Therapy consists of varied approaches and techniques to help people better understand, process, change, and grow in their striving for improved feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

 

Among the techniques that I use in therapy:

 

Individual therapy, often dealing with depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, and relationship issues helps each person process feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in a way which allows him/her to develop insight into his/her own inner workings.

 

Family therapy, helping members of a family learn to hear each other, how to process what each one is saying, looking for the underlying issues of what is said, learning to express feelings, and thoughts in a loving, non-threatening way. Helping various members control behaviors, expressing feelings in a way that allows other family members to relate and respond appropriately, learning family members to be aware of body language, and responding to the emotional process of what is being said instead of responding only to the content – all these techniques are invaluable in family therapy.

 

Marital therapy uses the same techniques as in family therapy.  The content and issues may be quite different but this content is processed as in family therapy.

 

Therapy for adolescents may place greater emphasis on behaviors.  It is common for adolescents to try to develop their own independence and therefore, reject parental authority and limits. While adolescents do indeed need to become more independent, this process does not necessarily require rejection of parental authority.  Therapy can help bridge this gap. 

 

Further, many adolescents often feel depressed and/or anxious as the result of social issues, pressure to succeed, peer pressure, etc. All of these issues can be shared and addressed in therapy and help the adolescent develop coping mechanisms that bridge the gaps and allowing the continued growth and development of the adolescent.