What Does Therapy with our Therapists Look Like?
What does a typical session with Amanda look like?
What does a typical session with Melissa look like?
What does a typical session with Melissa look like?
Amanda: "The first few sessions are always spent getting to know the individual sitting across from me. I'm curious as to why they chose this particular time in their lives to begin treatment. What my client likes and dislikes is something I want to know. I'm interested in learning what has and hasn't worked in treatment in the past. Do they feel alone or do they have any support? Initial objectives and a starting point for therapy will be identified. We will really get into what has happened in their life and how it may still be affecting them. This might be accomplished through the production of a visual timeline or a specific style of therapeutic questioning that aids in the awakening of subconscious thoughts. To help the client better understand themselves and others, as well as how to set healthy boundaries, we focus on understanding their personal values. I try to foster an atmosphere where my clients feel comfortable being vulnerable. I explain to my clients the reasons for their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I support my clients and I really believe in being authentic in my interactions with them."
What does a typical session with Melissa look like?
What does a typical session with Melissa look like?
What does a typical session with Melissa look like?
Melissa: "It's not uncommon for a client who has experienced the impact of trauma to come to the first session and feel compelled to share everything they have experienced. They often don't understand yet how talking in therapy will change how they are feeling, or their circumstances. I listen without judgement. I pay attention to how a client is reacting as they talk, and consider how their body might be feeling. I will help the client to slow their story down. We will spend several sessions talking about the client's history, and why they are seeking therapy at this time. I usually start sessions with a centering activity to help them feel calm (like guided breathing or a body scan meditation). I then provide the client with the opportunity to check in as to how things have been going outside of session. We have a natural conversation, with therapeutic techniques mixed in. I educate clients on the connection between their thoughts, feelings and body. I end the session with a mindful grounding activity, and sometimes I give the client homework to support what was learned during session into the client's every day world. There is no requirement for engaging in any type of movement or activity that the client might find themselves uncomfortable with. Everything is an offered invitation that can be declined."
What does a typical session with Jessica look like?
What does a typical session with Jessica look like?
What does a typical session with Jessica look like?
Jessica: "I want to get to know my clients first. It is so important to develop a safe, open and caring relationship with your therapist. I want to make sure that all of my clients know that their experiences are important and valid. I listen to my clients. this is a judgement free zone. We develop goals and a plan to reach each one. (For clients who want it, I can include yoga into our sessions). After we first meet, I usually start session with a check in. I want to know what has happened between sessions, and if the tools you are learning are working. If you had work to do between session, we will talk about it. The conversations we have will be easy and much like as if you were talking to a friend. I will offer education, guidance and suggestions when needed. And when I just need to be quiet and listen, I'll do that too. You deserve a place to be seen. To bring all parts of you and know that whatever you share is going to be valued and is important."
What does a typical session with Sara look like?
What does a typical session with Jessica look like?
What does a typical session with Jessica look like?
Sara: "I sit with clients to find out about who they are, their family, what their life looks like and what brought them to therapy. I often use humor to ease any first time worries. I want my clients to feel safe and comfortable in the therapeutic relationship. I like to incorporate art and music into my work with clients when appropriate. For my teen and adolescent clients, parents are supported through the process and invited to be part of their child's treatment planning - while also respecting the privacy and confidentiality of the child. Parents will also engage in their own parent support sessions, if needed. For my clients who are adults, I incorporate families and/or partners when it makes sense to do so. With all of my clients I challenge them to really work hard to create sustainable change. I am an authentic and transparent therapist that tells it like it is."
What Kinds of Issues do You Treat?
Issues that Impact Children and Adults
Issues that Impact Children and Adults
Issues that Impact Children and Adults
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma, PTSD
- Relationships
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Narcissistic Abuse
- Autism
- Marriage Related
- School Stress
- Parental Stress
- LGBTQ+ Related
- Grief
- BIPOC Related
- Self esteem
- Boundary Setting
- Therapy to Therapists
- Pregnancy Loss
- Attachment
- Addiction
- Adoption, Foster Care
- Life Transitions
- Codependency
- Job loss
- Spiritual Abuse
- Family Therapy
- Couples Therapy
Trauma Focused Therapy
Issues that Impact Children and Adults
Issues that Impact Children and Adults
- Issues Around Adoption & Foster Care
- Spiritual and/or Religious Trauma
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Violence
- Narcissistic Abuse
- Intergenerational Trauma
- Racial Trauma
- Trauma Related to Identity
- Cultural Trauma
- Sex Trafficking
- Workplace Violence
- Medical Trauma
- Sexual Abuse
- Therapy for People Impacted by Assault
- Traumatic Grief and Loss
- Developmental Trauma
- Bullying
- Community Violence
- Complex Trauma
- Chronic Trauma
- Physical Abuse
- Natural Disasters
- Counseling for Issues Related to an Accident
What Type of Therapy Do You Offer?
