Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

This is considered a third wave behavioral therapy that uses mindfulness skills to develop psychological flexibility and helps clarify and direct values-guided behavior. ACT, pronounced “act,” (not by its initials A-C-T) is a directive and experiential form of therapy based on relational frame theory (RFT), its underlying scientific theory of human language and cognition. This theory emerges from the philosophy of functional contextualism, as opposed to mechanistic models, which aim to repair, change, or fix “problems.” ACT does not see clients as damaged or flawed, and does not define unwanted experiences as “symptoms” or “problems,” but resolves to define the function and context of behavior (ACT defines behavior to encompass both private and public activity, ie. actions, thoughts, memories, emotions, sensations) in order to determine its “workability,” for the purposes of creating rich and meaningful lives.

What is the Aim of ACT?

The aim of ACT is to experience the fullness and vitality of life, which includes a wide spectrum of human experience, including the pain that inevitably goes with it. Acceptance (which is not the same as approval) of how things are, without evaluation or attempts to change it, is a skill that is developed through mindfulness exercises in and out of session. ACT does not attempt to directly change or stop unwanted thoughts or feeling, but to develop a new mindful relationship with those experiences that can free a person up to be open to take action that is consistent with their chosen values. Values clarification is a key component to ACT.

Six Core Processes of ACT

Psychological flexibility is the main goal of ACT and is created through six core processes:

1. Contact with the present moment2. Self-as-context3. Defusion4. Acceptance5. Values6. Committed action

These six process are not separate, but overlapping and interconnected. All six of these processes are introduced and developed experientially over the course of treatment. Psychological flexibility can be defined simply as “the ability to be present, open up, and do what matters.”

Mindfulness and ACT

Being present means being in direct contact with the present moment, rather than drifting off into automatic pilot, and getting in touch with the observing self, the part that is aware of, but separate from, the thinking self. Mindfulness techniques are taught to experience the observing self-firsthand, whether they bring awareness to each of the five senses, thoughts, or emotions.

Opening up is the ability to detach from thoughts (defusion) and accepting, or making space for and dropping the struggle with painful feelings, urges, sensations, etc. Acceptance is the ability to allow what is to be as it is instead of fighting or avoiding it. If someone is thinking, “I’m a terrible person,” they might be instructed to say, “I am having the thought that I’m a terrible person.” This effectively separates the person from the cognition, thereby stripping it of its negative charge. When someone is experiencing painful emotions, like anxiety for example, they might be instructed to open up, breathe into, or make space for the physical experience of anxiety and allow it to remain there, just as it is, without exacerbating or minimizing it.

Values Clarification and ACT

Doing what matters is all about values clarification, knowing what matters to you personally, and taking effective action guided by those values. Various exercises are employed to help identify chosen values, which act like a compass from which to direct intentional and effective behavior. People who are fused with their thoughts and tend to struggle with or avoid painful emotions, often struggle with choosing purposeful and values-guided action. Through mindful liberation from such struggle they find acting congruently with their values quite natural and fulfilling.

The information above on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/acceptance-commitment-therapy.html

If you want further and more detailed information on ACT, you can visit:http://contextualscience.org/the_six_core_processes_of_act

Adlerian Psychology

"Meanings are not determined by situations. We determine ourselves by the meanings we ascribe to situations." Alfred Adler.

Adlerian Psychology/Psychotherapy

Adlerian psychotherapy was developed by Alfred Adler (1870-1937). He believed that it was imperative to become intimately familiar with a person’s social context by exploring factors such as birth order, lifestyle, and parental education. Adler was under the firm belief that each person strives to belong and feel significant. Adlerian psychology places its emphasis on a person’s ability to adapt to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority relative to others. This method of therapy pays particular attention to behavior patterns and belief systems that were developed in childhood. Clinicians who use this form of therapy strongly believe that these strategies are the precursors for later self-awareness and behaviors and are directly responsible for how a person perceives themselves and others in their life. By examining these early habitual patterns, we can better develop the tools needed to create our own sense of self-worth, meaning and ultimately create change that results in healing. Adler was a pioneer in the area of holistic theory on personality, psychotherapy, and psychopathology. He believed that a person will be more responsive and cooperative when he or she is encouraged and harbors feeling of adequacy and respect. Conversely, when a person is discouraged, he or she will display counter-productive behaviors that present competition, defeat, and withdrawal. When methods of expression are found for the positive influences of encouragement, one’s feelings of fulfillment and optimism increase.

Adlerian Individual Therapy/Couples Therapy/Family Therapy

Adlerian individual psychotherapy, brief therapy, couple therapy, and family therapy all guide clients to release their unproductive feelings and to refocus their attention toward forming corrections in perceived values, feelings, and behaviors that prohibit further positive growth. The paramount goal of this type of therapy is to remove destructive self-directed beliefs and behaviors and to replace them with tools that will allow a client to become confident and socially empowered.

Values Clarification and Adlerian Psychology

Individuals often enter therapy to gain better insight into their own behaviors and responses to circumstances that occur in their lives. Adlerian psychotherapy uses a process of Adlerian Values Clarification. By understanding this organization, and how it has influenced self-worth, acceptance and expectations, a client can begin to accept the emotions they have that are related to the events experienced as a child. This process of perception allows a client to identify, maybe for the first time, with their true inner value, independent of others. Adlerian values clarification allows one to look at prior beliefs in a new way that encourages positive change.

