Client-Centered Approach

Developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s, the client-centered method is based on the empowering idea that the client holds the answers to her problems--not the doctor in the white coat. The client-centered therapist's job, then, is to carefully listen and strive to understand the client, so that she can tap into her natural ability to grow and improve. Client-centered therapy helps the client live in the moment and focus on personality change, rather than on the origins of her personality structure

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

“Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on exploring relationships among a person's thoughts, feelings and behaviors. During CBT a therapist will actively work with a person to uncover unhealthy patterns of thought and how they may be causing self-destructive behaviors and beliefs.

By addressing these patterns, the person and therapist can work together to develop constructive ways of thinking that will produce healthier behaviors and beliefs. For instance, CBT can help someone replace thoughts that lead to low self-esteem ("I can't do anything right") with positive expectations ("I can do this most of the time, based on my prior experiences").

The core principles of CBT are identifying negative or false beliefs and testing or restructuring them. Often times someone being treated with CBT will have homework in between sessions where they practice replacing negative thoughts with more realistic thoughts based on prior experiences or record their negative thoughts in a journal.

Studies of CBT have shown it to be an effective treatment for a wide variety of mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and schizophrenia. Individuals who undergo CBT show changes in brain activity, suggesting that this therapy actually improves your brain functioning as well.

Cognitive behavioral therapy has a considerable amount of scientific data supporting its use and many mental health care professionals have training in CBT, making it both effective and accessible.”

See more at https://www.nami.org

What Is Motivational Interviewing?

“Motivational interviewing is a form of collaborative conversation for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change.

It is a person-centered counseling style for addressing the common problem of ambivalence about change by paying particular attention to the language of change.

It is designed to strengthen an individual's motivation for and movement toward a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person's own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.”

See more at: http://www.motivationalinterviewing.org

What Is Expressive Arts Therapy?

Expressive arts therapy is a multimodal approach to therapy... Expressive arts therapy may incorporate writing, music, movement, painting, and/or various forms of art creation. Alongside talk therapy, or in some cases, exclusive to talk therapy, clients are encouraged to explore their responses, reactions, and insights via pictures, sounds, explorations, and encounters with art processes. Informed by the unfolding process of creating and working with imagination, a connection occurs that supports clients to create new experiences, insight, and direction. A person is not required to have artistic ability to use or benefit from expressive arts therapy.

See more at: http://www.goodtherapy.org/

What Is Play Therapy?

“... toys are the child's words!

Initially developed in the turn of the 20th century, today play therapy refers to a large number of treatment methods, all applying the therapeutic benefits of play. Play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems. Play therapy builds on the natural way that children learn about themselves and their relationships in the world around them (Axline, 1947; Carmichael, 2006; Landreth, 2002). Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others. Play provides a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development.”

See more at: http://www.a4pt.org