Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
I am committed to providing evidence based treatment. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for treating issues such as addictions, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, eating disorders depression, general stress and chronic pain. In addition, it is useful for treating personality disorders and anger (Hofmann et al., 2012, Yoshinaga, 2016). I encourage folks to experiment with CBT and track results.
Sources
Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Review of Meta-analyses. Cognitive therapy and research, 36(5), 427–440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-012-9476-1
Yoshinaga, N., Matsuki, S., Niitsu, T., Sato, Y., Tanaka, M., Ibuki, H., & Shimizu, E. (2016). Cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with social anxiety disorder who remain symptomatic following antidepressant treatment: a randomized, assessor-blinded, controlled trial. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 85(4), 208-217.
Overcoming Trauma
Imagine Success
What if difficult people were a renewed source of power and maybe even inspiration for you? What if stressful aspects of your job triggered feelings of ease and focus? For decades, visualization has been used as a tool to help individuals attain life goals such as quitting smoking or performing in sports. Today, we can use visualization to improve performance at school or work, reduce negative feelings such as boredom or frustration to tackle any myriad of issues. We can use negative stimuli (your inbox, a difficult person) and turn it into a resource that makes you feel the way you want to feel (happy, calm & focused, for example). I record the visualization so individuals don't have to pay additional fees and to foster independence.
Sources
Munroe-Chandler, K., & Guerrero, M. (2017). Psychological Imagery in Sport and Performance. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology. Retrieved 16 Jun. 2024, from https://oxfordre.com/psychology/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.001.0001/acrefore-9780190236557-e-228.
Unhealed trauma can impair vision and sabotage future goals and dreams. Through choice we take back power and heal the bondage of trauma. Trauma can lose its power when we retool. Getting equipped with new information through integrating the knowledge that life does not go back to the way it was, we creatively and compassionately integrate the unwanted experience and move on to new.
Sources
Schwartz, C., Waddell, C., Barican, J., Garland, O., Gray-Grant, D., & Nightingale, L. (2011). Helping children overcome trauma. Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly, 5(3), 1–16. Vancouver, BC: Children’s Health Policy Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University.https://childhealthpolicy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/RQ-3-11-Summer.pdf
Van der Kolk B. Posttraumatic stress disorder and the nature of trauma. Dialogues Clinical Neuroscience. (2000). 7-22. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2000.2.1/bvdkolk. PMID: 22034447; PMCID: PMC3181584.
Potential Side Effects of Therapy
Benefits to counselling may include greater feelings of wellbeing and resolution of symptoms, however side effects can exist (Linden 2014). Pharmaceutical drugs are required to list side effects, however psychotherapy has not been brought under scrutiny (Lorenz, 2021). Please bring up concerns about side effects your mental health care provider such as the emergence of new symptoms. Issues such overestimating the influence of therapy, can lead to low motivation to pursue healing between sessions and as a result people's lives can get worse.
Sources
Linden, M. and Schermuly-Haupt, M. (2014), Definition, assessment and rate of psychotherapy side effects. 13: 306-309. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20153
Lorenz TK. (2021) Predictors and impact of psychotherapy side effects in young adults. Couns. Psychother. Res. 21: 237–243. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12356
Disclaimer
This web site is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute seeking medical advice or psychiatric services. Those seeking psychiatric help should always consult with a licensed physician or psychiatrist before engaging in new mental health support. Always seek the advice of your doctor or psychiatrist regarding symptoms or conditions. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. No contributor to this web site, makes any representations, express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use.