Doing what matters is all about values clarification, knowing what matters to you personally, and taking effective action guided by those values. Various exercises are employed to help identify chosen values, which act like a compass from which to direct intentional and effective behavior. People who are fused with their thoughts and tend to

struggle with or avoid painful emotions, often struggle with choosing purposeful and values-guided action. Through mindful liberation from such struggle they find acting congruently with their values quite natural and fulfilling.

The information above on Adlerian Psychology was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/adlerian-psychology.html

If you want further and more detailed information on Adlerian Psychology, you can visit:http://www.adlerian.us/stages2.html

Art Therapy

Art therapy is a type of therapy in which clients are facilitated by the art therapist - using art media (the creative process) and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being.

Art therapy is an effective treatment for people experiencing developmental, medical, educational, and social or psychological impairment. Individuals who benefit from art therapy include those who have survived trauma resulting from combat, abuse, and natural disaster; persons with adverse physical health conditions such as cancer, traumatic brain injury, and other health disability; and persons with autism, dementia, depression, and other disorders. Art therapy helps people resolve conflicts, improve interpersonal skills, manage problematic behaviors, reduce negative stress, and achieve personal insight. Art therapy also provides an opportunity to enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of art making.

The information above on Art Therapy was obtained from:http://www.arttherapy.org/aata-aboutus.html#whatisarttherapy

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a type of therapy that encourages clients to use their own body’s responses and indicators to facilitate improved health. Many health professionals use this technique with the aid of biofeedback machines or monitors. This method of self-healing and actualization has been used for centuries. Ultimately, the goal of

biofeedback is to take the information gathered from your body’s physical responses to stimuli or events, and use it to examine the emotional implications to transform the body itself. This type of therapy was developed by Neal Miller, Leo DiCara, Elmer Green, and Barbara Brown.

Using Biofeedback for Anxiety Related Disorders

When a person is able to gain insight into their own body’s mechanisms, they are better able to control their muscles and other physical reactions. Many people who practice biofeedback are able to regulate their own heart rate and blood pressure, simply by getting in tune with their body. This technique has been used in treating various mental health challenges, and can be especially helpful for treating impulse control and anxiety.

The information above on Biofeedback was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/biofeedback-neurofeedback.html

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapeutic treatment that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors. It was developed by Dr. Aaron T Beck. CBT is commonly used to treat a wide range of disorders including phobias, addictions, depression, and anxiety.

Cognitive behavior therapy is generally short-term and focused on helping clients deal with a very specific problem. During the course of treatment, people learn how to identify and change destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on behavior.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Basics

The underlying concept behind CBT is that our thoughts and feelings play a fundamental role in our behavior. The goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to teach patients that while they cannot control every aspect of the world around them, they can take control of how they interpret and deal with things in their environment.

The information above on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was obtained from:http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/a/cbt.htm

If you want further and more detailed information on CBT, you can visit:http://www.beckinstitute.org/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-techniques/

Control Mastery Therapy

This groundbreaking theory was developed by Joseph Weiss, MD and researched by Dr. Weiss and Harold Sampson, PhD along with the members of the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group. The Control Mastery Theory (CMT) is an assimilated technique that explores the progression of psychotherapy and the role it plays in healing. This school of thought believes that psychotherapy is born from a pathogenic perspective developed from difficult and extreme life events, including stressful circumstances that may be still be present.

The information above on Control Mastery Theory was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/control-mastery-theory.html

If you want further and more detailed information on Control Mastery Theory, you can visit:http://sfprg.org/control_mastery/

Dance/Movement Therapy

Movement therapy is beneficial to both physical and mental health. It is used as a method of reducing stress, and has been used by various groups of people including caregivers and people with chronic illness. In addition, the physical impact it has on participants includes increased muscular strength, coordination, and mobility, and decreased muscular tension. Emotionally, this form of therapy enables people to gain a greater sense of well-being and self-awareness and provides an outlet for the expression of feelings. Some experts believe that dance therapy may also insulate the body from disease by strengthening the immune system. Dance therapy was developed in the middle 20th century by Marian Chace, Mary Whitehouse, and Trudy Schoop, and has grown to become an extremely popular and validated form of therapy.

What It Helps With

Dance therapists work with their clients to help them improve their sense of body-image and self-esteem. The creative expression of dance therapy serves to provide the clients with an increase in communication skills and lays the groundwork for more dynamic relationships. In addition, the therapist will observe and interact with the client in order to help him or her gain a deeper sense of self-awareness through movement, motion, and realization of body. Dance therapy has continued to evolve but adheres to these basic principles at its core.

Because dance uses physical expression of emotions and feelings, it is a powerful and insightful method of treatment. The American Dance Therapy Association defines dance therapy as “the psychotherapeutic use of movement as a process which furthers the emotional, cognitive and physical integration of the individual.” Dance/movement therapy allows a person to realize broad transformations in emotional, physical, and behavioral states.

Principles of Dance Therapy

The main principles of dance therapy are designed around four distinct stages:

1. Preparation2. Incubation3. Illumination4. Evaluation

The information above on Dance/Movement Therapy was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/dance-movement-therapy.html

If you want further and more detailed information on Dance/Movement Therapy, you can visit:http://www.adta.org/about_dmt

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

EFT is a revolutionary treatment method that offers healing from physical and emotional pain and disease. Without the use of needles, this form of acupuncture uses the fingertips to stimulate energy points on the body. Developed by Gary Craig, this is an easily mastered technique that can be performed virtually anywhere. This treatment sprang from the idea that, "The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system."

