top of page
1000_F_318732794_h8kaFAiGkKsMlCquuFJlg5bKqGEXtJSR.jpg

Common Therapeutic Modalities 

​

Depending on the issue you’re dealing with and your goals, there are several ways to approach CBT. This well-known theory is used for many different mental health problems like, Anxiety, OCD, depression, eating disorders, and related issues. Whatever approach your therapist takes, it will include:

  • Identifying specific problems or issues in your daily life.

  • Becoming aware of unproductive thought patterns and how they can impact your life.

  • Identifying negative thinking and reshaping it in a way that changes how you feel.

  • learning new behaviors and putting them into practice

  • Understanding ways your thoughts and feelings impact your daily behavior, relationships and overall productivity in your life.

​

Family Systems Therapy utilizes many techniques including Structural therapy; Strategic therapy; Systemic therapy; Narrative therapy; Communication theory; Reality therapy; Relationship counseling; Relationship education; Family Genograms; Psychoeducation; Psychotherapy. 

 

Some common family systems therapy techniques include:

  • psychoeducation

  • marital counseling (as a means to improve the system),

  • behavioral management

  • improving communication

  • fostering coping skills

  • future planning

  • vocational/job related counseling

  • medication management or holistic suggestions (in some cases)

​

Play therapy is a form of therapy used primarily for children, primarily when children are not able to process their own emotions or articulate problems to parents, adults, or others.

While it may look like an ordinary playtime, play therapy can be much more than that. During "playtime" the goal is to observe and gain insights into the child’s challenges. We can also then help your child explore emotions and deal with unresolved trauma. Through play, children can learn new coping mechanisms and how to redirect inappropriate behaviors. Some of the potential benefits of play therapy are:

  • taking more responsibility for certain behaviors

  • developing coping strategies and creative problem-solving skills

  • self-respect

  • empathy and respect for others

  • alleviation of anxiety

  • learning to fully experience and express feelings

  • stronger social skills

  • stronger family relationships

  • encourage use of language or improve fine and gross motor skills.

  • can be used alone or alongside other therapies including medication management

​

Psychodynamic therapy developed from psychoanalysis, a longer-term approach to mental health treatment compared to CBT and other shorter term approaches. In psychoanalysis, you can expect to talk about anything on your mind to uncover patterns in thoughts or behavior that might be contributing to distress. It’s also common to talk about your childhood and past, along with recurring dreams or fantasies you might have. In psychodynamic therapy, you’ll work with us to explore the connection between your unconscious mind and your actions. This involves examining your emotions, relationships, and thought patterns. Many people continue to improve, even after they complete psychodynamic therapy due to the intensity of treatment. Psychodynamic therapy may be a good choice for addressing:

  • depression

  • anxiety

  • eating disorders

  • somatic symptoms

  • substance use disorder

  • a variety of other conditions

​

People who are experiencing distress from their family, intimate, professional, or social relationships may benefit from relational therapy. This includes those who are experiencing the following; mood disorders, anxiety, depression, or stress, that are causing relationship issues and those who suffer from low self-esteem, eating disorders, and poor body image. In relational therapy, you learn to identify how you may be pushing people away rather than attracting them and also come to understand how these behaviors are related to past experiences. The goal is to develop new ideas about relationships, to build a strong relationship with the therapist, and to use both those new ideas and the therapeutic relationship as a model to create healthier, longer-lasting relationships with others.

​

Trauma-Focused Therapy is a specific approach to therapy that recognizes and emphasizes understanding how the traumatic experience impacts a child's mental, behavioral, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Trauma-informed therapy is not about a specific intervention but rather tailoring interventions in the context of the individual's trauma history, triggers, and specific needs, taking into account the impact of trauma on emotions, regulation, and behavior. The Five Guiding Principles are:

  • Safety

  • Trustworthiness

  • Choice

  • Collaboration

  • Empowerment

Furthermore, the trauma-informed approach is guided by the “Four R's”: Realization about trauma and how it can affect people and groups recognizing the signs of trauma, having a system which can respond to trauma, and resisting re-traumatization.

