Treatment
Evidence-based treatmentEvidence-based treatment means that decisions on how to treat your mental health concerns are based on our clinical experience, knowledge of current research, and professional practice guidelines. Most importantly, the approach should be a fit for you.
At J&L Psychology, we take into account empirical data (research-based studies that show which therapeutic interventions demonstrate success) in addition to your life history, current problems, and personal strengths. Together we tailor a treatment plan to help you achieve your goals at your pace. Collaboration is essential. We will educate you on various treatment options so you have the best available information before choosing which approach is a fit for you. Treatments used in adult therapyGood therapy always starts with a positive, supportive, trusting relationship with your therapist. Like any relationship, the fit between therapist and client is fundamental.
Regardless of treatment modality or theoretical orientation informing your care, our J&L Psychology clinicians strive to create a warm and welcoming foundation on which to build a therapeutic relationship that is based in transparency, flexibility, and mutual trust and respect. We are attuned to the unique challenges of developing a therapeutic relationship on a digital platform. J&L Psychology clinicians have extensive experience providing treatment via telehealth. We will guide you through the process and adjust our approach to enhance your sense of comfort and safety. Emotionally focused therapy (eft)
This research-based approach is considered the gold-standard treatment for couples and has been adapted for families and individuals. The EFT therapist helps couples identify patterns in their relationship that prevent them from feeling fulfilled and connected.
In EFT sessions, your therapist will actively help you find new ways to talk about what you are longing for in your relationship as you work together to understand the emotions that get you stuck in your usual patterns. When couples learn how to communicate their deep, authentic needs to their partners, it can change the relationship into one that is more secure and nurturing. cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt)
CBT focuses on the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Shifting your thoughts and behaviors can lead to meaningful change in emotions that might be blocking you from achieving your goals.
CBT is an active treatment in which you work with your therapist to achieve change. This approach often includes structured exercises and assignments between sessions. Your therapist will help you: a) challenge unhelpful thoughts that hold you back; b) start engaging in activities that matter to you; and c) approach important things you have been avoiding in life. CBT treatments also may incorporate mindfulness training to help you acknowledge the present moment. You may also learn skills to help you relax your mind and body, tolerate distress, and manage painful feelings. psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapy emphasizes your early life relationships, prior life experiences, and unconscious processes as you work to gain insight into how you feel and what you do.
When building a relationship with a therapist, it is common for individuals to “play out” past relationships (usually without conscious awareness of it happening in the moment). In psychodynamic therapy, these "enactments" of past relationship patterns are explicitly unpacked and explored to help you become more deeply aware of how you relate to yourself and others. The goal is to develop more adaptive ways of engaging in the world. These new discoveries are practiced in this safe space, then applied in a person's life outside of therapy. Treatments used in child & family therapyWorking with children, teens, and families requires a dynamic, and flexible approach. Our clinicians understand that providing age-appropriate treatment and developing rapport with each family member is essential. Treatment is tailored to each child's developmental stage, families' cultural backgrounds, and specific challenges.
Child therapyChildren may present with a variety of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, or adjustment issues. They don't always have the words to describe what is happening inside. Our clinicians will help them learn tools for how to express themselves so they can better cope and thrive.
Parents often are included in their children's treatment. While the type of involvement often depends on the child's age, parents' perspective is essential to greater insight into the child's difficulties. When appropriate, we offer direct coaching for parents to help with concerns as well as support for parents who may be struggling with their own frustration, sadness, guilt, or confusion related to their child. A variety of therapeutic approaches may apply when working with children, teens, and families. These include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (all described above), along with Parent-Child Interactive Therapy, Play Therapy, and Family Systems Therapy. Learn more about Therapy for Children and Teens. Family therapyWhen family is the focus of treatment, therapy provides a safe space for family members to work on improving communication, better understanding each other's perspectives, building trust, and enhancing emotional connection.
Our most important relationships often come with intense emotions. Families may get caught in cycles of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. We use family therapy to help you learn ways to talk more respectfully to each other, voice your concerns openly so you feel heard and understood, and spend more time together with less conflict. Learn more about Family Therapy. Parent-child interaction therapy
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a short-term, specialized behavior management program designed for young children experiencing behavioral and/or emotional difficulties and their caregivers.
PCIT involves direct live coaching of parent and child together. The therapist guides caregivers in specific play therapy techniques and discipline skills. PCIT focuses on improving positive child behaviors through a strong parent-child relationship. Research has found that successful completion of PCIT decreases parenting stress and reduces child behavior problems in the home, at school, and in public settings. Advantages of live coaching : • Skills are acquired rapidly because caregivers learn by doing • The therapist supports caregivers as they learn the skills • Caregivers quickly become confident and proficient in skills with the child • The therapist provides immediate feedback to caregivers PCIT benefits children ages 2-7 with the following problems: • Refusing/defying adult requests • Losing their temper easily • Stealing things • Destroying property • Starting fights/hurting others • Having difficulty staying seated • Having problems playing quietly • Having trouble taking turns • History of abuse • Adjustment difficulties PCIT also benefits: • Caregivers • Parents; foster parents • Adoptive parents; guardians play therapy
A primary task of childhood is to play. Play is the language of childhood. In a therapeutic setting, play can be used to understand a child’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It also provides support, tools for communication, and strategies for coping. Play therapy is tailored to each child and family. From Play-Doh, to cars, to crayons, to dolls, play therapy can integrate any childhood favorites into the therapeutic process. When children are having fun, and are feeling safe and understood, they tend to take more emotional risks and express their unique understanding of the world. They also may be more open to sharing the challenges they are experiencing, which creates avenues for healing.
