Together, we will use therapy approaches that are proven to work! As we begin treatment, we will work together to find a treatment style that best meets your needs. My approach depends on you. My focus will be on what you wish to get out of your therapy. I use approaches that work and I adapt them to best meet your needs and personality.
I provide both Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) informed treatment. These approaches focus on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as enhancing your ability to manage yourself through various coping strategies. Read further to learn more about each approach.
The therapy will take place online, through Google Meets. I have ensured that your privacy and confidentiality are protected by using a HIPAA-Compliant service.
DBT is meant for those of us who find managing our emotions, thoughts, behaviors, relationships, and ourselves to be challenging. What does this look like? Let's break it down:
Emotions
Intense emotions
Emotions that last longer than you'd like them to
It takes a long time to calm down
Difficulty understanding emotions
Behaviors
Risky or unsafe behaviors
For example, self-harming behaviors, doing things that put your safety at risk, disordered eating, etc.
Addictive behaviors
For example this may include addictions to drugs or alcohol, shopping, sex, etc.
Impulsive behaviors
For example this may include acting without thinking, acting based solely off of your emotions, or challenges with controlling your behaviors
Relationships
Lack of meaningful relationships
Challenges with social skills
Difficulties with communicating with others
Trouble getting what you want and need in your relationships
Ourselves
Feeling empty inside
Experiencing the wish to no longer be alive
Feeling disconnected from yourself, your identity, or your personality
Feeling numb on the inside
Did any of those categories resonate with you? If so, DBT-informed treatment may be a good fit for you. DBT provides many coping skills that directly treat all of the issues listed above, and more.
CBT is meant for those of us who struggle with our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. We may experience automatic thoughts that get in the way of our peace or influence our emotions and behaviors. Maybe you experienced a major stress or a traumatic event that changed somethings about you. What does this look like? Let's break it down:
There is an upcoming job interview with two different people, Apple and Orange.
Apple:
Thought: "I have prepared well for this interview. I have the necessary skills and experience. I am capable of impressing the interviewer."
Emotion: Confidence and optimism. The person feels positive and self-assured about their abilities and the upcoming interview.
Behavior: The person engages in active preparation, rehearses potential interview questions, practices good body language, and presents themselves in a professional manner during the interview.
Orange:
Thought: "I always mess things up. I'm sure I'll fail this interview too. There's no point in even trying."
Emotion: Overwhelming anxiety, self-doubt, and hopelessness about the upcoming interview.
Behavior: The person avoids practicing for the interview, cancels or reschedules it multiple times due to fear, and may even consider not attending the interview at all.
Did you identify with Orange? Or do you wish to be more like Apple? If so, CBT-informed treatment may be a good fit for you. CBT provides skills and perspectives to lessen those negative thoughts that may get in the way or cause you distress. In turn, you will have more capacity to manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors effectively.
Let's take a look at one more example:
The Safari
You are on a safari and having an excellent time. You feel happy to be on this trip and safe with your safari guide. One night you wake up and go to use the watering hole, as your eyes adjust to the darkness you see a lion in the distance. It is close enough to see you and you begin to feel intense fear (rightfully so!). You quickly leave the watering hole and feel very shaken up, your life was in danger.
You return home and you vow to never go on a safari trip again. In fact, you do not wish to even see animals that were found on your safari. You delete the pictures from your trip and begin to get rid of your child's books which contain safari animals. One day you visit a friend that owns an orange cat. When you see the cat you feel frightened and you wish to run away. You understand that this cat will not hurt you, you've met her before. However, you can't help but feel intense fear, the urge to escape, and you no longer visit that friend's home.
This example is meant to demonstrate what happens when we experience a traumatic event. After the event has passed we may have difficulty adjusting to life and unrelated things may begin to impact our well-being. CBT is one way to treat the impact of traumatic experiences. This is done by slowly working towards understanding how this event impacted you, figuring out it's lingering effects, and slowly overcoming the event through various strategies that you and Rebecca will choose together.