CBT emphasizes the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. CBT stresses the fact that thoughts, rather than people or events, cause our negative feelings. Depression and anxiety can be eliminated by working with thoughts which can then change behavior. CBT is a structured collaborative effort between you and Erik and calls for goal setting, homework assignments and experiential exercises.
Psychodynamic therapy evolved from Freudian psychoanalysis. In using this type of therapy, we will bring the unconscious into conscious awareness to promote insight and resolve conflict in your life. The therapeutic relationship between you and Erik will be used as a way to learn about how you relate to everyone in your life.
My client focus includes all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as clients of any gender, sexual orientation or religion/spirituality. I help children, adolescents, young adults, adults and elders. I work in individual and couples modalities and do crisis (6 sessions), short-term (12-20) and long-term treatment (1 year+).
We will first begin with a thorough assessment of what we see are the challenges and the strengths for solving them. Next, we will set goals to work towards. I will help you increase your personal insight and provide feedback. We will use therapeutic interventions, such as psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral or EMDR. I will assign homework and tasks to be completed outside of therapy, such as readings or yoga. I will also work with you to treat your entire self, not only emotionally, but physically. Here is where I may refer you to a treatment team specialist such as a doctor, psychiatrist, acupuncturist, natural doctor, herbalist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, nutritionist, fitness trainer, and yoga, meditation, and Pilates instructor. When these goals have been met, we will work towards termination and closure.
EMDR is a type of therapy that helps a person see disturbing material in a new and less distressing way. This form of psychotherapy can help clients cope with post-traumatic stress disorder, addictions, phobias, depression and anxiety. During a session, the client focuses on a specific thought, image, emotion or sensation while both the right and left sides of the brain are simultaneously stimulated through eye movements. This stimulation is believed to loosen one's memory and allow negative memories to be reprocessed with positive ones. Research has consistently found EMDR to effectively decrease/eliminate the symptoms of PTSD for the majority of clients and has shown EMDR to be an efficient and rapid treatment.