family systems therapy
Family Systems Therapy is a therapy approach that treats the family unit as the patient. Each family member has the opportunity to be involved and help to resolve issues in the context of this family-based work. Family Systems Therapy appreciates the unique and complex interactions among family members. Individuals are encouraged to express their thoughts and feelings, identify patterns of behaviors or reactions, and work with other family members to resolve conflicts. At times, subsets of of the family (e.g. parents only or siblings only) may work together to address concerns. This approach can address issues such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and trauma that may be affecting one or more family members and therefore the entire dynamic.
Treatments used in trauma therapyPatients who have gone through trauma therapy often describe their ability to relate to painful memories as more manageable and less destructive to their daily lives.
We understand that sharing your story with a new therapist can be frightening and difficult, and we emphasize your autonomy and collaboration in pacing treatment. Trauma therapy can lead to a renewed sense of meaning in your life by helping you integrate and connect your traumatic memories to your personal narrative. J&L psychologists have extensive experience with evidence-based trauma treatment. Learn more about Trauma Therapy. Prolonged exposure therapy (PE)
This well-researched treatment for PTSD serves to gradually and safely introduce a person to trauma-related thoughts, memories, and experiences that have been avoided because of fear. In PE, patients talk about their trauma and do things they have been avoiding repeatedly to allow for “habituation,” or the process of getting used to something so it no longer feels threatening or scary.
The brain makes associations. The more it can register that a place, memory, or thing is no longer dangerous, it signals the body not to react as if the person is in danger (e.g. sweating, heart palpitations, freezing). The rewiring allows the person to then re-engage in aspects of life previously avoided. PE usually consists of the use of in-vivo (exercises designed to engage with previously avoided places, people, situations) and imaginal exposure (engaging with traumatic memories by retelling the story containing avoided, painful memories). All these exercises are completed with the therapist's guidance and in a planned, methodical, transparent way. cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
This approach to treating the effects of trauma identifies “stuck points,” or thoughts and beliefs that keep a person from putting a traumatic event in the past.
In CPT, patients learn to take a critical look at distressing thoughts and work with their therapist to change thoughts that are unrealistic and unhelpful. For example, it is common for those who have lived through trauma to believe they are to blame or that no one can be trusted. CPT teaches skills to examine thoughts while helping a person work through stuck points and identify life themes of safety, trust, power and control, intimacy, and esteem that are keeping them from moving forward. Skills Training in Affect and Interpersonal Regulation--Narrative Therapy
Skills Training in Affect and Interpersonal Regulation--Narrative Therapy (STAIR-NT) was originally developed through research with women adult survivors of sexual abuse and has been adapted for diverse populations with traumatic experiences (such as military veterans). The goal of this evidence-based treatment is to improve your ability to identify and manage difficult emotions and improve your relationships.
STAIR treatment begins with learning skills that address your emotions and relationships. These exercises provide a foundation and prepare you for the second phase of treatment. The narrative portion of the program targets problematic trauma memories through repeated storytelling in therapy sessions. These are followed by listening to the recordings outside of sessions. The goal is to help you reintegrate their memories so they are filed in the past. This gives them less power over your emotions so that they no longer intrude on your present, allowing you to move forward. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is a specialized trauma treatment for children or teens. Similar to adult treatments, this approach will help your child process the trauma experience in a safe and tailored way while learning skills to discuss feelings, and manage emotions and behaviors. In TF-CBT parents are asked to participate in the treatment at various stages. Parents often have their own reactions when their child has experienced trauma. This often includes anger, guilt, sadness, or shame. Parents are supported by the therapist to help them work through the impact of the trauma as they focus on supporting their child.
TRAUMA-INFORMED GROUP THERAPY
At J&L Psychology Group, we know that effective healing can happen in the context of a supportive and understanding social community. We are planning to offer group trauma-focused psychotherapy services in the future. Group therapy can provide a safe environment in which to learn and practice evidence-based strategies and skills to use in daily life, and teach you new ways of approaching challenging emotions, life events, and relationships. If you are interested in joining any of our groups in the future, please reach out to express your interest via our contact form.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an approach to therapy that involves recalling distressing thoughts, images, feelings and/or body sensations while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Often the external stimuli are a series of side-to-side eye movements or hand-tapping.
This approach assists with processing memories by allowing patients to focus both on the associations related to these recollections and the bilateral stimulation, commonly in the form of repeated eye movements. EMDR therapy does not require talking about distressing details to process traumatic events. EMDR has evidence for use in treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions and can be used in adults and children. Vertical Divider
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ConsultationsIndividual one-time consultations can be scheduled for second opinions, advice on choosing a clinician, expert review, etc. We offer a safe place to process concerns and solicit advice. We also offer ongoing consultations for clients who may benefit from this service.
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