METHODS
EMDR
(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing):
When you get a cut on your arm, if you keep it clean and tend to it in the right ways, it will naturally heal. Our bodies are designed to do this, and so are our brains. EMDR offers a set of tools that will enable your brain to do just that--to process, heal, and learn from even the most harrowing moments of your life. You don't have to stay stuck. You can move from barely surviving to genuinely thriving.
Typically, when we experience a traumatic event, eventually the intensity of the emotion when remembering the event fades. However, sometimes our internal alarm system doesn’t shut down and we continue to experience flooding of emotions whenever the memory is brought to the surface. This is our nervous system going into “fight-flight-freeze-fawn” mode. EMDR is different that typical therapy as it combines bilateral stimulation with memories of the trauma so new meaning can come from the
experience. When this happens, our nervous system is able to turn off the alarm system and the emotional flooding no longer happens.
There are many creative ways we can incorporate EMDR into therapy sessions and I’m happy to discuss what would be the best fit for you or your child. I have specialized training in working with children as young as 3 years old with EMDR therapy.
To learn more about this model please refer HERE
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
IFS (Internal Family Systems):
IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy—also known as parts work—helps individuals explore their inner world by identifying and understanding the various parts of their personality. Through guided introspection and dialogue, clients develop a relationship with these parts, which promotes healing, self- awareness, and emotional well-being.
Have you ever felt like one part of you wants something and another part of you wants something else?
This is the concept of having multiplicity of the mind. We all have many parts to us and different parts have different roles in our lives. We have parts that want to protect us from discomfort, parts that want us to be successful, and parts of us that have been hurt that we really don’t like to think about or acknowledge. IFS is a treatment model that helps all of these parts communicate so your whole system is working together.
I like to use the analogy with clients of having all of our parts together in a bus. This bus then drives our thoughts, feelings and actions. Now let’s say that you have a deadline for work or school coming up. If the part of you driving the bus is organized and resilient to distress, you’re able to complete the project on time efficiently and feel pretty good about it. However, if the part of you driving the bus is that little kid that got bullied and never feels they are good enough, you’re going to have a lot of feelings that are difficult to cope with. You may even struggle to accomplish what you know you need to get done due to the fear that younger part holds.
IFS parts work therapy is often helpful for clients who repeat negative thoughts, behaviors, or life patterns that are holding them back from living their most authentic lives. It can resolve the impact of upsetting childhood (or adulthood) experiences that continue to cause strong reactions when thinking about the past. And it can help address powerful, overwhelming emotions.
IFS Therapy is also effective at treating a number of other challenges:
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anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD
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negative self-beliefs, criticism of self
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self-esteem, self-doubt, self-worth issues
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perfectionist or people-pleasing tendencies
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relationship issues, grief and loss, addiction
Perhaps You've Tried Talk Therapy Before Without Success
Unlike some forms of therapy, IFS therapy is both a holistic and research-driven approach to healing that allows for a deeper exploration of underlying issues and conflicts. IFS creates a safe and non- judgmental space for you to explore your inner world.
It helps you uncover core issues by addressing the underlying emotions and beliefs that drive behaviors. As a treatment method, it’s trauma-informed and highly adaptable to your individual needs and goals. And because it is a person-centered therapy model, IFS places you in the driver's seat of your own healing journey.
To supplement the therapeutic process, I can also integrate other tools into Internal Family Systems. For instance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are intrinsically linked in order to create shifts in those individual areas, positively affecting the whole system.
EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization, and Reprocessing) therapy focuses on processing and lessening the intensity of painful memories often attributed to trauma and negative life experiences. EMDR uses guided talk therapy in conjunction with bilateral stimulation techniques (e.g., side-to-side eye movements) to effectively rewire the brain and how it processes information.
