Therapy Strategies

It is helpful for clients to know something about the strategies and tools the therapist will use. My approach combines EMDR and Cognitive, Behavioral, and Solution Focused strategies.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a method of psychotherapy that through extensive research has been proven effective for the treatment of trauma. Upsetting things that happen to us often seem to get “stuck” in our minds and we relive them again and again through our thoughts, feelings, nightmares, and body sensations. Things that happened in the past can feel like they are happening all over again. Those upsetting and disturbing thoughts and feelings can interfere with our present lives, negatively affecting how we see the world and how we interact with other people.

EMDR can help people reprocess the past information and come to a more useful and less upsetting present understanding. After a successful EMDR session, a person can remember a past event but is less upset about it and no longer relives the troubling images, sounds and feelings.  This is accomplished through use of standardized protocols that combine elements of several different psychotherapies with a Dual Attention Stimulus (DAS), either eye movements, tapping, tactile stimulation, or auditory tones.

If you would like to learn more about EMDR, check out the following websites:

EMDR Institute, Inc.: www.emdr.com

EMDR International Association:  www.emdria.org

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is a short-term psychotherapy approach that focuses on learning skills that help us change how we think and how we behave. Learning to identify and change negative thoughts and beliefs (cognitive strategies) can help us feel better about our selves and our situation, even if nothing external has changed. Learning to change our behaviors (behavioral strategies) can actually change the situation as well as helping us feel better. CBT involves learning new skills and practicing them in session and at home. By integrating these new skills into daily life, people become more assertive, reduce stress, manage anger, improve their social skills, and feel better about themselves.

Behavioral Parent Training helps parents improve the behavior of their children through changing their own behavior. I teach parents skills that have been proven effective by research at the UCLA Parent Training Program. As parents learn to Praise, Ignore, Give Commands and Set Limits, they find that family life becomes more peaceful and manageable, they feel more confident, and they enjoy their children more.

Solution Focused strategies concentrate on helping people figure out what they want their future to be like, rather than on their past problems. By examining what currently is working, people can build on their strengths and take concrete steps to meet their goals.