What is Emotional Freedom Technique Like?

EFT works by tapping on acupressure meridians to release blockages. When these blockages are released, the problem feeling can be released and move through the body. The process starts with a beginning statement of what the problem feeling is and includes a complete acceptance and acknowledgement of the problem. To start the process of EFT, the person would say something like, “Even though I have this (fear) about (failing my upcoming test), I completely accept myself anyway." Often that will not feel true to a person, so they would modify the statement to say, “I am willing to learn to accept myself” or “I want to accept myself." The client says the statement three times

while tapping on the karate chop point. In the second part of this treatment, the client focuses on the feeling (fear) in the body and rates it at an intensity between 1-10. Then the client begins to tap on points around the face while saying “this fear” simultaneously. Several rounds of this can be done until the fear is rated at a zero on a scale from 1-10. Once that fear is gone, the therapist will guide the client to feel into other fears that will then come up from different aspects of the same situation or emotional state.

EFT can be an effective way of clearing out feelings. When an unwanted feeling is gone, the limiting beliefs that the client held are released. New, more positive beliefs about themselves can emerge. Learning EFT also empowers the client to take charge of handling their emotional state because they can tap on a feeling any time they want to move out a painful feeling.

The information above on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/emotional-freedom-technique.html

If you want further and more detailed information on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), you can visit:http://www.emofree.com

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Marsha M. Linehan was the developer of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). She originally set out to address the needs of women with histories of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, or tendencies to self-harm through her training as a behaviorist. However, she discovered that in reality she was treating people who were symptomatic of Borderline Personality (BPD). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is founded on the belief that environmental and biological factors that remain undetermined cause some people to respond to emotional states more quickly, and sustain a heightened emotional affect for an extended period of time before they return to baseline. This discovery gives credence to the symptoms of BPD which include lives fraught with crisis and severely shifting emotional peaks and valleys. DBT helps these people learn coping techniques that they did not receive in their invalidated childhoods.

Five Core Criterion of Dialectical Behavior Therapy

According to Linehan, the core criterion that must be met for comprehensive psychotherapy to be valid encompasses five factors. It is essential that the therapy:

1. Expands and sustains the motivation the client possess to facilitate transformation.

2. Provides opportunity for the client’s skills to be further developed.

3. Assimilates the client’s new skill set to be applicable in multiple relevant situations and circumstances.

4. Develops the therapist’s own abilities while increasing the therapist’s desire to effectively and willingly treat people.

5. Provides a nonjudgmental and secure environment in which the healing process can occur.

DBT Stages and Goals

DBT utilizes a system of stages and target goals to ensure that it does not fall victim to treating present issues only. DBT also uses a progression system that focuses on the most prevalent issues first, such as injurious or harmful conditions, and then reverts to the less pressing issues in order of relevancy to the continuation of treatment. Behavior patterns that negatively impact the client’s life, development of coping skills and other extenuating issues are addressed once the primary risk factors have been worked on. Ultimately, the therapist focuses first on sustaining life, secondly on sustaining therapy, and thirdly on providing the resources and tools to effect a positive change in the client’s life.

The information above on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/dialectical-behavioral-therapy.html

If you would like further and more detailed information on DBT, you can visit:http://www.dbtselfhelp.com/index.html"

If you would like to learn techniques that are found in DBT, try looking through this website:DBT Handouts and Learning Activities

Existential Psychotherapy

Existential Psychotherapy is a unique style of therapy that puts emphasis on the human condition as a whole. Existential psychotherapy uses a positive approach that applauds human capacities while simultaneously maintaining a genuine perception of the limitations of the human being, human spirit, and human mind. Existential psychotherapy was developed by Friedrich Nietzsche, Soren Kierkegaard, Jean-Paul Sartre, Rollo May, James Bugental, Viktor Frankl, Irvin Yalom, Kirk Schneider, Stephen Diamond, and Myrtle Heery. Existential psychotherapy shares many similarities with humanistic psychology, experiential psychotherapy, depth psychotherapy, and relational psychotherapy.

Accepting Fears and Overcoming Them

Existential psychotherapy encourages people to address the emotional issues they face through full engagement and to take responsibility for the decisions that caused them to develop. People who undergo this form of therapy are guided to accept their fears and are given the skills necessary to overcome them through action. By gaining control of the direction of their life, the client is able to design the course of his or her choosing. This creates in the client a sense of liberation and a feeling of letting go of the despair associated with insignificance and meaninglessness. This type of therapy involves teaching the client to give birth to, grow, and embrace his or her own life and to exist in it with wonder and curiosity. By doing so, a client is able to then view his or her life experience as a journey rather than a trial, and can eradicate the fear associated with death.

The information above on Existential Psychotherapy was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/existential-psychotherapy.html

If you want further and more detailed information on Existential Psychotherapy, you can visit:http://www.disorders.org/existential-therapy/

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

This therapy was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro. It is a research-supported, integrative psychotherapy approach created to provide optimum results, and especially known for its use in post traumatic stress treatment.

What Are EMDR Therapy Sessions Like?

