Treatment Philosophies
My approach to treatment generally involves a combination of behavior-monitoring techniques, as well as encouraging the client to develop healthy, resource-based communities. Although there are many approaches one can take to address his or her mental or emotional difficulties, I have found the combination of cognitive behavioral therapy, insight oriented counseling, meditation practices and utilizing resource-based communities to be most successful for establishing healthy lifestyles. This integrative approach further ensures that individuals learn tools to help them cope with life’s obstacles, while letting go of those relationships which produce damaging habits and replacing them with ones that will support beneficial change.
Treatment Techniques Include
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy: A form of therapy based on the premise that whenever we become upset, our beliefs, rather than actions or circumstances, cause us to become depressed, anxious, or angry. When our goals of happiness or achievement have been prevented or obstructed, our beliefs can sometimes cause us to react in ways that are unhealthy and detrimental to our well-being. As a result, this form of therapy aims to help change irrational beliefs into rational ones, so that our goals may be achieved.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Treatment that focuses on patterns of thinking which are unhealthy or harmful to an active and productive lifestyle. This therapy encourages us to view our beliefs as theories rather than concrete facts and to try out those different theories in our daily lives. Furthermore, this treatment involves monitoring our thoughts in order to determine what patterns of negative or harmful thinking may exist and how to create alternatives to those thoughts.
Motivational Counseling calmly explores a course of action for each client by listening to the client’s response, rather than questioning. This method allows me to elicit answers that demonstrate how change might be harmonious with the direction the client wants his or her life to go in. Motivational counseling does not involve any judgmental, confrontational or argumentative dialogue. This practice listens to a clients “change talk,” instead of “sustain talk,” and listens carefully for statements or indications that suggest the possibility or desire to change. The use of reflective listening statements, which identify and support these discussions, stimulate dialogue and the spirit of change. People change more readily when directed by internal rather external motivators.
Humanistic (insight-oriented) Therapy: Designed to help clients identify and work through underlying emotional and psychological issues to enhance their quality of life. My goal is to assist others to achieve their personal ambitions in academic, career based and social relationships. This approach is oriented or centered around self-acceptance, lifestyle balance and self-empowerment.
Meditation
Meditation allows us to gain control of our thoughts and emotions, in order to relax and feel at peace. Meditation therapy also helps reduce stress by releasing negative energy and fatigue from the body. This technique helps bring balance to the mind and body, which will in turn reduce stress, and improve mental health. As a result, both the mind and body will feel calm and relaxed, changing the flow of emotions and thoughts throughout the body.
Meditation Techniques
Guided Imagery: Guided imagery is a practice which guides our imagination toward a relaxed, focused state. Guided imagery assumes that our body and mind are connected through our senses. This technique involves perceiving images as actual, real events. Once in this altered state, we become capable of experiencing growth and healing that we may not otherwise be open to. Once we can better control this mental state, we become able to feel and perform better in the face of stress and opposition.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This procedure teaches clients to relax their muscles through a two-step process. First, the client applies tension to a specific muscle, then he or she stops the tension and focuses on how the muscles relax and releases tension. By repeating this practice with various muscle groups, the client learns to distinguish between the feelings of tension and relaxation. With this knowledge, the client can then produce their own muscular relaxation if they begin to feel tension or anxiety.