therapy approaches
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR has been around for decades and has proven to be a reliable evidenced-based psychotherapy. It is a therapy that uses bilateral stimulation, either through eye movements, tapping, or auditory stimulation, to help adapt traumatic memories to the past so that memories aren’t fragmented anymore and causing distress. EMDR can be utilized for not only trauma but also depression, anxiety, and grief, to name a few. Eight phases will be discussed during the beginning of the process. Changing negative to positive core beliefs for long-lasting results is a major part of this therapy. EMDR is three-pronged which works with memories, present triggers, and future scenarios. Imagine being able to finally unplug the dam that has been filled with traumatic memories with nowhere to go. EMDR helps someone unplug and carry on with life so the past is not the present. The course of therapy may last several sessions, depending on a client’s needs. A person must be committed to the therapy for any benefits to arise.
art
Accelerated Resolution Therapy
ART is a psychotherapy that interweaves several evidence-based therapies together to quickly achieve be eye movements). I have used this particular therapy for trauma, pain management, grief, addiction, anxiety, depression, and various other presenting concerns. This therapy can also be used for strokes and dyslexia. The therapy does not ask someone to verbalize their entire trauma or any other presenting concern. This makes the sessions very non-invasive. ART works on changing distressing images so that the images are no longer distressful. The official tagline of this therapy is “Keep the knowledge, lose the pain.” With trauma, you will remember the facts but lose the distressful images and thoughts. A voluntary image replacement technique helps change how negative images are stored in a person’s brain. ART focuses on the past, present and future, similar to EMDR. ART helps someone unclog the drain (i.e. trauma in the brain) so the water can flow freely. Metaphors and imagery are a major part of ART. Presenting concerns are typically worked through in 1-5 sessions.
For more information on ART please visit https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com
cbt
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT gives the idea that my thoughts influence how I feel and what I feel will influence how I behave. Please understand though that this perspective is multi-directional, meaning my behaviours will also influence my thoughts and feelings, and so forth. CBT is present focused and doesn’t dwell on the past as much. The therapy utilizes socratic questioning, thought records, downward arrow technique, and many other interventions. Identifying cognitive distortions, such as black and white thinking, is big part of CBT. The therapy is often heavy on homework and requires lots of effort on the client’s part, since the therapist is asking the person to identify, challenge, and modify their thought patterns. Although a challenge, much growth can come from this therapy.
dbt - Informed
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
DBT focuses on four domains with an array of skills for each one: emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Emotional regulation skills help someone learn how to deal with emotions effectively. Distress tolerance assists with working through elevated emotions before they lead to negative consequences (financial, social, work, etc). Mindfulness skills help stay in the present moment, and certain principles help someone live a fulfilling life. Interpersonal effectiveness skills help people achieve what they want in relationships while cultivating self-respect during interactions. The four domains complement and intersect with one another. Dialectical means “the existence of opposites." The therapy teaches that two opposing forces can co-exist, such as two primary themes with DBT - acceptance and action.
SFBT
Solution Focused Brief Therapy
SFBT focuses mainly on the present. The goal is to find solutions to presenting problems using different techniques, such as scaling, exceptions, the miracle question, pre-session change, doing one thing differently, solution talk, and coping questions. The goal is to increase someone’s optimism for change, openness to possibilities, and sense of control. Language is very important with all therapies, and especially with SFBT since the language helps empower the client for a change.