Together, these tools can help you regulate emotions, resolve inner conflict, and overcome personal challenges. You can heal even the deepest wounds and finally let go of the past. However, at the end of the day, IFS is about more than just healing, managing symptoms, or navigating problems. At its core, parts work is about fostering personal growth and self-discovery. I want to help you cultivate greater self-awareness and improve your relationships not only with others, but more importantly, with yourself. Ultimately, I’m here to give you the insight and tools you need to take charge of your own journey toward healing.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
TF-CBT
(Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy):
TF-CBT is a structured, short-term treatment model that effectively improves a range of trauma-related outcomes in 8-25 sessions with the child/adolescent and caregiver. Although TF-CBT is highly effective at improving youth post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis, a PTSD diagnosis is not required in order to receive this treatment. TF-CBT also effectively addresses many other trauma impacts, including affective (e.g., depressive, anxiety), cognitive and behavioral problems, as well as improving the participating parent’s or caregiver’s personal distress about the child’s traumatic experience, effective parenting skills, and supportive interactions with the child.
When It's Used
TF-CBT was originally geared toward helping children who were the victims of sexual abuse, but its scope has widened to include children and adolescents who have experienced a single or repeated experience of sexual, physical, or mental abuse or who have developed post-traumatic symptoms, depression, or anxiety.
If a child or adolescent also exhibits serious behavioral, substance abuse, or suicidal ideation, other forms of treatment, such as dialectical behavior therapy, may be more appropriate as an initial intervention and can be followed up with a trauma-sensitive approach.
What to Expect
TF-CBT is a short-term intervention that generally lasts anywhere from eight to 25 sessions and can take place in an outpatient mental health clinic, group home, community center, hospital, school, or in-home setting. Treatment takes place with a non-offending parent or caregiver. Often, the treatment will begin where the child and non-offending caregiver have separate therapy sessions and advance to engaging in
joint sessions.
Cognitive behavioral techniques are used to help modify distorted or unhelpful thinking and negative reactions and behaviors. Learning to challenge invasive thoughts of guilt and fear can help a patient to reorganize their thinking in a healthier and happier way.
The family therapy aspect of trauma-focused CBT attends to the problems family members may have in dealing with the trauma suffered by the child, including the use of various stress management, communication, and parenting skills.
Research comparing TF-CBT to other treatment models shows significantly greater gains in well-being for children and parents.
How it Works
Early trauma can lead to guilt, anger, feelings of powerlessness, self-harm, acting out, depression, and anxiety. Post-traumatic stress disorder, which affects children and adults, can manifest in a number of ways, such as negative recurring thoughts about the traumatic experience, emotional numbness, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and extreme physical and emotional responses to anything that triggers a memory of the trauma.
By integrating the theories and techniques of several therapeutic interventions, TF-CBT can address and improve the symptoms of post-traumatic stress in youth.
Core features of TF-CBT treatment include:
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Psychoeducation, which teaches the victim about the normal reactions to traumatic experiences. This can help them reduce feelings of guilt or culpability for what happened.
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Coping skills, including relaxation exercises like deep breathing, mindfulness, acceptance, identifying and redirecting thoughts, and other methods.
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Gradual exposure, which involves gradually introducing the patient to memories of their traumatic experience, with the goal of reconditioning their response to triggers and easing emotional distress.
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Cognitive processing, which can include developing skills to recontextualize unhelpful feelings and thoughts, and regulate emotions.
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Caregiver involvement, which may include rebuilding trusting adult relationships for the child and training the caregiver in how to best be a resource for the child.
The goal of the treatment is to help the client develop a sense of safety and security, to repair or develop healthy social skills, and for the caregiver to feel more confident in their ability to help the child in a productive manner.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
PLAY THERAPY:
Children often communicate and process their emotions through play. Play Therapy is a specialized therapeutic approach that allows children to express themselves, explore their feelings, and make sense of their experiences in a way that feels natural to them. I help to create a safe and engaging space where children can play freely, using toys, games, and creative activities to express themselves.
