Integrative Therapy

Person centered therapy was developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s. It serves as a foundation for all the other modalities I use. It is a non-directive, client-led approach that trusts in your innate knowledge and wisdom. It is built upon the tenets of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence. Put another way, I will strive to make sure I am understanding you (please correct me if I am not), meet you with non-judgment, and will be authentic and genuine in sharing space with you (a curse word or two will probably slip out). Typically within the first 5 sessions or so we will collaborate to write out your treatment “path”, a living document that will inform us of what is important to you and how we know our work together is helping to support you to move in the direction you want to go.

Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-based therapeutic modality that began in the 70’s with Peter Levine which supports clients with trauma, anxiety, stress, and physical symptomatology. I summarize it as listening to the content of your body in addition to the content of your mind. It is often helpful for clients who have found traditional talk therapy supportive but find themselves stuck with their progress. It does involve talking and can include light movement, exploring sounds, using sensory input in session, and more. It can help support clients who: reenact familiar patterns in relationships; those impacted by physical symptoms related to anxiety, pain, injuries, and medical treatments; and those who find themselves in a state of constant stress. It is also relational in nature and is informed by an attachment based lens as well. It helps support movement from dysregulation to regulation.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based and empirically-based behavioral approach created in the late 1980s by Steve Hayes. Its focus is not on removing thoughts or emotions because those are part of your human experience, rather it supports you to move in the direction of the person you want to be based off your values. We will not be able to get rid of pain, hurt, or suffering as those are inevitable and we can support you with engaging in life in the ways you want even as unwanted feelings and thoughts flow in and out. There are a variety of ways I support you with ACT in sessions, mindfulness being one. This does not necessarily mean we are sitting and meditating in session, it can, and it more often means bringing attention to the our present moment with openness and curiosity. ACT has been shown to support anxiety, depression, stress disorders, PTSD, OCD, and chronic conditions.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work modalities are other non-pathologizing modalities I use. Have you ever found yourself saying something like “there’s a part of me that feels this way or acts this way” and maybe that is how you act sometimes with certain people or situations and at other times it seems like you’re a different person? These modalities are built upon the theory that we have different “parts” of us within our whole person. It can be that some parts of us may become more common/dominant while others get hidden/dominated and these modalities help to move you in the direction of allowing access to and integrating all parts of you. It can also feel like parts of ourselves can be in conflict or battle with one another. IFS and parts work help to increase the relationship and connection between all your parts. It has been shown to support anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic modality created by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s. It allows processing of an event, series of events, or emotions by combining processing with some form of dual stimulation (eye movements, bilateral tapping, or bilateral sounds). It creates a form a memory storage where you are no longer absorbed into what you are processing, instead you can start to observe it without such overwhelming sensations, emotions, or thoughts. It is a form of therapy that also does not require you to verbalize an event over and over and instead suggests that our neurobiology creates a shift around the situation you are processing. It has been shown to be helpful for trauma and PTSD as well as anxiety, depression and more. EMDR can be done as an adjunct to work you are already doing with another therapist, can be used alongside other therapy modalities in our work together, or can be the sole therapy you choose to engage in.

Currently in further training/consultation