally challenging. The goal of couples counseling is to resolve interpersonal conflicts, improve romance, and ultimately know and be known better by your partner. Couples counseling is for all ages and levels of relationship. Whether you want to better prepare for marriage, you’re struggling through a rough patch, or you simply want to improve one of the most significant areas of your life, we want to provide a safe place to explore and edify your relationship.
Grief
Loss and the subsequent feelings of loneliness, anger, surreality, heartache, or sadness can introduce some of the most difficult emotions you may have ever experienced. While losing a loved one may be the first context grief comes to mind, there is also grief in the loss of employment, falling into ill health, or in a relationship ending. There is no one way or specific length of time when it comes to grieving and you may be feeling a lot of complicated emotions simultaneously. However you may be experiencing grief, you are not alone and there is space for you. We are here to help you sort through bereavement and grief at your own pace. There is hope.
Spiritual Wellness
An important component of human existence can be spirituality. At times, it can also be one of the most difficult to navigate and share. Be it through organized religion or a more individual type of meditation, we are here for you. We also realize that spirituality overlaps with many of the other categories mentioned in this section and so it can be a really meaningful and significant element to address in your story. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, we want you to feel supported and understood.
Family Systems Therapy
Everyone has a family story. Family environments can produce some of the best feelings of safety and love and also some of the most damaging stressors and traumas. We are not only here for individuals, but also to help mediate conflicts within complex family dynamics. We provide a safe space for families to come together and work through the problems which pull us apart. Our hope is to be a tool for restoration and health for every individual in the family as well as for the group as a whole.
Borderline
Involving genetic, neurological, environmental, and social factors, borderline can have a massive impact on the lives of individuals and their associated networks of family, friends, and colleagues. Affecting about 1-2% of the population, borderline is characterized by difficult and unstable relationships, a distorted sense of self, and powerful and volatile emotionality. Therapeutic treatment has been shown to greatly improve the quality of life of those impacted by borderline and curb associated symptoms of depression, addiction, and disordered eating.
Eating
Negative eating habits can affect anyone. Impacting both physical and mental health, disordered eating can take the form of anorexia (eating very little), bulimia (eating and then purging), or binging (eating a large amount in a short period). Pica (eating nonfood items), rumination syndrome (regurgitating food involuntarily), and avoidant/restrictive eating (consuming a very narrow selection of food) are also examples of disordered eating. While these habits are considered abnormal, they are not at all uncommon. If you are struggling with your eating, please know that we are here to help.
Adjustment
Sometimes it can feel almost impossible to adapt to all of life’s changes. Adjustment disorders are extremely common short term conditions where an individual struggles to cope with a significant life stressor. In fact, upwards of 20% of adults seeking mental health services fall into this category. Adjustment disorders can be characterized by sadness, feeling overwhelmed or anxious, nervousness, hopelessness, and difficulty performing at work or school. If you’re feeling any of these symptoms or maybe just feel like you’re having a hard time keeping up, we are here for you.