​

Motivational interviewing is a counseling approach designed to help people find the motivation to make a positive behavior change. This client-centered approach is particularly effective for people who have mixed feelings about changing their behavior. Originally, motivational interviewing was focused more on treating substance use disorders by preparing people to change addition-related behavior. Over time, however, motivational interviewing has been found to be a useful intervention strategy in addressing other health behaviors and conditions such as:

  • Diabetes control

  • Diet

  • Obesity prevention

  • Physical activity

  • Sexual behavior

  • Smoking

​

Motivational interviewing can also be used as a supplement to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for;

  • anxiety disorders

    • generalized anxiety disorder

    • social anxiety disorder

    •  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

​

This approach has even been used to reduce the fear of childbirth.

There are several reasons why motivational interviewing is a widely used form of mental health therapy, including:

  • Building the client's self-confidence and trust in themselves

  • Lowering the chance of future relapse with addiction

  • Showing clients that they have the power to change 

  • Teaching responsibility 

​

​

​

​

​

 

Adlerian theory is a holistic approach to psychology that emphasizes the importance of overcoming feelings of inferiority and gaining a sense of belonging in order to achieve success and happiness. Adlerian theory is often used in counseling and psychotherapy. Using this approach, we cab help you develop a better understanding of your goals and motivations. The process takes place over four stages which will be explained to you during treatment.

​

Adlerian therapy can also be helpful for treating a number of mental health conditions. Some of the problems this type of therapy may be used to treat include:

  • Adjustment issues

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Eating disorders

  • Personality disorders

  • Schizophrenia

  • Substance abuse problems

  • Low self-esteem, loneliness, or negative thinking.

​

People often find treatments based on Adlerian theory helpful because it emphasizes the importance of community involvement and social interactions in order to promote individual growth.

Because it is a holistic approach, people are able to gain a greater awareness of different aspects of themselves as well as a greater understanding of how they fit in within their social world. 

Another benefit of the Adlerian approach is that it avoids pathologizing people. Instead, it emphasizes how people can experience difficulties and discouragement during life, which then contributes to psychological problems. By affirming the individual and rebuilding social relationships, people are able to gain confidence and empowerment that allows them to pursue their goals and make healthy choices.

​

​

 

​​​

​

The Person-Centered Approach (PCA) is an approach to human relationships. It values attitudes such as: not judging others, trying to understand the experiences of others from their point of view, and fully honoring the uniqueness of the individuals we meet in a genuine and heartfelt way. This therapy provides clients with the tools and resources they need to understand themselves and what they need to achieve positive change in their lives. It empowers the person seeking help and emphasizing that they are in control of their life and future and are capable of overcoming any difficulties they face. In PCA we work together as a team. It is empathetically driven toward providing a person with a safe space to talk and self-actualize positive changes in their life. This type of therapy can help with various types of mental distress including:

​

There are many benefits associated with person-centered therapy including:

  • Improved self-awareness

  • Improved self-concept (the way you see yourself)

  • Greater trust in oneself and one’s own abilities

  • Healthier relationships with others based on an improved view and understanding of oneself

  • Healthier communication skills

  • Improved ability to express opinions and feelings

  • Ability to let go of past hurt or mistakes

  • Ability to strive for healthy changes that make one's life better. 

​

​​

 

 

​

 

Use of essential oils is used with the understanding that our emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing, can have an effect on how we think, act, and feel. Your mental health also determines how you make choices, relate to other people, form relationships, and handle stress. Mental health issues can have an impact on your mood, thinking patterns, feelings, behaviors, and temperament. There are various factors that can have a negative impact on our mental health, including: 

  • Biological Factors: when your brain chemistry or genes cause an imbalance in your mind. 

  • Hereditary Factors: when a family history of mental health issues increases your risk of developing it. 

  • Personal Experiences: when various events in your life – such as trauma or abuse – put you at risk of mental health issues. 

