My primary therapeutic orientation is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) embracing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). A salient tenant of CBT is that what an individual thinks about herself/himself, and his/her worlds, and what she/he says to himself/herself, govern the way he/she feels and acts.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Research tells us that self-defeating beliefs drive self-destructive behaviors. In CBT, core beliefs are explored and maladaptive and automatic thoughts are replaced with more adaptive ones while learning to question one’s thoughts. Maladaptive thoughts can manifest in low self-esteem, self-blame, self-criticism, and negative interpretations of experiences leading to hopelessness unless controlled. The provision of psycho-educational skills, coping skills, and family involvement during psychotherapy, has shown significant improvement in depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms resulting from child abuse and trauma of all kinds.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based, psycho-educational model designed to help clients learn and practice basic tools for managing compulsive, addictive, and self-harming behaviors; intrusive thoughts; intense or overwhelming feelings; chronic feelings of emptiness; ongoing relationship crises; and other painful experiences.

Rooted in principles of mindfulness practice, existential philosophy, developmental psychology, and cognitive/behavioral therapy, DBT skills training is particularly helpful to clients in the early stages of any kind of recovery process or those who find themselves stuck in destructive patterns that are hard to break.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) trained with advanced training in Adult Attachment EMDR

EMDR “is an integrated psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma.” ~ EMDR International Association.

Are you wondering what exactly trauma is and have you experienced it?

While the concept of trauma is typically associated with experiences such as sexual abuse, combat, natural disasters, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it also can be very successfully applied to other negative events that one hasn’t been able to work through and fully resolve.

As a trauma therapist I use EMDR to more quickly resolve experiences such as:

• Sexual abuse, including date rape
• Physical or emotional abuse
• Panic attacks
• Divorce or relationship breakups
• Reproductive losses
• PTSD & war trauma
• Death of a significant person or pet
• Motor vehicle accident
• Bullying
• Natural disasters
• Grief and loss
• Medical or workplace trauma
• Intrusive negative/self-criticizing thoughts

Attachment Theory

Attachment is a deep and enduring emotional bond that connects one person to another across time and space (Ainsworth, 1973; Bowlby, 1969). The most important fact in forming an attachment with a child, is not who feeds and changes the child, but who plays and communicates with him or her. A secure attachment will form when the caregiver is sensitive and responsive to the child during interactions, as opposed to just going through the motions of feeding, etc.

This year I completed a year long course titled, “Bridging the Gap between Neuroscience, Attachment, and Contemporary Relational Psychoanalytic Theories: Expanding Techniques and Exploring the Process within the Psychotherapeutic Dyad.”

I was privileged to study with national and international experts in this yearlong comprehensive course which integrated Attachment Theory and Neuroscience into Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. This course provided the opportunity to study attachment and neuroscience issues in-depth. Some of the topics included, Treatment of Adults with Traumatic (Disorganized) Attachment Patterns; Children’s Drawings, Dreams and Drawings, Child Psychotherapy, Evaluating Attachment Disorders in Children, Adaptive Functioning, and Problematic Behaviors in Parent-Child Dyads.

Taught by the Boulder Institute of Psychological Research (BIPR), this two-semester class re-examined each stage of psychotherapy in light of findings in neuroscience, attachment research and the practice of contemporary psychoanalytic theories to determine the most effective methods to produce change in psychotherapy. Procedural memory, mirror neurons, and the impact of trauma on the brain were among the concepts covered. Integrating theory with practice was one of the key goals of the course.

Existential Therapy

Existential Therapy holds that each individual has the power to change their path, and thus the nature of their journey through life. We can be what we choose to be. A major aim of therapy is to start on a path designed to consciously shape our own destinies and to reject the notion of being a victim of circumstances.

Every individual has the right to find meaning in all that we think and do. The goal is to integrate the body, mind, and spirit, thus becoming whole. The therapeutic process is aimed at creating one’s identity and establishing meaningful relationships with others. Together, the therapist and the client, engage in a search for meaning, purpose, values and goals alleviating anxiety as a condition of living. Then the client can reflect and make authentic choices through self-awareness, be fully present in the moment, and fulfill one’s genuine desires.

Assessments

I offer psychological and psycho-educational assessments for diagnosis, planning interventions, creating treatment plans, identifying strengths and weaknesses, personality structure, growth and development, pregnancy and postpartum, attachment, behavioral and Social/Emotional needs in the following areas:

• Prenatal and Postpartum Assessments
• Adolescents
• Mental Health Assessments
• Diagnosis and treatment of Mental Health issues
• Family Functioning Assessments
• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

I provide both online and in-person treatments. I will do whichever option you are comfortable with.