Approaches to Therapy
What happens in therapy?
It will most likely feel like a natural conversation with someone who is interested in your experiences and opinions, who listens fully and asks questions to understand more fully, and whose only bias is to hear how you can be empowered. The conversation will be paced so that you won't feel rushed or at a loss. You will be able to ask questions that will afford you the level of comfort and safety which support your emotional expression and exploration of solutions. I acknowledge the basic components of a productive therapeutic relationship by offering positive regard, genuineness, immediacy and respectful challenging. You will receive prompt responses to an emotional emergency; intelligent, collaborative identification of solutions and the benefit of mutually defined boundaries. Your confidential conversations, over the course of several meetings will identify possible goals that reflect your values and aspirations. You will be able to choose from a great variety of therapeutic activities and techniques which have recognized effectiveness, such as: ----strengths and resources inventory ----creation of a genogram to identify multi-generational patterns ----values clarification and attention to spirituality ----behavioral rehearsal within the session, role-play ----EMDR, a potent treatment for past trauma that uses bi-lateral hand stimulation to "unstick" the memory and let the brain process the event through to a more adaptive response.----bodily awareness in various emotional states ----guided imagery, relaxation or mindfulness meditation practice ----homework, such as mindfulness tasks, journaling, reading or new behavior experimentation ----dream review and inner wisdom discernment ----Narrative Therapy ----review of the power dynamics of current or past relationships ----examination of the impact of social messages or family injunctions ----rewriting stories that have promoted guilt, anxiety or depression ----reclaiming a sense of self-effectiveness ---Solution-Focused Therapy ----defining a problem in terms of what you want, vs what you lack ----acknowledgement of the power of your own vision |
----development of a holistic wellness strategy that considers body, mind, spirit, environment and life-style ----therapy to accompany and support 12-step recovery work ----emotional skills training to modulate and harness emotional intensity ----"empty chair" and other here-and-now gestalt processes ----referral to other relevant services ----video therapy: recording the session, and reviewing it together or on your own. Especially recommended for couples. ---Acceptance, Commitment Therapy, including Mindfulness and contextual elements ----"Self-Empathy" protocol from the Nonviolent Communication model Throughout the duration of therapy, be it brief or extended, the relationship between us is acknowledged, cared for and explored as a source of important information and opportunity for healing-through-connection. Ultimately, the approach to your therapy is tailored to your personality, interests and strengths. My commitment to you is to see you as a whole and unique person; and drawing from training and experience, to offer a therapy that is yours alone. "If you see something you don't like about the way you are, and you beat yourself up for it: pretty soon you will have trained yourself to stop looking. Congratulate yourself whenever you see something hard. It means you're growing."
Cheri Huber, THAT WHICH YOU ARE SEEKING IS CAUSING YOU TO SEEK |