Have you felt that traditional therapy wasn't useful? Do you sometimes see yourself as more complicated than the "average" person?
Traditional "talk therapy" is a wonderful treatment for many people. I am trained in such techniques myself. Some people, however, have found that their previous psychotherapy experiences weren't particularly useful in lessening their suffering. Most of the clients who've found me describe liking their past therapists a great deal. At the same time, they also talk about being frustrated that their therapist was too passive or that their overall treatment was too much talk and intellectualizing. Such folks generally felt very accepted by their prior therapists but not challenged to push themselves. In their previous treatment, these clients commonly gained a better understanding of mental health concepts and a better understanding of themselves, but ultimately not much changed in their lives and relationships.
Over the past 10 years, I've received specific training and supervision in working with people for whom talk therapy was not successful. There are several different models that address clients who require more than traditional talk therapy. The specific type of treatment I have training in is more intense, direct, and encourages clients to focus on their bodies, more than trying to talk (or think) themselves out of their problems. I think it is fair to say that I am on the assertive end of therapists. I am kind and care about my clients but ultimately I do not believe, at least for a percentage of clients seeking help, that it is useful or caring to just listen. For these types of situations, I challenge folks to try new ways of thinking, acting, and feeling in session (Please read all of this page including the bottom area marked by an *).
Additionally, there are 3 practical aspects to the treatment that are different than a standard therapy session:
* Please note that I do not work with persons who are actively suicidal. It is my opinion that Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), another treatment that works with complicated issues, is the treatment of choice for folks who are suicidal or whose lives are in frequent crisis. Fortunately, we have a thriving DBT community in the Triangle of NC. People who are on the edge of their lives deserve to get the specific treatment that has the most data behind it. At this time, the data shows that DBT is that treatment.
*Additionally, I also do not work with persons who are currently abusing drugs or alcohol. Addictive substances make certain types of new learning and feeling very difficult. Folks with Substance Abuse issues should work with a person specifically trained to work with such issues.
*Lastly, the type of work I do requires motivation from the client. This work can be hard, sometimes painful and generally unlike other therapies a person has tried. A client must accept responsibility for their part of the treatment and change process. Showing up to a therapy appointment is not doing therapy. No therapist can do the therapy for a client. I see myself as a skilled facilitator at helping folks have new experiences. But I cannot be another person's motivation nor can I magically cure them. If the client can't/won't work hard and collaborate with their therapist (or vice versa), the treatment cannot work.
Traditional "talk therapy" is a wonderful treatment for many people. I am trained in such techniques myself. Some people, however, have found that their previous psychotherapy experiences weren't particularly useful in lessening their suffering. Most of the clients who've found me describe liking their past therapists a great deal. At the same time, they also talk about being frustrated that their therapist was too passive or that their overall treatment was too much talk and intellectualizing. Such folks generally felt very accepted by their prior therapists but not challenged to push themselves. In their previous treatment, these clients commonly gained a better understanding of mental health concepts and a better understanding of themselves, but ultimately not much changed in their lives and relationships.
Over the past 10 years, I've received specific training and supervision in working with people for whom talk therapy was not successful. There are several different models that address clients who require more than traditional talk therapy. The specific type of treatment I have training in is more intense, direct, and encourages clients to focus on their bodies, more than trying to talk (or think) themselves out of their problems. I think it is fair to say that I am on the assertive end of therapists. I am kind and care about my clients but ultimately I do not believe, at least for a percentage of clients seeking help, that it is useful or caring to just listen. For these types of situations, I challenge folks to try new ways of thinking, acting, and feeling in session (Please read all of this page including the bottom area marked by an *).
Additionally, there are 3 practical aspects to the treatment that are different than a standard therapy session:
- Ideally, such clients will allow me to videotape my work with them. The reason for this is two-fold: The first reason is I can spend a little extra time between some of our sessions looking at our work together and coming up with ideas. The second reason is video provides me the opportunity to take our work to an expert in the work I do. In this scenario, I get even more feedback on how to make the treatment effective. This, of course, is not mandatory but it is useful. The video is strictly encrypted.
- In such treatment, the ideal session times are 60, 75 or 90 minutes. Sometimes even 120 minute sessions are ideal. This allows us to get through the usual traps that keep a person stuck (overthinking, talking too much about a problem, and not being connected to what they are talking about).
- Lastly, our initial evaluation lasts 3 full sessions, starting with a 120-minute intake. Folks with more complicated problems deserve the best care they can find just like anyone else. My skills and techniques might work for one person but not another. Fortunately, I am quite well connected in the community and have an extensive list of colleagues in the area that also work with these issues but from other proven therapy models.
* Please note that I do not work with persons who are actively suicidal. It is my opinion that Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), another treatment that works with complicated issues, is the treatment of choice for folks who are suicidal or whose lives are in frequent crisis. Fortunately, we have a thriving DBT community in the Triangle of NC. People who are on the edge of their lives deserve to get the specific treatment that has the most data behind it. At this time, the data shows that DBT is that treatment.
*Additionally, I also do not work with persons who are currently abusing drugs or alcohol. Addictive substances make certain types of new learning and feeling very difficult. Folks with Substance Abuse issues should work with a person specifically trained to work with such issues.
*Lastly, the type of work I do requires motivation from the client. This work can be hard, sometimes painful and generally unlike other therapies a person has tried. A client must accept responsibility for their part of the treatment and change process. Showing up to a therapy appointment is not doing therapy. No therapist can do the therapy for a client. I see myself as a skilled facilitator at helping folks have new experiences. But I cannot be another person's motivation nor can I magically cure them. If the client can't/won't work hard and collaborate with their therapist (or vice versa), the treatment cannot work.