EMDR therapy is an eight phase approach and gives attention to identifying and processing memories of negative and traumatic events contributing to present problems. During part of the procedures, the client is encouraged to access the stored memory briefly while maintaining focus on external stimulus delivered by the therapist. These cues can include eye movement, taps or tones. During the set of dual attention new associations emerge in the form of insights, other memories and new emotions. After each brief set of dual attention, the client briefly reports what emerged in consciousness and the next focus of attention is identified for processing. The processing targets during EMDR therapy include past events, current triggers and future needs.

Theory Behind EMDR Therapy

Although EMDR blends various elements of multiple disciplines of psychotherapy, it is unique in its use of bilateral stimulation techniques. EMDR therapy rests on the theory that memories of many adverse life experiences are housed in a dysfunctional manner within our memory systems and remain unprocessed due to high level of disturbance experienced at the time of the event. The two key views of EMDR therapy are identified as the belief that eye movements enhance the efficacy of therapeutic treatment through the development of physiological and neurological transformations and that these changes actually assist the client in healing and recovering from the negative memories. Research has also indicated that eye movement is a physiological method of internal desensitization to the emotional reaction to the memory.

Client Experience of EMDR Therapy

The client is prepared with self-control techniques before processing begins. Because EMDR actively engages the memory network, a client can experience disturbing reactions at the time the memory is recovered, or experience it at a low level of disturbance. Many people who witness or are themselves subjected to a traumatic event may suffer from flashbacks and intrusive thoughts due to the unresolved memories. This form of treatment serves as a tool for proper and adequate resolution of debilitating and frightening memories.

The above information on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/eye-movement-desensitization-and-reprocessing.html

For further and more detailed information on EMDR, you can visit:http://www.emdr.com/general-information/what-is-emdr.html

Exposure Therapy

This type of therapy is specifically useful for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During exposure therapy, an individual is deliberately exposed to whatever triggers the obsessive thoughts or reactions to a previous traumatic experience under controlled conditions. The individual is then taught techniques to avoid performing the compulsive rituals or to work through the trauma. This is helpful in decreasing the the urges following a stimulus (thought or situation) that previously resulted in the individual being paralyzed by the thoughts and behaviors associated with their mental illness. ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is thought of as a “first-line treatment” for PTSD and OCD in certain situations.

The information above on Exposure Therapy was obtained from:http://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Treatment/Psychotherapy

Gestalt therapy

Gestalt therapy was developed by Fritz Perls, Laura Perls, and Paul Goodman in the 1940s. It is an experiential and humanistic form of therapy that was originally designed as an alternative to conventional psychoanalysis. Gestalt therapists and their clients use creative and experiential techniques to enhance awareness, freedom, and self-direction. The word gestalt comes from the German word meaning shape or form, and it references the character or essence of something.

Principles of Gestalt Therapy

At the core of gestalt therapy is the holistic view that people are intricately linked to and influenced by their environments and that all people strive toward growth and balance. Gestalt therapy is similar to person-centered therapy in this way, as well as in its emphasis on the therapist’s use of empathy, understanding, and unconditional acceptance of the client to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

According to gestalt therapy, context affects experience, and a person cannot be fully understood without understanding his or her context. With this in mind, gestalt psychotherapy recognizes that no one can be purely objective.

Gestalt therapy also recognizes that forcing a person to change paradoxically results in further distress and fragmentation. Rather, change results from acceptance of what is. Typically, a therapy session would focus on helping clients learn to become more self-aware and to accept and trust in their feelings and experiences to alleviate distress.

Focus on "Here and Now"

Gestalt therapy places emphasis on gaining awareness of the present moment and the present context. Through therapy, clients learn to discover feelings that may have been suppressed or masked by other feelings and to accept and trust their emotions. Needs and emotions that were previously suppressed or unacknowledged are likely to surface as well. Through this process, a person gains a new sense of self as overall awareness increases.

The information above on Gestalt therapy was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/gestalt-therapy.html

For further and more detailed information on Gestalt therapy, you can visit:http://www.gestalt.org

Humanistic Psychology

Humanistic psychology is founded on the belief that moral and ethical values and intentions are the driving forces of our psychological construct and directly determine our human behavior. This value-oriented approach views humans as inherently driven to maximize their creative choices and interactions in order to gain a heightened sense of liberty, awareness, and life-affirming emotions. It was developed by Gordon Allport, J. Bugental, Charlotte Buhler, Abraham Maslow, Rollo May , Gardner Murphy, Henry Murray, Fritz Perls, and Carl Rogers.

Theory and Methods of Humanistic Psychology

Theories suggest that a person is created with a distinct priority of needs and drives, that each person must rely on their own inner wisdom and healing center, and that all people possess free will. Psychologists who practice this method of therapy target the productive, adaptive, and beneficial traits and behaviors of a person. The client and therapist strive to meet for the purpose of achieving the same goal and to stimulate communication that will facilitate change. Self Actualization is at the heart of humanistic psychology.

