Treatment

Clinical Counselors, PA puts forth every effort to treat our clients as professionally as possible, using Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), was originally developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan as a Cognitive Behavioral treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder. It is now used among many areas within the mental health field as a way to help people develop effective skills for tolerating intense, negative emotions while decreasing conflicts within relationships. There are four specific key areas that DBT focuses on: Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Mindfulness focuses awareness on the “here and now”. Turning attention to what one is doing or observing in that moment. Distress Tolerance is aimed at helping you tolerate difficult emotions, rather than escaping or avoiding them. Emotional Regulation is designed to teach strategies and skills for decreasing the intensity of difficult emotions that cause problems in a person’s life. Lastly, Interpersonal Effectiveness essentially teaches you how to communicate assertively; maintaining self-respect as well as respect toward others.

When is DBT Used?

DBT has also been shown to be very useful and helpful in treating people struggling with mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse and acute or post-traumatic stress.  It is also helpful for anyone looking to regulate emotions, tolerate difficult/painful emotions, remain mindful and present in a given moment, and communicate more effectively with others. A person can learn to balance and tolerate two opposite perspectives at once.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapeutic approach orignally developed by Dr. Aaron Beck to help people identify inaccurate or destructive thought patterns and beliefs causing a negative impact on behaviors and emotions. CBT teaches people to identify these thought patterns and respond to them in a more objective and realistic way. Many tools are utilized to help people overcome maladaptive thinking patterns and behaviors: Journaling, role- playing, relaxation techniques, and use of distractions to name a few.

When is CBT Used?

CBT is a widely used treatment approach for children, adolescents, and adults struggling with various mental health conditions: Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD, Eating Disorders, and many others. The emphasis is on a identifying a person’s individual narrative, often resulting in anxiety or another emotional disturbance. Therapy is aimed at helping the person look at rational concerns practically, while challenging irrational or distorted beliefs, ruminations, or  catastrophizing thoughts. Although there is no exact timeline, it is generally speaking considered a short term, goal oriented therapy.