Therapy Models

EMDR
Therapy-Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

EMDR therapy is an extensively researched, effective, and integrative psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, and to enhance emotional resources.

How does EMDR work?

The therapist guides the client in concentrating on distressing memory or emotion while using eye movements called bilateral stimulation. The rapid eye movement occurs naturally during dreaming which is the time when a person’s mental processes any recent life events seem to speed the client’s movement through the healing process. The bilateral stimulation is used to stimulate one cerebral hemisphere at a time in a repeated way. Other types of bilateral simulations include tapping, sound, and the use of light.

What is EMDR used for?

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Guilt
• Anger
• Loss and Grief
• Trauma and PTSD
• Childhood abuse/Neglect
• Pannic attacks
• Enhance Self-esteem and Confidence

For more information you can visit EMDRIA.org

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is an intensive short-term and problem-oriented approach, which is a form of psychological treatment that focuses on challenging and changing distorted thoughts, dysfunctional emotions, and behaviors; the way people think influences the way they feel and these feelings impact people’s behavior. People naturally develop their own techniques and create their own solutions to adapt to their environment by using their conscious level and the metacognitive level to naturally grow, to learn better ways of coping, and become more effective in their lives. CBT focuses on finding the solutions at the present, instead of staying stuck, processing the root cause of where the problems are initiated.

What is CBT used for?

• Long standing interpersonal problems
• Relationship problems
• Depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Alcohol and Drug problems
• Marital Problems
• Eating disorders

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
focused on the Trauma (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is a therapeutic intervention designed to help children, adolescents, and their parents overcome the impact of traumatic events. The focus of treatment is to assist the child or adolescent to develop coping strategies for traumatic stress reactions.

What is TF-CBT used for?

• Design to help with traumas related to sexual abuse, physical abuse, domestic violence, natural disasters, and war.
• Reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, or acting out behavior which is common in children exposed to trauma.

For more information you can visit:

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Child-Centered Play Therapy

CCPT is a play-based approach for children ages 3 to 10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral, and relational problems. CCPT utilizes play which is the first natural language of children and children use it to express thoughts and feelings the same way adults use words to communicate. Play therapy is a powerful tool that helps children face their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges by processing their inner experiences and feelings through play and symbols.

What is CCPT used for?

• Behavior problems caused by bullying
• Grief
• Abandonment
• Sexual and physical abuse
• Trauma and Crisis
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Attention Deficit and hyperactivity-ADHD

For more information you can visit www.a4pt.org

Sandtray Therapy

Sandtray Therapy is sometimes called Sandplay therapy; Therapists utilize Sandtrays to assess and treat a variety of mental disorders.

Sandplay therapy is a nonverbal, therapeutic intervention that makes use of a sandbox, toy miniature figures, and sometimes water, to create scenes of miniature worlds that reflect a person’s inner thoughts, struggles, and concerns. This form of play therapy is practiced along with talk therapy, using the sandbox and miniature figures as communication tools.

What is Sandtray therapy used for?

This approach is used for individuals who have experienced a traumatic event such as abuse or a catastrophic incident. Research shows that Sandtray therapy also can help increase emotional expression while reducing the psychological distress that may come from discussing traumatic events or experiences.

Expressive Arts Therapy

This approach may integrate different types of arts like drama, writing, dancing, movement, painting, and/or music. People using expressive arts therapy are encouraged by the therapist to explore their experience's response, reactions, and insights of the thought process through pictures, sounds, explorations, and encounters with expressive art processes. Note: there is not a requirement for a person to have artistic skills to use or benefit from expressive arts therapy.

For more information you can visit:

(IETA) International Expressive Arts Therapy Association

The Gottman Method Therapy

This method has research-based evidence that focused on what helps relationships succeed or fail. The Couple will be provided with the tools and skills to work together to best address their problems and learn how to solve them. They will be helped to identify and appreciate their strengths in their relationship while working productively through the process with methods that help them gently address their vulnerabilities in their relationship.