Orientations

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy holds that how we think influences how we feel and irrational beliefs create problems for people, undermining self-esteem. Irrational thoughts and automatic beliefs often contribute to emotional as well as behavioral difficulties. The therapist focuses on underlying irrational beliefs and unhelpful behaviors which contribute to a myriad of problems.

Psychodynamic Therapy, another very effective orientation, focuses on helping clients to change within the context of the therapist-patient relationship so they can make larger changes with others. Anxiety, hidden feelings, defenses, and conflicts that are outside of awareness may all emerge and be worked on in therapy. Long-lasting change in feelings, symptoms, and life patterns is the goal.

Systems Therapy is a therapeutic orientation which considers the interactional dynamics or “dance” among people in relationships, families, and work settings, among others. From a systemic perspective, a therapist considers how individuals impact and are impacted by others. The various systems of which the clients are a part, such as extended family, school, community, and cultural group(s), are also examined to see how they contribute to problems.