What Might I expect in therapy?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (C.B.T) is recognized for its effectiveness in treating a variety of issues, including depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illnesses. The foundation of CBT consists of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These three elements together form core beliefs. Thoughts refer to how we process information and the conclusions we draw. Feelings encompass emotions and internal physiological changes. Behaviours are the actions resulting from thoughts and feelings. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful traits to improve well-being.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is designed to alleviate symptoms arising from trauma exposure, particularly for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As a form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, CPT aims to help individuals overcome "stuck points" and reshape their automatic thoughts.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is structured around four key pillars: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation. This therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), including those experiencing suicidal behavior, self-harm, substance use, PTSD, depression, and eating disorders, as well as those facing emotional dysregulation challenges.

Mindfulness, considered the core skill of DBT and its first pillar, focuses on acceptance, fostering self-awareness, emotional connection, and the ability to live in the present moment.

Interpersonal Effectiveness, the second core skill, emphasizes assertiveness to help clients achieve goals and build healthy relationships that fulfill their needs.

Distress Tolerance, the third pillar, involves skills that help clients understand their behaviors and recognize why they engage in them, using these skills to reduce unwanted behaviors.

Emotion Regulation, the final pillar, highlights the importance of understanding emotions, enabling clients to comprehend the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and their impact on their lives.

Energy psychology is an alternative therapy that blends psychological techniques with energy healing practices like acupuncture and acupressure. It operates on the belief that emotional and psychological issues stem from imbalances in the body's energy systems. By tapping, touching, or visualizing specific energy points, energy psychology aims to restore balance and alleviate emotional distress. Key techniques include Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), and chakra balancing. It is used to treat issues like trauma, anxiety, and stress, though it remains controversial within mainstream psychology due to mixed research support.

The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) helps people manage emotions and thoughts by tapping on the 12 meridian points, sending a calming signal to the amygdala. This tapping process counteracts the stress response triggered by an event, thereby alleviating negative experiences or emotions.

Mindfulness doesn't require sitting still and simply observing. It’s a state of being present in the current moment, fully experiencing everything life offers—whether walking in a forest, driving, or doing housework. Embrace being present in the moment!

Person-Centered Therapy, developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s and 1950s, is a humanistic approach that emphasizes creating a supportive environment where clients can freely explore their thoughts and feelings without judgment. The therapist provides empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness to foster self-awareness and self-acceptance in the client. Key principles of this therapy include a belief in the client's innate potential for growth, a non-directive approach where clients are encouraged to find their solutions, and the therapist's demonstration of empathy, unconditional acceptance, and authenticity. The ultimate goal of this approach is self-actualization, promoting personal growth and emotional healing.

Schema Therapy, developed by Jeffrey Young, integrates elements from various therapies to address deeply rooted maladaptive schemas—patterns formed in childhood. It focuses on identifying these schemas, understanding coping styles like avoidance or overcompensation, and promoting emotional healing through a supportive therapeutic relationship. The therapy also addresses "schema modes," emotional states triggered by stress. Its goal is to help clients become aware of and change unhealthy patterns, fostering healthier ways of thinking and behaving, particularly in relationships. Schema Therapy is often used for treating personality disorders, chronic depression, and anxiety..