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
This type of therapy requires extensive training and is offered exclusively by Melissa.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This type of therapy is helpful for clients who struggle with traumatic memories. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve these unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. This type of therapy helps to reduce the "fight, flight or freeze" that often happens when someone is experiencing distressing thoughts or feelings.
EMDR should only be provided by therapists who have received appropriate training.
How Many Sessions Will it Take?
EMDR is an individual therapy typically delivered one to two times per week. You and your clinician will determine your specific needs.
Is EMDR Recognized as an Effective Form of Treatment?
EMDR is an evidence based practice and is recognized as a one of two treatments of choice for PTSD by the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense. The US Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense determined EMDR to be the most effective of the PTSD psychotherapies.
EMDR Myths Debunked
- EMDR is not hypnosis. The client is awake and alert during the entire session.
- EMDR does not recover repressed memories.
- The reprocessing phase does not start in the first session.
- EMDR is not just for severe trauma.
- EMDR does not have to be the only form of therapy used in session.
Attachment Based Therapy
Attachment therapy focuses on how we are impacted by the way we learned to attach to our primary caregivers in infancy and early childhood. The client works to build trust and safety with their therapist. The focus is on learning and developing the skills to have healthy, safe, meaningful and rewarding relationships. This therapy incorporates evidence based treatments, and does not include treatments that have been proven harmful (such as rebirthing).
Trauma Focused Therapy
When we experience trauma our body and our brains go through very real changes. For some people the experience of the trauma does not create any longstanding struggles. For some, the impact of trauma can be life altering. Trauma therapy teaches you how to understand the signals that your brain is sending your body, and how to navigate the thoughts, feelings and body sensations when they occur. This type of therapy utilizes education, processing and body work.
Addiction Counseling
When someone is struggling with substance use disorder, they are not only dealing with a physical dependency to a substance, they are also fighting negative thoughts and feelings that keep them stuck in a cycle of addiction. Relapse can be caused by social and psychological factors.
Addiction counseling is a type of therapy that addresses the root causes of addictive behavior in a client and teaches strategies and techniques to avoid relapse. It helps clients to learn how to build a healthy support system, avoid relapse, and learn how to restore relationships. This type of therapy helps clients to cope with life's ups and downs without resorting to using harmful substances.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy helps clients to identify their values and the skills associated with them through storytelling. We all have the "stories" of our life and what we believe our part in it to be. What if you were able to tell your story a different way? What if you really are the hero? What if you can find out that all the negative stuff you believed to be true about yourself, isn't? Narrative therapy allows you to learn new ways of living and dealing with life's problems.
DBT: Dialectal Behavior Therapy
DBT can be very effective for clients who struggle with extreme patterns of thought. This type of therapy helps with emotional regulation, acceptance of situations, and distress tolerance. Clients who participate in DBT usually have specific homework between sessions that help to reduce symptoms between sessions, and to reinforce positive long term change
IFS: Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems Therapy focuses on how we learn to internally adapt over time. The focus of the work is on how we develop different parts of self to help navigate life. The part of our self that we usually allow others to see often works hard to manage the feelings and thoughts that have developed over time, based on various traumas, difficulties, struggles and pain. IFS allows space for the client to connect with their wounded self, to heal and to feel whole.
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is a body-centered therapy that looks at the connection of mind and body. Psychotherapy and physical therapies are utilized for holistic healing. In addition to talk therapy, somatic therapy practitioners use mind-body exercises and other physical techniques to help release the pent-up tension that is negatively affecting a clients physical and emotional wellbeing.
CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is a well known therapy that has been used successfully to treat issues such as anxiety, substance use disorder, depression and relational struggles. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy uses specific interventions that work to identify and challenge negative thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT usually involves applying learned interventions in between sessions to reduce symptoms, change automatic thoughts and practice skills.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Culturally Sensitive Therapy incorporates the way in which a person is impacted by their culture (background, ethnicity, race, belief system). Therapists who use this approach respect and recognize that peoples experiences within, and values developed by, their culture are important and valid within the therapeutic relationship and work. Many therapists incorporate this approach into their practice, and use this lens to determine the most appropriate modalities to use with their client.
Affirming Therapy
We commit to providing affirming therapy to all clients, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We understand that each person has a unique story related to personal discovery and disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. We embraces a positive view of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) identities and relationships and addresses the negative influences that homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism have on the lives of LGBTQ clients.
Traditional Talk Therapy
This therapy involves principals of many different types of therapy, and can often look different from one therapist to the next. The therapist and the client work together to develop goals and a plan of action. The client shares their struggles and the clinician offers feedback to assist the client in gaining insight.