ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT) 

ACT is focused on helping individuals build enriched and meaningful lives by identifying personal values and choosing to take actions that are consistent with one's values. ACT uses several approaches including mindfulness to help to work with your suffering in new and more effective ways. It focuses on working with rather than fighting against painful feelings and thoughts, and views the struggle for control as a key barrier to moving forward in your life. 

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MINDFULNESS 

Mindfulness in psychotherapy is based upon the idea that our automatic responses to suffering often involve overthinking and feeling swallowed by distress - or alternatively, distracting and distancing ourselves from our thoughts and feelings. Practicing mindfulness (a skill and way of being that can be learned!) helps individuals to learn to become aware of these patterns, and enables us to find a way to be with our thoughts and feelings in more constructive and compassionate ways. It is arguably inherent in every therapeutic modality, but also stands on its own as an approach.

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COMPASSION-FOCUSED THERAPY (CFT)

Did you know that your brain and body react to your own self-critical thoughts as strongly as someone else bullying you or being verbally abusive towards you? We end up housing so much stress and shame in our bodies, minds, and souls. Self-criticism makes us feel worse for having struggles and makes it even harder to find a healthy and helpful way forward. While self-compassion is often mistaken as self-indulgent or selfish, it is a highly effective approach to increasing resiliency, managing difficult emotions, and taking effective action. This work is not for the faint of heart - there is difficult courageous work involved in facing and work through immense feelings of shame and self-criticism. The rewards, however, can be even more immense, helping us reconnect with our own humanity and innate worth, and allowing us to feel more connected to the world and those around us. 

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COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT) 

CBT starts with the premise that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected and influence each other. CBT generally involves identifying and changing unhelpful ways of thinking, gaining new perspectives or ways of looking at struggles, and/or changing behaviors that are contributing to your distress and struggles. 

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EXPOSURE & RESPONSE PREVENTION THERAPY (ERP) 

Exposure Therapy in its purest form helps people struggling with anxiety, panic, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.  You remain in the driver's seat at all times as we work to help you slowly approach what is distressing or anxiety-provoking. We will discuss the ways your fears are getting in the way of leading the life you want and come up with strategies to help you move forward. Arguably, the philosophy of Exposure Therapy, that is, approaching what is uncomfortable, scary, and/or difficult, is in nearly every therapeutic approach. 

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LIBERATION PSYCHOLOGY

Liberation Psychology is an approach rather than a specific therapeutic modality which emphasizes decolonizing psychological approaches through critical reflection and accountability, acknowledging oppressive environments, and focusing on action tied to liberation (change) versus simply amelioration (acceptance of status quo).

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DIALECTICAL BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (DBT) 

DBT offers concrete, practical coping tools to help you manage when pain feels intense and overwhelming. DBT also has a wonderful set of tools dedicated to increasing your effectiveness in relationships in both personal and professional realms. 

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