 

Disclaimer: Although essential oils shouldn’t be treated as a cure-all for all mental health issues, they can be used as a complementary treatment for certain mental health disorders during sessions. * A holistic treatment method known as aromatherapy has been used to treat physical and emotional ailments since ancient times. This treatment includes adding essential oil to a diffuser and inhaling the scent as the person relaxes. * The research surrounding the benefits of aromatherapy is still limited. Yet, the practice possesses enough benefits for people to continue it for centuries now. Even though there isn’t any proof that essential oils can treat anxiety or depression on their own, several studies have observed that many oils have effectively minimized its symptoms. 

​

​

 

 

 

 

​

The Nurtured Heart Approach® (NHA) was created by Howard Glasser, marriage and family therapist, and is a highly acclaimed relationship-focused methodology founded strategically in The 3 Stands™ for helping children (and adults) build their Inner Wealth™ and use their intensity in successful ways. What began as a method to help challenging children has become a powerful way of awakening the inherent greatness in all children. It’s a method that helps children see the beauty of who they are by our intentional interactions with them and our delivery of emotional energy at the right moments.

​

The proven methodology of NHA creates healthy, connected, positive and strengthened relationships among family members and couples. It is also widely used in schools, residential facilities and other workplaces. Through acknowledgement and recognition and the purposeful delivery of positive energy, even the most “difficult” children are capable of shifting their negative behavior patterns. When the right, intentional interactive strategies are executed, through the development and growth of these relationships into ones filled with positive, nurturing substance, children and adults alike, clients begin to reach their full potential.

​

Through my work with challenging and intense children, traditional methods often fail because of three reasons. The 3 Stands™, children receive more intense relationship when things are going right. The foundational error in conventional ways of parenting, school discipline and treatment is to give more intense relationships when things are going wrong. Together we can discuss how your best efforts may actually fuel the fire of challenging behavior and how to make simple shifts that will change everything. Including saving some of your own energy for the positive instead of the negative leaving you feeling more refreshed, happy and successful!

 

NHA is being used in tens of thousands of families around the world, thousands of classrooms, various clinical settings, group homes, etc. to help children and families thrive. 

​

​

​

​

​

 

​Christian Counseling techniques will be similar to that of traditional therapy with the incorporation of Christian belief practices such as prayer and bible reading:

  • CBT

  • Meditation

  • Prayer

  • Implementing biblical practices

​

Christian counseling can be helpful in addressing conditions and life concerns such as those mentioned below:

​

Faith based practice and spirituality are both associated with greater mental and physical well-being. It is very beneficial to engage in spiritual practices and seek spiritual advisory for mental health challenges as well as additional life concerns.

Integrating faith based concepts into psychotherapy is correlated with more positive traits, such as gratitude and optimism, which are linked to less depressive feelings. Religion and spirituality are both associated with greater mental and physical well-being. 

​

 

 

 

 

 

​

Many clients chose to see a counselor remotely rather than in person because it is convenient and affordable. Online counseling has gained popularity in recent years as more therapists than ever before offer long distance sessions. This type of therapy goes by many names including telehealth, e-counseling, or cyber-counseling. Generally, these sessions take place over the phone or via a secure video chat software to insure client’s privacy and comfort.

The Benefits of Online Counseling

  • More affordable than conventional counseling

  • No commute time

  • Have therapy in whatever environment you prefer

  • No difficult traveling for people with different ability levels

  • Save time

  • Continue with your therapists even if you move

  • Increases access to counseling

  • See a specialist even if there isn’t one in your are

​

At Ciccone Child & Family Counseling, LLC we use a secure online therapy session software to ensure client’s confidentiality. When you make your initial appointment, you will receive easy- use friendly instructions on how to use this software.

 

When engaging in Telehealth, we ask that you are somewhere that is private and has a reliable internet connection. Most people chose to have their session in the comfort of their home. Then we proceed just like you would with in person counseling!

 

bottom of page