The information above on Humanistic Psychology was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/humanistic-psychology.html

For further and more detailed information on Humanistic Psychology, you can visit:http://www.simplypsychology.org/humanistic.html

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)

Internal Family Systems is aimed at healing the wounds associated with traumatic situations and is applied in family, couple, and individual situations. This technique combines two established methods: multiplicity of the mind and systems thinking. The goal of IFS is to address the sub-personality. In this type of therapy, a person is guided to realize their inner self through the use of practical applications. A person progresses on their own healing path according to their unique design without external urgency or persuasion. Internal Family Systems Therapy was developed by Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Internal Family Systems Therapy Model

Internal Family Systems Therapy is based on an integrative model and believes that each sub-personality of the mind possesses its own characteristics and perceptions. This therapy technique sees each level of consciousness as having these sub-personalities, or "parts," and each plays a distinct role in achieving self-preservation for the client as a whole. Every part within a person is responsible for warding off any behaviors, actions, or reactions that can result in dysfunction or disharmony within. In this type of treatment, each part is validated and recognized as significant because of its primary function. Parts can be identified as having either healthy, productive roles or extreme roles. The latter category is made up of parts that require transformation or alteration through the therapeutic process.

Types of "Parts" in Internal Family Systems

There are three distinct types of parts in this model:

• Managers: These parts are responsible for maintaining a functioning level of consciousness by warding off any unwanted or counterproductive interactions, emotions, or experiences resulting from external stimuli.

• Exiles: These parts are most often in a state of pain or trauma, frequently resulting from childhood experiences. Managers and firefighters exile these parts and prevent them from reaching the conscious level so that preservation is preserved.

• Firefighters: These parts serve as a distraction to the mind when exiles break free from their suppression. In order to protect the consciousness from feeling the pain of the exiles, firefighters prompt a person to act on impulse and to engage in behaviors that are indulgent, addictive, and often times abusive.

The information above on Internal Family Systems (IFS) was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/internal-family-systems-therapy.html

For further and more detailed information on IFS, you can visit:http://www.selfleadership.org/about-internal-family-systems.html

Lifespan Integration © (LI)

This therapy was developed by Peggy Pace unique method of therapy which uses memory recall and imagery to access the inner child. LI creates a visual timeline of conscious and unconscious memories to address and dispel negative emotions and allow the body-mind connection to begin the healing process. When administering this form of therapy, a clinician will guide a client to draw on a memory from each year of his

or her life. LI provides a gentle and nurturing atmosphere that allows the memories to spontaneously present themselves. Each individual memory is then examined to determine the relationship it has with present day symptoms. In addition, the landscape of the client’s life is visible and this often allows the client to gain insight into particular patterns or behaviors he or she has sustained throughout their lifetime.

Variations of Lifespan Integration ©

Another variation of Lifespan Integration is being used to help clients manage and combat the negative effects of maltreatment in early childhood. By working with a highly trained and internally coherent therapist, a client can be guided into the past and can visualize themselves being parented in a positive way. This form of therapy often creates a powerful and regenerated sense of self and identity for the client, and his/her perception of his/her entire life is dynamically and dramatically shifted for the better.

The information above on Lifespan Integration © was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/lifespan-integration.html

For further and more detailed information on Lifespan Integration ©, you can visit:http://www.lifespanintegration.com

Music Therapy

Music therapy integrates music and all of its elements and delivers it through a therapeutic protocol to provide healing of mind, body, emotion and spirit. Music, by its very nature, embodies creative, emotional, structural and nonverbal language. A trained music therapist uses this technique to initiate contact with the client and to help foster a relationship that will allow the client to gain self-awareness, personal development and self-expression through communication and knowledge.

The information above on Music Therapy was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/music-therapy.html

For further and more detailed information on Music Therapy, you can visit:http://www.musictherapy.org/about/musictherapy/

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy was developed by Michael White and David Epston. Narrative therapy is a method of therapy that separates the person from the problem and encourages people to rely on their own skill sets to minimize the problems that exist in their everyday lives. Throughout life, personal experiences are transformed into personal stories that are given meaning and help shape a person’s identity, and narrative therapy utilizes the power of people’s personal stories to discover the life purpose of the narrator.

Principles of Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy was created as an empowering and collaborative form of therapy that recognizes that people possess natural competencies, skills, and expertise that can help guide change in their lives. People are viewed as separate from their problems, and in this way, a therapist can help externalize sensitive issues. This objectification dissipates resistance and defenses and allows a client to address this issue in a more productive manner.

Rather than transforming the person, narrative therapy aims to transform the effects of the problem. The objective is to get some distance from the issue, and in this way, it is possible to see how a particular concern is serving a person, rather than harming him or her. For example, posttraumatic stress might help protect a person from the difficult emotions associated with a particular event, although it also contributes a host of new troubling symptoms, such as anxiety and fear. This process of externalization can help a person develop greater self-compassion, which, in turn, can help him or her to feel more capable of change. In fact, some psychologists have identified a process termed "posttraumatic growth" to account for the positive personal change that can occur to people who have experienced a traumatic event. Narrative therapists also help clients view their problems within the context of social, political, and cultural storylines that influence the way we view ourselves and our personal stories. Narrative therapy can be used for individuals, couples, or families. In a couple or family setting, the technique of externalizing problems sets the stage for creating positive interactions and transforming negative communication or responses into more accepting, nonjudgmental, and meaningful exchanges. Seeing a problem objectively helps couples and families to reconnect with the heart of their relationship and address the ways in which the problem has challenged that core strength.

Narrative Therapy Techniques

Practitioners of narrative therapy believe that simply telling one’s story of a problem is a form of action toward change. Narrative therapists help to objectify problems, frame them within a larger sociocultural context, and make room for other stories. Together, therapist and client identify and build upon “alternative” or “preferred” storylines that exist beyond the problem story; these provide contrast to the problem, reflect a person’s

true nature, and offer opportunities to rewrite one’s story. In this way, people move from what is known (the problem story) to what is as of yet unknown.

