Types of Therapy
          Descriptions of therapies below, for links to therapy sites- CLICK HERE

Marital and Sexual Psychotherapies-

These deal with not only environmental, situational and phase of life problems which confront relationships but deal with concurrent problems in communication and conflict. Problems that occur within a relationship often emerge from relationship problems, the nature of feedback which couples provide each other, the difficulties in maintaining functional balance within the relationship, and the struggles for power and control which emerge. While relationship problems within a marital system may result in, and sometimes from, sexual conflicts, these are not the sole causes, nor even necessarily the primary causes. It is quite possible for a couple to have a functional sexual relationship and a dysfunctional emotional relationship. Relationship problems may emerge or worsen as a result of sexual dysfunction. By the time the couple consults a doctors, it is questionable as to whether sole resolution of the sexual problem, via medication for example, will make the marriage again functional unless other intervention (e.g. marital psychotherapy) is concurrently provided.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)-

This is a form of treatment for post-traumatic conditions where the traumatic event is recalled while the client makes specific voluntary eye movements.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy-

Psychotherapists believe that the unconscious motives along with unresolved conflicts lead to maladapted behavior.  They believe that to develop a "normal personality,"  a person must successfully go through five psychosexual stages (based on Freud's work):

• Oral - Birth to 1 year:  Sucking.
• Anal - 1 to 3 years:  Holding and releasing urine and feces.
• Phallic - 3 to 6 years:  Pleasure in genital stimulation.
• Latency - 6 to 11 years:  Sexual instincts develop.
• Genital - Adolescence:  Sexual impulses return.

They believe that inadequate resolution of any of these stages lead to flawed personality development.  

Behavior Therapy-

Behavior Therapies have a wide range of application in phobic, maladaptive habit, and compulsive behaviors.

In systematic desensitization, the patient can overcome maladaptive behaviors that are evoked by situations or objects by approaching the feared situations gradually to reduce anxiety.

Clinical Hypnosis-

This is an attentive, receptive, focal concentration while the individual has a concurrent awareness but a constriction of peripheral events. It is very similar to visual focus and peripheral vision. Those items in the center are sharp, detailed and colorful while those in the periphery are less noticeable. It is very similar to being so absorbed in that which a person is reading that they enter the world of the book and often fail to note things occurring around them. There are psychological, sensory, and motor/behavioral changes during hypnosis.

Group Psychotherapy-

This is effective and appeals to many patients and doctors. Groups of differing patient needs may be helpful, but there are some group psychotherapy where all share the same expressed need or disorder. In some instances the group is thought of as a doctor who is expressed through other group members: as each group member grows stronger, he/she provides assistance in interpretation, insight and decision making to other group members.

Clinical Biofeedback-

This instrumentation provides information (data) to a patient about normally involuntary physical processes that are below threshold (outside of awareness). The patient, with this data, can adjust behavioral, cognitive (mental) and affective (emotional) processes and learn to control these physical processes. These approaches are often useful for patients who are resistant to other forms of treatment.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-

This is a longer term cognitive behavioral treatment devised for borderline personality disorder which teaches patients skills for regulating and accepting emotions and increasing interpersonal effectiveness.

Focal Psychodynamic Therapy-

This identifies a central conflict arising from early experience that is being re-enacted in adult life producing mental health problems. It aims to resolve this through the vehicle of the relationship with the therapist giving new opportunities for emotional assimilation and insight. This form of therapy may be offered in a time-limited format, with anxiety aroused by the ending of therapy being used to illustrate how re-awakened feelings about earlier losses, separations and disappointments may be experienced differently.

Psychopharmacotherapies (Drugs)-

These are based upon the realization that the brain is not chemically responding in a functional fashion. This has to do with chemicals within the brain and central nervous system called neurotransmitters which must not only exist but exist in balance for thought, emotion and behavior to have regulation. Vigorous research on these chemical agents have existed since the mid 1950s. As a result of this research, we better understand how the brain's function is regulated and how best to assist those who suffer from dysregulation of these neurotransmitters. Appropriately used, the drugs can be beneficial.

Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapies (STDP)-

These work well for non-resistant patients. Such patients often have some beginning insight or awareness of potential causes of their problems. Treatment begins with a comprehensive diagnostic examination which determines whether the problems/disorder can be appropriately treated by a particular psychotherapeutic technique. The doctor also determines whether the patient has the strength to confront the underlying causes for their problems and that there is the potential for positive response to short term intervention. As in psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapies, STDP does involve examination of of the means by which unconscious needs and drives influence a patient's behavior and functional capacity.