Benefits of Play Therapy for Children:
Expressive Outlet: Play provides a non-verbal outlet for children to express emotions,
experiences, and thoughts that may be difficult to articulate verbally.
Emotional Regulation: Through play, children learn to identify and regulate their emotions,
developing essential emotional intelligence skills.
Building Trust: Play Therapy helps build a trusting therapeutic relationship between the child and the therapist, creating a foundation for effective treatment.
Problem-Solving Skills: Children learn problem-solving skills, conflict resolution, and coping mechanisms through guided play, enhancing their ability to navigate challenges.
Is play therapy only effective for young children?
Actually, it’s effective for ALL AGES! Play has many benefits for all ages and research shows it’s actually critical to our overall wellbeing.
Play can look different for adults and teens than young children, but play is essentially anything you do for fun that brings you joy. The research shows that play is associated with:
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increased ability to cope with stress
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improved mood
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feeling more supported
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higher creativity
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appreciating beauty
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approaching life with excitement and energy
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playful expressions of love
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a sense of hope
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sense of humor
If you’re curious about how play therapy could be helpful for you and/or your family members, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY:
Expressive Arts therapy combines the creative process with psychological techniques to promote emotional growth and healing. This can be very helpful for people that have a difficult time articulating what they are feeling. I draw on a variety of art forms such as:
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Painting or finger-painting
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Sculpture
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Drawing and coloring
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Crafts
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Music
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Writing
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Theater or improvisation
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Dancing
The goal of expressive arts therapy is to use multiple senses to explore your inner and outer worlds. Art comes from a deep emotional place within you; hence, creative endeavors will help you to experience a profound process of self-discovery and understanding.
I have found that some clients enjoy talking through their creative process and some clients prefer to explore through their art and process toward the end of the session. As with all models I utilize, this is your healing haven, so the choice gets to be yours. The therapeutic work is based on the creative process, not the final result, so it is not necessary to have any background or training in art to benefit and enjoy this type of therapy.
To learn more about this model please refer HERE
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
SAND TRAY THERAPY:
Sand tray therapy may sound like simple play, but it’s actually a powerful therapeutic technique.
Are there certain objects that immediately give you a positive or negative feeling? Maybe frogs remind you of happy times at your grandma’s house on the lake. Or perhaps the smell of cigars makes you feel uncomfortable, but you’re not sure why. This is the idea behind sand tray therapy. This unique approach — part play therapy, part art therapy — helps evoke both conscious and unconscious memories through tactile play.
Sand tray therapy, while most commonly used with children, is helpful in treating all ages. When we have painful unconscious memories — or perhaps conscious memories that are too painful to discuss —typical types of talk therapy aren’t as helpful.
This is where sand tray therapy can help.
Sand tray therapy allows the client to choose objects they resonate with or that make them feel safe. Using a variety of specific sand tray exercises, the client and I can then reflect on why certain objects were chosen. The scene created acts as a reflection of the person’s own life and allows them the opportunity to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles, and gain acceptance of self.
To learn more about this model, please refer HERE
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
THERAPLAY:
Theraplay is a beautiful and creative model that builds attachment through shared joyful experiences. The activities in the theraplay model build attunement and understanding between caregiver and child – replicating early relationship experiences that are proven to lead to secure attachment. The interactions are personal, physical and fun!
Theraplay focuses on four essential qualities found in a healthy caregiver-child relationship:
Structure: The adult, the leader in the relationship, creates organization and
predictability for the child which communicates safety.
Nurture: The adult provides caring that can calm and soothe the child in a manner that makes them feel good physically and emotionally.
Engagement: The adult is present in a manner that the child experiences being seen, heard, felt, and accepted.
Challenge: The adult supports the child in the acquisition and mastery of new skills, enhancing the child’s sense of competence and confidence.
With my support in the session, parents learn to play with their child in a way that establishes felt safety, increases social engagement, expands arousal regulation, and supports the development of positive self-esteem for both the child and the parent.
