Counseling Theories
Theoretical Lens and Approaches
My work is grounded in an existential framework that highlights understanding and creating meaning in our lives. In addition to existentialism, I use cognitive behavioral theories and biofeedback which are evidence-based approaches.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to treatment of many life challenges, such as stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, mood swings, and obsessive compulsive tendencies, just to name a few. CBT focuses on identifying unhealthy patterns of thinking that lead to unpleasant feelings and unwanted behaviors. After challenging and replacing unhealthy or irrational beliefs, a new pattern of feelings and behaviors might set in. Clients that way learn many beneficial copying strategies in order to regulate
their emotional state and resolve past and current problems.
Beck, 1975
Relational-Cultural Therapy
Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT) is aligned with feminist and multicultural movements and assumes that we have a natural drive toward relationship and connecting with others. One of the primary goals of RCT is to establish and maintain growth-fostering relationships in which both partners feel accepted, respected, and that they matter. In healthy relationships, people will experience a desire to have more relationships, a sense of zest or energy, improved knowledge of self and the other person in relationship, a desire to grow in a relationship and outside of it, and overall increase sense of worth.
Jordan, 2018
Gottman Method for Couples Counseling
The Gottman Method is an approach to couples counseling that focuses on a thorough assessment of a couple relationship and research-based interventions based on the Sound Relationship House Theory in order to deescalate verbal communication, improve respect and affection, increase intimacy and empathy, and remove stagnancy in conflicting situations. All negative patterns of interactions have rather adverse effects on any relationship and the Gottman Method offers helpful strategies to replace them with effective ones. Interventions tends to help couples strengthen their relationship in three areas: conflict management, friendship, and creation of shared meaning.
Gottman, 2010
Biofeedback
iofeedback is a process that enables an individual to learn how to change physiological activity for the purposes of improving health and performance. Precise instruments measure physiological activity such as brainwaves, heart function, breathing, muscle activity, and skin temperature. These instruments rapidly and accurately "feed back" information to the user. The presentation of this information — often in conjunction with changes in thinking, emotions, and behavior — supports desired physiological changes. Over time, these changes can endure without continued use of an instrument.
Approved May 18, 2008 by: Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB)Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA)I