Treatment Philosophy
I was introduced, as most graduate students in clinical psychology, to a range of approaches. However, if you've read my home page, you probably noticed i have an appreciation and respect for the impact the unconscious mind plays in our lives. So it may come as no surprise to you that psychodynamic theories would resonate with my sensibilities. They are the theories that make explanations and allowances for this mysterious aspect of our personalities. I've found that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a good complement to psychodynamic treatment. A psychodynamic perspective is more oriented to the root causes of pathology. It is referred to sometimes as a depth therapy. However even after the cause of a pathological condition has been uncovered, the maladaptive behaviors that have become habits may continue to persist. CBT is effective in addressing these behaviors. We are after all in many aspects creatures of habit. One way to think about this is that psychodynamic treatments work from the inside out and CBT from the outside in.
I believe that most disorders can be effectively dealt with using these two treatment methods perhaps with the exception of PTSD. Psychodynamic treatments tend to draw out the time for treatment by not teaching self soothing skills that allow for a more timely and direct approach to the traumatic incidents. CBT on the other hand uses exposure methods that unnecessarily create mental anguish for trauma victims. EMDR is a relatively new method for treating trauma that has proven as efficacious as exposure techniques but does not put the patient thru the nightmare of reliving every gruesome detail of the trauma over and over again. I have been trained in EMDR and use it in the treatment of trauma victims.
I believe that most disorders can be effectively dealt with using these two treatment methods perhaps with the exception of PTSD. Psychodynamic treatments tend to draw out the time for treatment by not teaching self soothing skills that allow for a more timely and direct approach to the traumatic incidents. CBT on the other hand uses exposure methods that unnecessarily create mental anguish for trauma victims. EMDR is a relatively new method for treating trauma that has proven as efficacious as exposure techniques but does not put the patient thru the nightmare of reliving every gruesome detail of the trauma over and over again. I have been trained in EMDR and use it in the treatment of trauma victims.