What is Psychotherapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the relationship between our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Our thoughts and perceptions significantly influence our emotions and behaviors. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and  identifying different perspectives to help us feel better and react in a more mindful and purposeful way. 

Let's face it... humans are extremely resilient. Everyone possesses unique strengths, talents and abilities. Strengths based therapy focuses on identifying and leveraging an individual's strengths and resources to promote growth and resilience. Strengths based approach allows us to look back at past hurdles and successes. It helps us realize that we are capable and can not only survive, but conquer. 

Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) allows us to pay attention to our bodies sensations and emotions, even if they are difficult and would otherwise prefer to avoid. It encourages us to sit with them, recognizing them, describing them and noticing that they do dissipate on their own. It allows us to accept uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, recognizing they are often trying to protect us in someway. ACT allows us to become less fused to unhelpful thoughts and beliefs we have about ourselves or the world around us. 

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a holistic approach that helps people who struggle with intense emotions, unstable relationships, and harmful behaviors. DBT incorporates mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance skills. 

Narrative therapy examines how individuals construct their identities and stories, with a focus on empowering clients to write their narratives in more adaptive ways. 

Mindfulness is about living in the present moment. All too often we are consumed with thoughts from your past or future predictions, not allowing us to enjoy the here and now. Mindfulness-based therapies incorporates a variety of grounding exercises, such as deep breathing, meditation, guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation to help bring us back to the present moment.