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Types of Therapy
An explanation of the specialized therapies we use here at the Clinic for Christian Counseling to help you get unstuck.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of treatment that helps people learn how to identify and change the destructive or disturbing thought patterns that have a negative influence on their behavior and emotions.
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing the automatic negative thoughts that can contribute to and worsen our emotional difficulties, depression, and anxiety. These spontaneous negative thoughts also have a detrimental influence on our mood.
Through CBT, faulty thoughts are identified, challenged, and replaced with more objective, realistic thoughts.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a modified type of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Its main goals are to teach people how to live in the moment, develop healthy ways to cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships with others.
DBT was originally intended to treat borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it has been adapted to treat other mental health conditions. It can help people who have difficulty with emotional regulation or are exhibiting self-destructive behaviors (such as eating disorders and substance abuse disorders). This type of therapy is also sometimes used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
EMDR
EMDR is an evidenced-based treatment which falls under the umbrella of Adaptive Information Processing. Anytime we experience a trauma, information is stored within the brain and cells of the body. We can remember sights, sounds, smells, and body sensations all associated with an event. When these memories are either not processed, or processed maladaptively, people can have an experience in the present, which triggers these memories from the past, keeping the person stuck in a loop of maladaptive thinking, feeling, believing, and behaving. Once the memories are processed, through the use of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sound), the brain is able to reorganize the information, thereby desensitizing the body/mind, and enabling the person to experience the freedom of living in the present moment, unbound by past experiences.
The eye movements used in this treatment are said to create a similar effect to that produced during the REM stage of sleep. The brain re-processes the information, from the very root which created the problem. While it may seem daunting to have to go through memories, EMDR is a structured, safe, effective, evidenced-based therapy. EMDR allows for one to remain fully grounded in the present moment, ensuring the avoidance of additional trauma. And, you don’t have to go into any detail, as the details are not as important as the overall feelings, thoughts, and sensations.
EMDR is especially effective in people who have PTSD and can also be useful for people who have Anxiety, Phobias, Mood Disorders, Sleep Disorders, Grief, Addiction, Low Self Esteem, and Depression. People are generally able to recover physically and emotionally much quicker using EMDR than traditional talk therapy which can take years to process life events verbally.
Resources for more information on EMDR