Client-centered Psychotherapy-

This arose during the period of 1938-1950 and broadened the scope of patients treated by this approach in the 60s and 70s. The characteristics that distinguished this form of patient care included the belief that specific characteristics of the doctor were necessary and sufficient for effective treatment; rejection of the medical/disease model and focus upon the growth model of patient change; the immediate (rather than emotionally distant) accessibility of the doctor; focus upon the experiences of the patient; focus upon the patient's ability to live within the moment; concern for personality change rather than personality structure; and belief that the process applies to all patients rather than a select group; application of all knowledge of the impact of psychotherapy upon the interpersonal process. Many patients reported significant gains after only brief treatment exposure in contrast to the greater time period perceived required by other modes of treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy-

This is based upon information-processing theory and social psychology. Aside from being effective with a wide range of disorders, it appears to enhance the impact of medications used to treat such disorders and has appeal in that it is active, structured and time-limited. Pain, phobias, and mood disorders as well as psychophysiologic (psychosomatic) disorders have been treated successfully with this treatment approach. Errors in our thinking leading to self-defeating assumptions, incorrect interpretation of information, and lack of adequate problem solving planning are believed to be at the heart of our problems. Treatment assist the patient in identifying, testing the reality of, and correcting dysfunctional beliefs underlying our thinking and to assist the patient in modifying the thoughts and behaviors which emerge.

Relaxation Techniques-

In this form of therapy the patient is helped to resolve stresses that can contribute to the particular disorder. Breathing re-training and other skills are taught in which the patient is actively involved in developing skills that are useful for a lifetime. Can take time to achieve results and treatment benefits are limited to active use of the techniques.

Adlerian Therapy-

Adlerian Therapy is a growth model.  It stresses a positive view of human nature and that we are in control of our own fate and not a victim to it.  We start at an early age in creating our own unique style of life and that style stays relatively constant through the remained of our life.  That we are motivated by our setting of goals,  how we deal with the tasks we face in life,  and our social interest.  The therapist will gather as much family history as they can.  They will use this data to help set goals for the client and to get an idea of the clients' past performance.  This will help make certain the goal is not to low or high,    and that the client has the means to reach it.  The goal of Adlerian Therapy is to challenge and encourage the clients' premises and goals.  To encourage goals that are useful socially and to help them feel equal.  These goals maybe from any component of life including,  parenting skills,  marital skills,   ending substance-abuse,   and most anything else.  The therapist will focus on and examine the clients' lifestyle and the therapist will try to form a mutual respect and trust for each other.  They will then mutually set goals and the therapist will provided encouragement to the client in reaching their goals.  The therapist may also assign homework,   setup contracts between them and the client,  and make suggestions on how the client can reach their goals.

Existential Therapy-

This focuses on freedom of choice in shaping one's own life.  Teaches one is responsible to shape his / her own life and a need for self-determination and self-awareness.  The uniqueness of each individual forms his / her own unique personality,  starting from infancy. Existential therapy focuses on the present and on the future.  The therapist try's to help the client see they are free and to see the possibilities for their future.   They will challenge the client to recognize that he / she themselves were responsible for the events in their life. This type of therapy is well suited in helping the client to make good choices or in dealing with life.

Gestalt Therapy-

Gestalt therapy integrates the body and mind factors,  by stressing awareness and integration.  Integration of behaving,  feelings,  and thinking is the main goal in Gestalt therapy.   Client's are viewed as having the ability to recognize how earlier life influences may have changed their life's. The client is is made aware of personal responsibility,  how to avoid problems,  to finish unfinished matters,  to experience thing in a positive light,  and in the awareness of now.   It is up to the therapist to help lead the client to awareness of moment by moment experiencing of life.  Then to challenge the client to accept the responsibility of taking care of themselves rather then excepting others to do it.  The therapist may use confrontation,   dream analysis,  dialogue with polarities,  or role playing to reach their goals.  This may include treatment of crisis intervention,  marital / family therapy,  problem in children's behavior,   psychosomatic disorders,   or the training of mental health professionals.

Rational - Emotive & Cognitive - Behavioral Therapy-

Rational-emotive therapy is a highly action-oriented and deals with the client's cognitive and moral state.  This therapy stresses the clients ability of thinking on their own and in their ability to change.   The rational-emotive therapist believes that we are born with the ability of rational thinking but that my fall victim to irrational thinking.  They stress the clients ability to think,  in making good judgments,  and in taking action.    The therapist will use directed therapy.  The therapist believes that a neurosis is a result of irrational behavior and irrational thinking.  The Rational-emotive and Cognitive-behavioral therapist believe the clients problems are rooted in childhood and in their belief system,  that was formed in childhood.   Therapy will include method is solving and dealing with emotional or behavior problems.  The therapist will help the client to eliminate any self-defeating outlooks they may have and to view life in a rational way.  The therapist will never have a personal relationship with the client.  The therapist will think of the client as a student and themselves as the teacher.

Reality Therapy-

The reality therapist teaches the client ways to control the world around them and how to meet their personal needs.   They believe that the client can and will change their life for the better.   The reality therapist focuses on the what and the why of the clients actions.   They point out what the client doing and in getting them to evaluate it.  A behavioral or emotional problem is a direct result of the clients believe and feelings about themselves. The therapist will help the client evaluate their behaviors and feelings,  to challenge them to become more effective at meeting their needs.

Transactional Analysis-

Transactional analysis focus on the clients cognitive and behavior functioning.  The therapist helps the client evaluate their past decisions and how those decisions affect their present life.   They believe self-defeating behavior and feelings can be overcome by an awareness of them.  The therapist believes that the clients personality is made up of the parent,  adult,  and child.  They believe that it is important for the client to examine past decisions to help their make new and better decisions.

For links to traditional therapy sites- CLICK HERE