The therapist also helps people to see what is “absent but implicit” in the presentation of a problem. By exploring the impact of the problem, it is possible to identify what is truly important and valuable to a person in a broader context, beyond the problem. This can help a person identify a common thread to connect his or her actions and choices throughout life. In other words, all the “other” experiences and values from life are “absent but implicit” as people navigate new terrain. This process can help a person better understand his or her experience of life and gain personal agency for addressing problem scenarios in the future.

The information above on Narrative Therapy was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/narrative-therapy.html

If you want further and more detailed information on Narrative Therapy, you can visit: http://www.narrativeapproaches.com/?new_sess=1

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is the basis for Neuro-Linguistic Psychotherapy (NLPt). It was developed by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. The core belief of this theory is that people do not react to their environment as it is, but rather they build their perception from their experiences as they relate to the world around them. Each person develops his or her own map of his or her world, and by doing such, no one ever possesses a map that fully represents the true environment. Because each person experiences different life events, and subsequently different reactions to those events, no two people will ever be guided on the same journey. This technique allows a person to view the steps that have led them to where they are and to examine the negative and positive influences, behaviors, and choices that brought them there. NLP also examines areas of success and uses these as a springboard for developing other successful emotions and determines the most efficient way to use these experiences and emotions in everyday situations. This technique of “modeling” allows for rapid transformation.

Theory of Neuro-Linguistic Programming

Each person is created with an internal computer, the mind. Information is absorbed by the mind through our senses and is processed through different mechanisms. People's expressions of emotions, behaviors, and responses are the direct result of their internal processing. These actions and responses are then absorbed by their minds, reprocessed and expressed, repeatedly. The processing mechanism is subjective to one's own unique experiences and external life events. NLP can be referred to as the

operating manual for people's minds that can guide us through the necessary steps to reprogram our processing mechanisms when they produce unwanted expressions.

Technology, Methodology and Epistemology of NLP

The model of NLP encompasses three different fields:

1. Technology - NLP has specific techniques and tools that are employed to achieve certain results, mainly to affect one's perceptions, emotions and actions to life experiences.

2. Methodology - NLP is based on a digestible group of concepts and ideas that provide comprehension and guidance relative to the various techniques and applications.

3. Epistemology - Insight and understanding comes through experimentation and action. NLP tests its methods by assessing nonverbal indicators to determine its effectiveness.

The information above on Neuro Linguistic Programming was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/neuro-linguistic-programming.html"

For further and more detailed information on Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), you can visit:http://purenlp.com/nlpfaqr.html

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback was developed by: Hans Berger, G. Dietsch, Joe Kamiya, Elmer Green, Martin Orne, James Hardt, Barbara Brown, Barry Sterman, Joel Lubar, and D. A. Quirk.

Neurofeedback is a system of providing a client feedback in real time methods in order to facilitate change in functioning. The activity of the brain is examined and rewarded for any positive pattern corrections it makes. Any area of brain activity that can be gauged can benefit from this technique, although results are seen gradually. The basis for this system is called EEG Biofeedback, electrical brain activity, or the electroencephalogram. The process of neurofeedback entails supplying the brain with feedback of its own activity in order to create self-regulation. This entire process serves to improve the overall functionality of the brain.

A typical Neurofeedback session will begin with an assessment that lasts roughly 90 minutes. The client will receive their first EEG reading and be asked to fill out a questionnaire that provides insight into the conditions that brought them to treatment. If the clinician feels there is a necessity for a full EEG, it will be administered at that time and will provide the clinician with a brain map. This map shows the clinician how much

activity is present in various areas of the brain. The activity is measured through sensors that are placed on different spots on the client’s head. Feedback is received through a variety of mediums, including video, audio, imagery, and motion. These different outlets each provide unique and distinct information relating to the activity level of the brain at that specific moment. Most clients will undergo a minimum of 20 sessions. The sessions all begin with an assessment of the client's mental and physical condition presently and leading up to the session.

Through Neurofeedback, a client is actually able to manipulate their brainwaves. Those suffering with disabilities that directly affect brain activity can benefit greatly from this type of therapy. In addition, Neurofeedback has been shown to significantly improve conditions of mood, including anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, ADHD, sleep disorders, learning disabilities, and other cognitive impairments that developed as a result of aging or injury. Neurofeedback can also alleviate stress, nausea, and pain and is often used in clients with cancer and other chronic illnesses.

The information above on Neurofeedback was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/neurofeedback.html

For further and more detailed information on Neurofeedback, you can visit:http://www.eeginfo.com/what-is-neurofeedback.php

Person-Centered Therapy

This type of therapy was developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s. This type of therapy diverged from the traditional model of the therapist as expert and moved instead toward a nondirective, empathic approach that empowers and motivates the client in the therapeutic process. The therapy is based on Rogers’s belief that every human being strives for and has the capacity to fulfill his or her own potential. Person-centered therapy, also known as Rogerian therapy, has had a tremendous impact on the field of psychotherapy and many other disciplines.

