Therapy Services
Treatment Approaches
Counseling is not a one size fits all approach. I also strongly believe in using evidence based treatment (treatment that has been validated by research and determined to be effective. We also believes in combining evidence based treatment with an intuitive approach. Some of the treatments that we use for PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger management, low self esteem, attachment disorders, and OCD are:
EMDR
EMDR is an effective treatment modality used in counseling to treat PTSD. It works by processing traumatic events. EMDR helps to reorganize the traumatic memories and associated emotional and sensory information through the appropriate structure in the brain. There have been over 26 randomized control trials showing the effectiveness of EMDR in reducing PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression. FInd out more at: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing.aspx
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This is the gold standard of therapy and the most widely researched treatment approach. It has been proven to be effective for PTSD, anxiety, depression, anger management, sleep problems, chronic pain, low self-esteem, and much more. I have implemented the following forms of CBT in my counseling work with clients in the Brentwood area and throughout the Bay Area:
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for trauma
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Counseling is not meant to be a life sentence. This solution-focused therapy helps one quickly come up with long-lasting solutions for change to overcome many types of disorders such as anxiety and depression. Find out more at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/solution-focused-brief-therapy
Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT)
This approach is an action-based therapy that uses one's values, mindfulness, and acceptance to help a person in counseling tp create the change he or she wishes to see in life. It has been shown to be helpful for PTSD, OCD, depression, and anxiety. Find out more: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/two-takes-depression/201102/introduction-acceptance-and-commitment-therapy
Adaptive Disclosure
Adaptive disclosure is a new treatment used to treat moral injury in a counseling setting, a specific condition sometimes co-occurring with PTSD. Adaptive disclosure was specifically designed targets combat and operational traumas experienced by service members. It focuses on three types of trauma: traumatic loss, life-threatening experiences, and moral injury. It is a short trauma-focused treatment that consists of six to eight 90 minute sessions. Find out more information at: https://www.actwithcompassion.com/august_2017_tool_of_the_month
There is hope!
Trauma and PTSD
Trauma and PTSD
Trauma and PTSD
Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events and often co-occurs with PTSD. Counseling can help you learn more about this.
Couples Therapy
Trauma and PTSD
Trauma and PTSD
Relationship counseling can be beneficial to couples who are looking to strengthen their emotional connection, in all stages of their relationship. Therapy sessions are held with both couples and is a supportive place to discuss issues and solutions to better strengthen your relationship.
Anger
Trauma and PTSD
Chronic Pain
Everyone experiences anger, but unchecked anger can take a toll on relationships, our health, employment, and quality of life. Managing anger requires taking a look inside oneself and learning new ways to cope to expectations and stressors. Through counseling, I have helped many individuals overcome anger, and subsequently improve their quality of life and relationships.
Chronic Pain
Depression and Anxiety
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain may result in patterns of negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which can, in turn, worsen the pain
condition and even contribute to anxiety and depression symptoms! The goal of CBT-CP in counseling is to target these maladaptive patterns in thinking and behaving so that alternative, more adaptive,
pain coping skills can be learned. CBT-CP empowers individuals struggling with chronic pain to take an active approach to
improving their functioning and addressing the negative impact of chronic pain on their lives.
Chronic pain impacts all parts of your life.
Some individuals are confused about how a mental health professional can help them with their pain. First, let me assure
you that I believe your pain exists exactly as you describe it, and that it impacts your life in many negative ways. Chronic
pain is a complex problem and addressing it from only one perspective, such as the medical, will attend to only part of the
issue. My role is to help you find ways to cope better with the pain as well as to reduce the negative impact pain has on your
life. Our focus will not be on finding a “cure” or “fix,” but on giving you more tools to manage the pain so that you can
improve your quality of life.
Moral Injury
Depression and Anxiety
Depression and Anxiety
Moral injury is one of the many components of war trauma that returning Veterans face. Soldiers face ethical and moral dilemmas in war that often cause them to question their morality or goodness. Moral injury can leave psychological, spiritual, social, and behavioral scars. It can result from inner conflict that occurs within an individual acting inconsistently with his or her moral or ethical code . Symptoms include loss of spirituality or religion, changes in beliefs toward God, shame and self-blaming, mistrust toward others and society, negative changes in ethical or moral beliefs, increased aggressiveness, and reduction in self-care behaviors. These commonly reported symptoms highlight the need for clinicians to look beyond the diagnostic criteria when treating PTSD in combat veterans. Disproportionate violence, injury of civilians, destruction of civilian property, mistreatment of enemy combatants, revenge, betrayal, and within-rank violence, such as sexual trauma and fragging, can lead to moral injury.
Depression and Anxiety
Depression and Anxiety
Depression and Anxiety
Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through counseling and treatment, we are able to help you recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had in your life.