Mindfulness
A mindfulness-based approach teaches how to bring neutral attention to work with your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. By bringing your awareness to the present moment, insight and deep change is possible. Awareness as a “way of being” is fostered through the formal practice of meditation in stillness and movement and the informal practice of bringing mindfulness into daily life. This leads to wholesome states and skillful actions.
Psychodynamic
A psychodynamic approach explores the impact of issues and dynamics that have emerged from your family of origin and significant events on current relationships and life challenges. By looking deeply into “unresolved” or “fragmented” parts of yourself, acceptance and states of “wholeness” emerge.
Family Systems
A family systems approach is applied to couples work to note patterns of communication and interpersonal dynamics as they are occurring in “real time”—during the counseling session. Important components of couples work include understanding unconscious conflicts such as “fear of engulfment” versus “fear of abandonment”; learning effective communication such as “active listening” and “compassionate speaking”; and recognizing that dynamics are a 50/50 operation wherein each individual needs to accept 100% responsibility for their share.
Cognitive-Behavioral
A cognitive-behavioral approach explores cognitive distortions—unwholesome thoughts which lead to feelings of negativity and cognitive reframes—wholesome thoughts which lead to feelings of positivity. Noting the impact of your thoughts on how you feel emotionally, how your body reacts, and how this influences your actions are emphasized.
