Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an “evidence-based” treatment modality commonly used in treating anxiety, obsessive compulsive and trauma-related disorders. CBT postulates that our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all interconnected. Thus, if we change one aspect of this trio (I.e., our thoughts), then we can change the other two aspects (I.e., our feelings and behaviors).

Learn more about CBT here.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a treatment modality within Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that focuses on approaching people, places and things that we may typically be avoided in order to build resilience and tolerance to distress while preventing the normal response we would typically have to the triggering people, places and things. ERP can be hard work and help us live more free and fulfilling lives.

Learn more about ERP here.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a treatment modality that comes from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and is used to help us balance accepting our current emotions and life experiences while also engaging in change behaviors to improve. This treatment modality has different modules to help us learn important life skills: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness.

Learn more about DBT here.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy modality used to treat trauma-related disorders that combines core characteristics in CBT with imaginative exposures from ERP. It is a structured method that invites us to focus briefly on specific traumatic memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation (BLS) to balance returning to the past with remembering we are now living in the present.

Learn more about EMDR here.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps us remember what is actually important to us, especially when we are in the throws of anxiety, obsessive compulsive or trauma-related symptoms and triggering situations. This modality allows us to refer back to, or redefine, our values in order to live lives that are worth living.

Learn more about ACT here.

Play therapy is an experiential way for us to access what we are struggling with while also meeting ourselves where we are at, regardless of our ages. Play therapy often uses more experiential methods, such as art and sand tray work, in order to support the unconscious in becoming conscious (I.e., building awareness and insight into ourselves, others and the world). Play therapy allows us to express what we do not have words to express, and it helps us to connect with our emotions and true Selves on a deeper level.

Learn more about Play Therapy here.

Attachment Theory is not a specific modality in itself; however, it is a framework that can help us build security in ourselves and our relationships. Attachment Theory focuses on the emotional bonds that we have in our relationships. These emotional bonds are typically developed from templates we create within our family of origin (the family we grew up in). Learning about our attachment styles can be important in understanding potential undesired patterns we may continue in our relationships.

Learn more about Attachment Theory here.

Systems theory is based on the concept that we all function within different systems - our internal systems, our family systems, our societies (macro systems). It is important for us to understand the systems we live in because they influence us, whether we like it or not. Our external systems influence us and can be positive influences or negative influences during therapy.

Learn more about Systems Theory here.

The inhibitory learning model explains how we have learned what we know now, as well as how we can learn new things instead. Many of us carry with us negative beliefs about ourselves, others and the world. Oftentimes, our negative beliefs are irrational or inapplicable to our current circumstances. The inhibitory learning model explains how to teach the brain what we want it to learn, rather than what it has already been learning (and what has not been serving us at this time in our lives).

Learn more about the Inhibitory Learning Model here.