Therapy Techniques

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most Evidenced Based Research Model used. It is proven to be effective for a wide range of presenting problems, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, phobias, and stress related issues. The Cognitive part explains that what a person things can determine or contribute to how a person feels and behaves. A person's behaviors can be explained by their irrational thoughts. CBT focuses on changing a person's thoughts and behaviors that are based on the irrational beliefs. The CBT triangle to the left helps to show the connection between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

TF-CBT is an evidenced based practice that is used conjointly with the child/adolescent along with the caregiver in therapy. It is intended to use with those who are experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties and symptoms related to a traumatic event. Every treatment component of TF-CBT engages children and caregivers in activities (i.e. writing a trauma narrative) that require some level of acknowledgement of and gradual exposure to the traumatic experience. During the treatment, effective coping skills and ways to integrate their trauma experience will be learned.

Reference: Medical University of South Carolina TF-CBT Web.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR includes being able to identify a safe/calm place to help de-escalate intense emotional responses and to help feel more safe and secure. The use of safe/calm place allows you to identify a positive image or experience associated with positive emotions and not a safe place related to a negative experience (Shapiro, 2012). EMDR includes eight phases that we will work through together. I will help you to decrease the negative cognitions and increase the positive cognitions you have about yourself. The desensitization phase is the working phase, when we focus on the traumatic experience and I engage you in bilateral stimulation with the pulsers (pictures on the left). During this phase you will be reprocessing the experience in order to remember it in a less traumatic way. This technique changes the way your brain processes and remembers the traumatic event and all senses associated with it. This takes place for several subsequent weeks until your negative cognitions have decreased and positive cognitions have increased.

Resources: Francine Shapiro; Robbie Adler-Tapia; Ana Gomez

Play Therapy

Play is the "emotional language of the child" (Chethik, 2000) and children communicate through play. Therefore, I incorporate a variety of techniques including games, drawings, sand tray, and bibliotherapy. The use of sand tray allows a child to create a representation of their own physical and emotional world with the use of different miniatures. These different techniques will help your child discuss his/her feelings and express him/herself in a safe and positive manner.

Eliana Gil is a good resource.

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness based therapies helps to bring one's attention to what is happening internally and externally in the current moment. Mindfulness based therapies include meditation and different breathing techniques that encourage oneself to be actively present and observe ones own thoughts and feelings during daily actives. It involves being aware of ones thoughts and emotions without judgement. Being aware of the present helps to reduce negative beliefs about the past and decrease worry about the future.

A resources is Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Rates

Fees:

$100 for each 30-35-minute child therapy individual session

$125 for each 45-50-minute child/adolescent/adult individual therapy session

$150 for each 75-minute family/couple therapy session

$150 for each 75-minute EMDR therapy session

Payment:

Payment is due at the time of services.

Acceptable forms of payment are Zelle app through your bank account, exact amount cash or check (insufficient-funds checks will be returned upon full payment of the original amount plus $35 for any returned check). Credit/debit card is not accepted at this time.

Insurance

I am not an in-network provider, as this is the best way to protect your privacy and confidentiality. However, I can work with your out-of network benefits and provide you with monthly statements of services for you to submit to your insurance company.

Why Clinicians Do Not Take Insurance: These involve enhanced quality of care and other advantages:

You are in control of your care, including choosing your therapist, length of treatment, etc.
Increased privacy and confidentiality (except for limits of confidentiality).
Not having a mental health disorder diagnosis on your medical record.
Consulting with me on non-psychiatric issues that are important to you that aren’t billable by insurance, such as learning how to cope with life changes, gaining more effective communication techniques for your relationships, increasing personal insight, and developing healthy new skills.

Questions to ask your insurance provider:

Do I have out of network mental health or behavioral health insurance benefits?
What is my deductible and has it been met?
How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?

Cancellation Policy

Your therapy appointment is reserved for you. Therefore, you are responsible for attending each appointment and agree to adhere to the following policy. If you cannot keep the scheduled appointment, you must notify me to cancel or reschedule the appointment within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time. Unless there is an emergency, appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will incur a $75 cancellation fee.