My Approach to Therapy

For many people, one of the great challenges of seeking mental health treatment is navigating all the clinical jargon therapists use. The official names for our assorted modalities do have meaning, but they can also be confusing without years of clinical training. While an internet search can help, many therapists (myself included) bring their own unique perspective and spin to the treatments they utilize.

Thus, I want to offer you this brief distillation of the therapies I practice in my manner of phrasing them. More detailed information can be found on my blog.

  • • A philosophically-influenced way of tackling practical, personal problems

    • Emphasizes some common themes: life/death, connection/isolation, meaning/meaninglessness, responsibility/choice

    • Considers your unique perspective on the world and how it influences your choices, regardless of what that perspective may be

  • • Uncovers situations in which coping mechanisms are not optimally managing stress

    • Explores relationships and important past events for their influences on present behaviors

    • Delves into your perceptions of yourself and others, both positive and not-so-positive

  • • Developed for bipolar depressive disorders, though it can have other uses

    • Focuses on improving social relationships and maintaining stable routines

    • Tracking mood symptoms and their social cues

    • Tracking routine behaviors (i.e., sleeping, eating, social contact, and working) and regulating when they should occur in one’s day

  • • Developed for treating trauma/PTSD, particularly the involuntary recall of traumatic memories

    • Aims to stop involuntary recall, reduce avoidance of triggers, and restore some cognitive and emotional functioning

    • Replaying the memory in your mind with different speeds and perspectives creates distance from the visceral aspects

    • Features the option to treat the trauma without discussing it directly