Rogerian Theory in Psychotherapy

Rather than viewing people as inherently flawed, with problematic behaviors and thoughts that require treatment, person-centered therapy identifies that each person has the capacity and desire for personal growth and change. Rogers termed this natural human inclination “actualizing tendency,” or self-actualization. He likened it to the way that other living organisms strive toward balance, order, and greater complexity. According to Rogers, "Individuals have within themselves vast resources for self-understanding and for altering their self-concepts, basic attitudes, and self-directed

behavior; these resources can be tapped if a definable climate of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided."

The person-centered therapist learns to recognize and trust human potential, providing clients with empathy and unconditional positive regard to help facilitate change. The therapist avoids directing the course of therapy by following the client’s lead whenever possible. Instead, the therapist offers support, guidance, and structure so that the client can discover personalized solutions within themselves.

Person-centered therapy was at the forefront of the humanistic psychology movement, and it has influenced many therapeutic techniques and the mental health field, in general. Rogerian techniques have also influenced numerous other disciplines, from medicine to education.

Six Factors Necessary for Growth in Rogerian Theory

Rogers identified six key factors that stimulate growth within an individual. He suggested that when these conditions are met, the person will gravitate toward a constructive fulfillment of potential. According to Rogerian theory, the six factors necessary for growth are:

1. Therapist-Client Psychological Contact: This first condition simply states that a relationship between therapist and client must exist in order for the client to achieve positive personal change. The following five factors are characteristics of the therapist-client relationship, and they may vary by degree.

2. Client Incongruence or Vulnerability: A discrepancy between the client’s self-image and actual experience leaves him or her vulnerable to fears and anxieties. The client is often unaware of the incongruence.

3. Therapist Congruence or Genuineness: The therapist should be self-aware, genuine, and congruent. This does not imply that the therapist be a picture of perfection, but that he or she be true to him- or herself within the therapeutic relationship.

4. Therapist Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR): The clients’ experiences, positive or negative, should be accepted by the therapist without any conditions or judgment. In this way, the client can share experiences without fear of being judged.

5. Therapist Empathy: The therapist demonstrates empathic understanding of the clients’ experiences and recognizes emotional experiences without getting emotionally involved.

6. Client Perception: To some degree, the client perceives the therapist’s unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding. This is communicated through the words and behaviors of the therapist.

The information above on Person-Centered Therapy was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/person-centered.html

Modern Psychoanalysis

It was developed by Sigmund Freud and is a dichotomy in psychology as it has been revered and refuted by the general public throughout the years. The success of this therapy. Psychoanalysis has been used in sociology, religion, literature, and even in mythology and through these mediums gained momentum and recognition with the general population. However, its therapeutic and clinical purposes were overshadowed by its cultural acceptance. Seen as one of the most influential theories in history, psychoanalysis appeared in our culture as a revolutionary and innovative model of construction that dared to oppose and challenge existing formulations and morals. The debate continues to this day as to whether this pervading clinical method of therapy has any validity in modern behavioral medicine or if it merely represents a meandering and colorfully narrative description of Freud’s own distorted perceptions and beliefs.

Principles of Psychoanalysis

Although the field of psychoanalysis encompasses a vast number of therapeutic models, there are three main principles at its core:

1) Psychoanalysis is the technique of researching and discovering the ways of the mind and the thought processes.

2) Psychoanalysis maintains a specific set of ideas with regard to human behavior.

3) Psychoanalysis is a form of therapy for the treatment of various emotional and psychological disturbances.

The information above on Psychoanalysis was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/psychoanalysis.html

For further and more detailed information on Psychoanalysis, you can visit:http://www.apsa.org/content/psychoanalytic-theory-approaches

Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT)

“People are not disturbed by things but rather by their view of things.” - Albert Ellis

This type of therapy was developed by Albert Ellis in 1955 and was originally called rational therapy. It laid the foundation for what is now known as cognitive behavioral

therapy. REBT is built on the idea that how we feel is largely influenced by how we think. As is implied by the name, this form of therapy encourages the development of rational thinking to facilitate healthy emotional expression and behavior.

Reshaping Core Beliefs with REBT

Often, the ways of thinking ingrained in our brains at an early age or resulting from painful or traumatic events continue to subconsciously influence our behaviors and perceptions into adulthood. REBT seeks to reshape these core beliefs in those experiencing a wide range of mental health conditions, thereby enabling them to live full, satisfying lives free from unnecessary psychological distress.

The ABCs of REBT

Based on the notion that we are typically unaware of our deeply embedded irrational thoughts and how they affect us on a day-to-day basis, Ellis established three guiding principles of REBT. These are known as the ABCs: activating event, beliefs, and consequences.

• Activating (or Adverse) Event - First, it is essential to identify the situation or event that triggers the negative emotional and/or behavioral response.

• Beliefs - Second, the core beliefs that are attached to the emotional or behavioral response must be identified and examined.

• Consequences - The combination of the activating event and the core beliefs will produce a result or consequence, such as depression, social anxiety, antisocial behavior, or issues with self-esteem. Similarly, the deconstruction of these ingrained negative beliefs and integration of fresh, positive perceptions can drastically improve a person’s outlook and experience of life.

The information above on Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/rational-emotive-behavioral-therapy.html

For further and more detailed information on REBT, you can visit:http://www.rebtnetwork.org/

Schema Therapy

This type of therapy was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Young. It is utilized for the treatment of chronic mental health conditions such as personality issues, depression, and eating disorders. This therapy blends techniques from various therapeutic methods as a means to permanently alter the behavior patterns of people with these life-long issues. Schema therapy is founded in the belief that schemas, or maladaptive behaviors, are formed in early childhood and relived throughout adulthood.

