Psychotherapy offers mental health treatment using psychological methods, while mindfulness involves being fully aware of the present moment without passing judgment. Practicing mindfulness fosters a sense of calmness and inner peace when done consistently. Combining psychotherapy with mindfulness creates a powerful treatment approach to expedite healing.
Somatic psychotherapy aids clients in cultivating mind-body connections to effectively address and manage issues such as trauma, chronic pain, dissociation, and beyond. The aim is to attain full-body awareness, fostering a positive embodiment. Embracing mindfulness and being open to experiencing it are essential aspects of this process.
EMDR Therapy is a specialized psychotherapy technique that utilizes bilateral stimulation, typically through eye movements, to aid in the processing of trauma. This highly effective method enables clients to address traumatic experiences with compassion, minimizing the risk of re-traumatization. Elements of mindfulness and somatic psychotherapy are integrated within this approach.
EMDR THERAPY
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based methodized therapy used to treat trauma. 8 phases to this treatment have been proven highly effective. If you are interested in trying something new, consider EMDR.
SOMATIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
Somatic psychotherapy is a body-oriented therapeutic model and therapy method for treating trauma and stressor-related disorders like PTSD and CPTSD. The primary goal of psychotherapy is to modify the trauma-related stress response through bottom-up processing.
MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a treatment that was initially created for people with chronic pain and illness. This has evolved over the years and effectively treats mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and more.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is similar; only it has components of Cognitive Therapy, making it an evidence-based method. Both include the practice of mindfulness and meditation.
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention
(MBRP) is a treatment method that serves the same purpose as MBSR and MBCT. The difference is that it focuses specifically on addiction (alcohol and substance). It requires the use of mindfulness and meditation. It eliminates the pressures of abstinence but encourages more compassionate approaches throughout the recovery journey.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (CBT)
helps you to identify how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. With this method, clients learn how to process each and change the outcomes of their lives for the better.
SOLUTION-FOCUSED TREATMENT
Solution-Focused is a form of brief therapy used to help clients find solutions to the present issues they may be facing. There is no processing of past events unless they help find current solutions.
GRIEF COUNSELING
specifically focuses on life events that have caused the grieving process, most often the loss of a loved one, a beloved pet, a relationship, employment, home, identity, health, youth, and more. Working through the difficulties of these occurrences is challenging yet healing.
MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING
is a treatment that assists explicitly in change and motivation for addiction. The objective is to notice where a client is in the various stages of change and work within this realm of acknowledgment and acceptance. MLC combines this approach with Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), a method of treatment that does not require (although it is encouraged) abstinence.
Trauma can manifest from direct or indirect experiences in adulthood or childhood, resulting from single or multiple adverse events that have not been acknowledged or resolved. Unaddressed trauma, whether from childhood or adulthood, can impede mental and emotional development. Psychotherapy and mindfulness techniques offer avenues to alleviate symptoms associated with trauma.
Anxiety can induce sensations of unease, fear, stress, and bodily tension. Challenges with concentration and attention, commonly associated with ADHD, may stem from anxiety. Various factors, positive or negative, can trigger anxiety. Psychotherapy and mindfulness serve as effective methods in alleviating its symptoms.
Depression and various mood disorders can drain your energy, leaving you with feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, and helplessness while also diminishing your interest in everyday activities. Psychotherapy, sometimes complemented by medication, can effectively address these symptoms, enabling you to lead a more fulfilling and balanced life.
Grieving is an inherent process that unfolds in response to experiencing or anticipating a loss. Depending on the magnitude of this loss, complex grief may emerge, hindering the healing process for oneself or a loved one. Each individual follows a distinct and self-determined path in their journey of healing. Psychotherapy aids clients in navigating through the pain, facilitating a gradual transition into a healing trajectory tailored to their own pace.
Addiction can manifest in various forms, such as substance use, alcohol consumption, sex, gambling, food, and shopping, often stemming from unresolved trauma, unprocessed emotions, and other underlying factors. Psychotherapy plays a crucial role in mitigating symptoms that contribute to addictive behaviors, fostering comprehension of addiction as a "brain disease," instilling motivation for change, and empowering individuals with the resilience needed for recovery.
MLC focuses on providing specialized support in oncology and dialysis yet extends its services to individuals facing acute, chronic, and/or terminal diagnoses. Coping with such challenges alone can induce significant mental stress. Processing the initial shock, disbelief, confusion, and pain associated with receiving a life-altering diagnosis can greatly benefit from therapeutic support and services, offering relief and bolstering support during difficult times.
Unfortunately, in our current era, racial disparities, inequalities, and divisions persist. Racism has inflicted trauma, anxiety, depression, and distress in the lives of BIPOC people, including Black/African Americans, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian individuals, for over four centuries. Some experiences result in situational depression, evidenced by heightened mental health symptoms due to racial tensions. Dr. Joy DeGruy's book, "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS)," delves into the myriad issues triggering trauma in Black/African Americans, rooted in generational patterns stemming from the enslavement of their ancestors, highlighting the epigenetic aspect of trauma transfer across generations. Similar patterns exist for indigenous persons and all people of color (POC). Psychotherapy offers tools to cope with and manage symptoms arising from everyday microaggressions and, more significantly, the unjust killings faced by Black/African American individuals today. #BIPOCMentalHealthMatters
Disparities persist for individuals whose sexual orientation, gender identity, or non-gender identifying roles diverge from mainstream societal norms. Our LGBTQIA+ community has fought tirelessly for rights that heterosexual individuals often receive without question. Hate crimes and discriminatory practices against this population have induced symptoms of trauma, anxiety, and fear. I take pride in utilizing psychotherapy to assist numerous LGBTQIA+ clients in alleviating these symptoms, and I am committed to advocating for their equality and support. #DiverseMentalHealthMatters
Religious trauma refers to the psychological distress or trauma experienced as a result of harmful religious teachings, practices, or experiences. It can occur when an individual feels invalidated, shamed, or coerced by religious beliefs or authorities, leading to emotional or psychological harm. Religious trauma can manifest in various ways, including feelings of guilt, fear, anxiety, depression, or difficulty establishing healthy boundaries. It may stem from experiences such as spiritual abuse, rigid belief systems, rejection by religious communities, or conflicts between personal beliefs and religious teachings. Treatment for religious trauma often involves therapy, support groups, and exploring personal beliefs in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
Narcissistic abuse occurs in relationships with individuals who exhibit narcissistic traits, such as excessive self-focus, manipulation, lack of empathy, and a desire for control. Victims of narcissistic abuse often experience emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical harm due to the abuser's behaviors, which may include gaslighting, belittling, emotional manipulation, and devaluation.
Trauma from narcissistic abuse can manifest as:
The trauma from narcissistic abuse can have long-lasting effects, including PTSD-like symptoms, difficulty trusting others, and struggles with emotional regulation. Healing often requires therapy and rebuilding self-worth.
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