To learn more about this model, please refer HERE
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
EFFT
(Emotionally Focused Family Therapy):
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy ― follows the principles and practices of Emotionally Focused Therapy to restore connection and promote resilience in family relationships. The principle goal of EFFT is to re-establish more secure family patterns where attachment and caregiving responses are effective and emotional bonds are repaired. These resources inform a network of security that provides the flexibility and closeness necessary for families to promote individual growth and meaningful relationships across generations.
Goals of EFFT:
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Accessing and expanding awareness of unacknowledged feelings associated with the family’s negative pattern.
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Reframing family distress and child problems within relation blocks reinforcing this distress.
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Promoting awareness and access to underlying caregiving intentions and disowned attachment related needs.
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Facilitating the sharing of unmet attachment needs and effective caregiving responses.
To learn more about this model, please refer HERE
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
ABC
(Attachment Biobehavioral Catch-Up):
Infants and toddlers who have experienced early life stressors (such as neglect and changes in caregivers) face a number of challenges in forming trusting attachments with parents and in developing adequate regulatory strategies. Sensitive caregiving, which is critical for optimal development, can buffer the negative effects of adversity and foster resiliency in families and infants. Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up is a program that targets attachment and regulatory challenges that can result from stressful experiences in infancy and early childhood, building on families’ strengths.
Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up for Infants (ABC-I) is a 10-12-session program that addresses three primary issues:
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Young children who have experienced early life stressors are especially in need of nurturance.
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Young children who have experienced life stressors need parents who follow their lead and delight in them.
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It is important that parents avoid behaving in frightening ways because frightening behavior is dysregulating to young children.
Therefore, ABC-I helps parents learn to: 1) respond in nurturing ways when children are distressed; 2) follow the lead with delight when children are not distressed; and 3) avoid behaving in frightening or intrusive ways.
This 10-12 session program is conducted weekly virtually in families’ homes or in person at the office. The sessions last approximately 60 minutes and are optimally scheduled at times when children are at home and can participate in the sessions. Other individuals in the home (e.g., other caregivers, partners, siblings) are welcome to join in the sessions. Sessions are video recorded for playback to families.
ABC-I is intended for infants from 6 - 24 months of age and their parents or other caregivers.
To learn more about this model, please refer HERE
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?
Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
COMPLICATED GRIEF TREATMENT
Grieving is a highly individual process for each person, and determining when normal grief becomes complicated grief can be difficult. Typically, when people are grieving normally, they notice changes in their grief and how it shifts. The loss becomes a part of your everyday life and the intensity of distress lessens.
Complicated grief is when there isn’t a lot of movement in the feelings and you feel stuck in the distress of the loss. I love this poem that does a beautiful job expressing how a lot of people feel with complicated grief:
Anger
Don’t tell me that you understand, Don’t tell me that you know. Don’t tell me that I will survive, How Iwill surely grow.
Don’t tell me this is just a test, That I am truly blessed, That I am chosen for this task, Apart from all the rest.
Don’t come at me with answers, That can only come from me, Don’t tell me how my grief will pass, That I will soon be free.
Don’t stand in pious judgment, Of the bonds I must untie, Don’t tell me how to suffer, And don’t tell me how to cry.
My life is filled with selfishness, My pain is all I see, But I need you, I need your love, Unconditionally.
Accept me in my ups and downs, I need someone to share, Just hold my hand and let me cry, And say,
“My friend, I care.”
- By Joanetta Hendel
Through complicated grief therapy you will:
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Learn about complicated grief and how it's treated
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Explore such topics as grief reactions, complicated grief symptoms, adjusting to your loss and redefining your life goals
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Hold imagined conversations with your loved one and retell the circumstances of the death to help you become less distressed by images and thoughts of your loved one
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Explore and process thoughts and emotions
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Improve coping skills
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Reduce feelings of blame and guilt
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?