Traditional Therapy

Therapy is for children, adolescents, adults, couples, or families. The traditional therapy model is a 50-minute session in which various evidence-based therapy modalities are used based on the client's needs. The first session will address your goals and what you hope to get out of therapy, and give the therapist more time to learn about you. A treatment plan is then developed with the client to ensure that his or her goals are recognized. The therapist uses applicable skills/training to help the client achieve wellness for optimal living.

Telehealth

Telehealth is just what it sounds like – a live, confidential video-based conference between the client and therapist. Clients who travel for work, are currently in college, live in remote locations, are disabled, or can’t travel due to health concerns or weather often find teleheath a flexible and viable solution to address their mental health wellness that works on their schedule.

Telehealth can help reduce the stress of starting therapy, since sessions take place in the comfort of your home. It is also more private, time-efficient since there is no need to drive anywhere, and flexible, which can be helpful for overworked or otherwise over-committed clients.

Scroll Down to learn about the different types of therapy.

SPECIFIC TYPES OF THERAPY

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is goal-oriented therapy that focuses on solving specific problems, so it has the potential to help clients change negative patterns. In CBT, a therapist will help you work to understand emotional problems and come up with new strategies for tackling them, enabling you to respond to future challenges in a more effective way.

CBT is often seen as a blend of traditional psychotherapy, which emphasizes thinking patterns, and behavioral therapy, which takes a closer look at the relationships between our problems, behavior, and thoughts. As a result, CBT is a highly customizable treatment tailored to the outcomes each client hopes to achieve.

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a method of psychotherapy that was initially developed as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Now, it is also used to alleviate symptoms from personality disorders, panic attacks, grief, eating disorders, emotional distress, phobias, addictions, trauma from sexual or physical abuse, among other conditions. 

EMDR is non-invasive form of psychotherapy that works by enabling adaptive information processing to move on from traumatic events. It has eight phases and has helped numerous patients reprocess traumatic experiences so they are no longer psychologically disruptive.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

As the name implies Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a form of CBT that specifically targets trauma in children, adolescents, and adult survivors of trauma. Originally intended for children who had experienced sexual abuse, TF-CBT has expanded to treat children and adolescents who have suffered from any type of abuse or severe trauma, as these experiences early in life may manifest as PTSD or other mental health issues.

Since clients are typically minors, a non-offending parent or other guardian may be present during sessions, and TF-CBT incorporates elements of family therapy, including helping caregivers with stress management and communication.

Brainspotting

Brainspotting is a relatively new treatment model that identifies, processes, and releases stored negative experiences to help the brain heal itself from within. It may also aid in healing from physical pain.

The way brainspotting promotes healing and releasing negative emotions is through locating points in the client’s visual field to target unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain. In these sessions, the therapist directs the client’s gaze to a certain spot, which can activate a certain traumatic memory or negative emotion. The therapist can then see the client’s reaction and assess the psychological effects. This process can create a positive environment for quicker healing.

Play Therapy

Therapeutic play creates a safe, caring environment to help children express themselves through play with as few limits as possible. This form of therapy can help assess potential psychosocial difficulties, address unresolved trauma, and help children experience personal growth. This approach is effective because play can help children relax, and play is important for healthy development.

Motivational Therapy

As the name implies, motivational therapy or interviewing helps clients resolve negative feelings and locate internal motivation to change key behaviors. This form of therapy is often used to treat addiction and to manage physical health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, because it helps clients gain the motivation to change the behaviors that may be holding them back from making healthier choices.  

Motivational therapy may be used alongside other therapeutic approaches. In these sessions, the therapist will encourage the client to open up about their reasons for seeking change.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy helps separate people from the problems they may be experiencing, giving them the distance to gain a different perspective. The therapist helps the client see how challenges may have positive sides. Ultimately, the goal of narrative therapy is to help clients feel empowered to change their thought patterns and work toward living in a way that is a better reflection of who they are and what their purpose is, regardless of external problems in their lives.

Mindfulness Therapy

Mindfulness is a method of becoming more aware of yourself and your surroundings, so this form of therapy blends the practice with psychotherapy to promote better mental health and physical well-being. Mindfulness is relatively easy to combine with other types of therapy because the practice can be effective in helping to achieve all sorts of goals, including stress reduction and decreases in anxiety and depression.

Guided Imagery Therapy

In guided imagery therapy, the therapist leads the client through imagining a relaxing scene or positive experiences. It can be paired with other therapeutic approaches and assists in helping clients learn to relax, prepare for change, cope with difficult situations, and eliminate negative behaviors. It may also be useful in treating anxiety disorders, phobias, PTSD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Couples/Family Therapy

Marriage and family therapy treats a wide range of clinical issues, such as marital problems, depression, anxiety, alcohol or substance abuse, and child/parent conflicts, but unlike traditional psychotherapy, it’s a group process. Couples or family therapy can help individuals see how their behaviors affect not only themselves but the family unit as a whole. This process can help clients address behaviors that lead to conflicts and explore ways to resolve issues proactively.