PARTS WORK (IFS)

Parts Work is the term I use for a combination of approaches such as Soul Retrieval, Internal Family Systems, or Inner Child Work. Modalities such as these recognize that as human beings, we are naturally multiple. We often will say things like, "a part of me wants to go out, but another part of me doesn't." From this approach we acknowledge that we can have multiple desires, feelings, ideas, thoughts, etc. present at one time. These variations are held by different parts of us. Through this work, I assist clients in the process of meeting their inner parts and getting to know them so that we can move towards integration and wholeness. Through guided imagery, getting in touch with our inner landscape, by noticing our bodies, and by turning our attention to what is happening inside of us, we can begin to heal the relationship we have with our parts and ultimately connect more deeply to our authentic selves.

BRAINSPOTTING

Brainspotting: The simplest way to explain Brainspotting is that "where you look effects how you feel." Much like EMDR, Brainspotting is considered a "bottom up" approach, where we let the brain and body communicate with each other and allow both to move through a healing process without letting our higher-order thinking processes to get in the way. Brainspotting is a process that allows us to access the autonomic and limbic systems within the nervous system as well as the parts of our brains that work at a deeper level than our conscious and cognitive minds can reach.

DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is a cognitive behavioral treatment modality developed by Marsha Linehan originally to treat chronically suicidal individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Since its inception, ongoing research has shown that it is also effective in treating a wide range of other disorders such as substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress, and eating disorders.
  • Emotional Regulation Skills: How to change emotions that you want to change
  • Interpersonal Skills: How to ask for what you want and get your needs met while maintaining healthy relationships
  • Mindfulness Skills: Practice of being fully aware and present in this one moment
  • Distress Tolerance Skills: How to tolerate pain and discomfort in difficult situations, not change it

NOTE: I use elements of DBT in my work but technically evidence-based DBT is done in a group setting in conjunction with individual counseling.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): CBT is founded in the belief that the way that we perceive a situation is more closely connected to our reaction to the situation rather than the situation itself. In other words, thoughts create emotions, which create emotional states which in turn dictate how we behave. In CBT, the primary goal is to help an individual change their unhelpful thinking patterns and distorted beliefs in order to create healthier and more useful behavior patterns.
  • Address Automatic Thoughts: Ideas that pop up in our minds
  • Address Beliefs and Expectations: What we expect to happen in the world around us. What we believe about the world influences how we behave in it.
  • Cognitive Distortions: Thoughts about our experiences or beliefs that are unrealistic and therefore unhelpful
  • Core Beliefs: Underlie most of our automatic thoughts. They are beliefs that we assume to be true about ourselves. Negative core beliefs often fuel our unhealthy behaviors.

EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION REPROCESSING

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR): EMDR is a psychotherapy approach that allows people to heal from emotional distress caused by disturbing life experiences. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. Just like our bodies, our brains also naturally move towards a process of healing. However, when the system is blocked or disrupted due to a disturbing event, the emotional wound can act like a blockage that prevents natural healing.  EMDR follows a detailed set of protocols and procedures to remove the psychological block in order to facilitate the mind's natural healing process. At this time I am not doing EMDR through Telehealth.

KETAMINE-ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY

In 2024, I will begin offering Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy. For more information about this service, please contact me!