My Approach to Healing
There are so many different therapeutic approaches, some that have proven to be highly effective. Following are a few of my favorite that I use most often in my practice:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Resolution (EMDR)
EMDR is a powerful approach to helping resolve and relieve many different types of distress. EMDR has been researched heavily and is designated as an effective treatment by the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, the US Department of Veterans Affairs and the US Department of Health and Human Services.
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EMDR has been shown to be highly effective for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Attacks, Anxiety and Depression, Body Dysmorphic Disorders, Eating Disorders, Grief, Addictions, Abuse of all kinds, and Stress Reduction.
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I often incorporate different elements of EMDR into sessions with my clients to help them increase their feelings of empowerment and confidence, to decrease distress of many kinds, and to help resolve big and little trauma moments from their lives.
Sand Tray Therapy
Sand Tray/Play Therapy has been used since the 1920's as a process to help children and adults move naturally toward healing and wholeness. As our body naturally heals from a skinned knee, our minds and hearts also desire to naturally move toward healing. Sand tray/play helps that process along.
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Sand tray/play allows the unconscious to become conscious and the client is able to gain awareness and insight in a judgement free, non-confrontational process. Even if words are never spoken healing is happening.
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At Cedar Family Solutions we have a world class sand tray collection with thousands of objects, figures, toys, sculptures to combine with a variety of sand. I encorporate sand tray into sessions when it seems appropriate. I feel that most clients can benefit from the experience of sand tray work. ​
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most well researched models of counseling. CBT is filled with practical tools and techniques to help modify unwanted behaviors and feelings through self-awareness, analysis and taking steps toward change. There is a focus on the relationship between thoughts, emotions and core beliefs and how those can be shifted to achieve the clients goals. CBT is filled with tools that everyone can benefit from to increase their satisfaction and sense of well-being.
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I use CBT to help my clients understand where their unwanted thoughts, emotions and behaviors come from and help them to do something about it. CBT is also helpful determining family dynamics and those complex relationships. It helps clients to feel empowered and less out of control. It helps them to view others from a more compassionate and empathetic perspective.
Systems Theory
Systems theory tells us that what is happening is more than just the individual pieces of the puzzle. This perspectives teaches us to look at the individual, taking into account both the different internal parts that might be at play and also taking into accounts the family dynamic, the community and society influences on that person and how they all interact. A teen's anxiety is connected to his own biology and mental thinking, but it also has to do with his relationship with his parents, his relationship with school and social elements. There is likely a part of him that benefits from being anxious and a part of him that hates it. Systems theory helps us to resolve the patterns that emerge within our lives, as opposed to just sort through symptoms.
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Systems theory is a part of how I view the world and therefore it is a big part of how I work with my clients. Being curious about the patterns of interaction with important relationships and even patterns of interaction with different symptoms.