Core Belief of Schema Therapy

The core belief that schema therapy is founded on is that of we all need fulfillment. If the basic needs of childhood, affection, guidance, love, shelter, and safety are not met, then children will enter into adulthood with an emotional deficit in these areas. That is when the schemas form and will continue to disrupt the life of the client through unhealthy choices, toxic relationships, diminished social skills, destructive behavior patterns, poor sense of judgment, poor feelings of self-worth, and a general dysfunction on all levels of behavior. Constructing nurturing relationships and discovering one’s own true origins through schema therapy can help a client build feelings of self-worth and adequacy. With these as a foundation, the client can work with the therapist to design and achieve goals that result in a healthier, happier life experience.

What is Schema Therapy Like?

Therapists who administer schema therapy do so in a secure, empathetic and nonjudgmental environment in order to identify and explain skewed cognitive perceptions from a client’s past. The therapist offers validation and acceptance to the client and this serves as a mechanism for ensuring continued treatment, as the persistency and success rates are very high with this type of therapy. Schema therapy employs the use of imagery to examine destructive beliefs a client has about himself or others in his life. Video therapy has also been known to be an effective element of this type of therapeutic treatment and can aid in the rapid transformation of a client’s views. This powerful form of therapy is flexible enough to incorporate the use of language response, audio cues, and other external stimuli to engage the client in the recovery process.

The information above on Schema Therapy was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/schema-therapy.html

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Somatic Experiencing ® (SE™)

Somatic Experiencing was developed by Peter A. Levine, PhD to address the effects of trauma. Levine developed this approach after observing that prey animals, whose lives are routinely threatened in the wild, are able to recover readily by physically releasing the energy they accumulate during stressful events. Humans, on the other hand, often override these natural ways of regulating the nervous system with feelings of shame and pervasive thoughts, judgments, and fears. Somatic Experiencing aims to help people move past the place where they might be “stuck” in processing a traumatic event.

The Autonomic Nervous System and Somatic Experiencing Theory

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which includes the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), and the enteric nervous system (ENS), is triggered into action when we’re faced with adversity and it governs the fight, flight, or freeze instinct. Although designed to be self-regulating, the ANS can become dysregulated, particularly when full expression of one’s response to trauma is repressed. As a result, the body continues to respond as if it is under threat. Somatic experiencing contends that negative symptoms of trauma - such as anxiety, hypervigilance, aggression, and shame - result from denying the body the opportunity to fully process the traumatic event.

Though many people who experience traumatic events recover completely, for those who do not, unresolved trauma can lead to larger mental and physical health concerns, such as post traumatic stress disorder, sleep problems, mood swings, or immune system problems. Somatic Experiencing aims to restore the body’s ability to self-regulate in order to achieve balance and integrity.

Methods of Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing sessions involve the introduction of small amounts of traumatic material and the observation of a client’s physical responses to that material, such as shallow breathing or a shift in posture. The therapist will frequently check in with the client to assess and record somatic sensations that may be imperceptible to the practitioner, such as feelings of heaviness, tightness, or dizziness. Practitioners proceed carefully and cautiously to avoid retraumatizing or triggering the client, and they help people to develop and employ self-regulating strategies. A key component to enhancing one’s ability to self-regulate is the practice of alternating, or “pendulating,” between the sensations associated with trauma and those that are a source of strength and comfort.

The practitioner will help the client find places of safety, whether that be a place in the body that is not activated by the trauma, or a physical place to retreat to in one’s mind. Experiencing the sensations related to the traumatic event in a safe way allows a person to fully process the trauma. Clients also achieve heightened awareness of their physical responses to stress, and this skill can serve them in everyday life.

The information above on Somatic Experiencing (SE) was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/somatic-experiencing.html

For further and more detailed information on Somatic Experiencing, you can visit:http://somaticexperiencing.com/

Yoga Therapy

Yoga Therapy was developed by T. Krisjnamacharya, TKV Desikachar, and BKS Iyengar. The term "yoga therapy" encompasses a broad range of different methods and purposes. It’s a journey of self-discovery that allows you to go within yourself and find what needs to be corrected. Drawing out the negative behaviors or traits and bringing them into reality creates the basis for change. At its essence, this type of therapy is a method that focuses on healing by prioritizing health. Whether it’s mental or physical health (if physical, this can be rehabilitative, curative, preventative, or to manage a chronic condition), the ultimate goal remains the same - to improve overall quality of life.

On a psychological level, the introspection promoted by yoga is essential to the self-knowledge process that fuels psychic transformation. The different relaxation techniques allow the troubled mind to calm and decrease its activity while promoting stability. Yoga considers the psyche to be spread in different centers along the body (chakras). Each is related to a nervous plexus, an endocrine gland, an organ or group of organs and specific psychic qualities. By acting upon the chakras, yoga (therapy) brings light to any psychic blockages, making them available to the conscious mind. The modern western correlate of this scheme is in the core of psycho-neuroimmunology, a branch of psychology that studies the interaction between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems, explaining some of the subtle mechanisms of psychosomatic medicine.

The information above on Yoga Therapy was obtained from:http://www.goodtherapy.org/yoga-therapy.html