Emotion-Focused Therapy for Individuals
Psychotherapy can be a powerful and transformative experience. A large body of research has shown the effectiveness of therapy in alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life.
My treatment approach is empirical, compassionate, and highly tailored to the needs of each client. A core framework for treatment is Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), which utilizes methods to assist clients with accepting, understanding, regulating, and expressing emotions. The EFT methodology relies upon more than 20 years of empirical and academic research and is widely used worldwide in conjunction with other technically-oriented methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
EFT is founded on the idea that our emotions influence our reasoning and future actions. Emotions are like a GPS system that guides us in life, identifying our needs and determining what actions to take to meet those needs. Sometimes our experiences and relationships cause our emotional GPS to go off track, causing us to follow maladaptive emotions such as self-criticism, shame and self-loathing that prevent us from getting our emotional needs met.
EFT is a client-centered approach. I utilize my experience and training to help guide each client to look within themselves for the solution. It is my goal to work collaboratively with you to help you transform your emotional GPS and achieve emotional health.
Today, EFT is widely used in the treatment of depression, eating disorders, childhood trauma or neglect, anxiety, and interpersonal relationship issues.
Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples
Relationships face challenges. Work, children and other obligations can easily lead to less communication and less intimacy. The relationship can get stuck in a rut. Issues in other parts of our life can spiral into arguments with our partner. We wind up resentful and angry because our emotional needs are not being met by our partner. If not resolved, the couple continues to spiral into conflict, feeling ever farther apart from each other, and can lead to infidelity or separation.
Emotion-Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT-C) is based on the exploration and expression of underlying emotions to help improve the emotional bond between a couple. I first work with the couple to de-escalate their conflict and help them get to a point where they feel heard by the other partner without judgment and feel comfortable expressing honest feelings. I help guide the couple towards resolving emotional wounds and strengthening their connections.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a well-regarded and highly structured therapy framework for reducing emotional symptoms and problem solving. It helps clients to become aware of negative or maladaptive thoughts so that they can evaluate a life situation more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way. CBT is often used in treatment for clients with phobias, depression and other mental health concerns.