Not all people respond to one type of psychotherapy. Having been eclectically trained, Michelle draws upon a variety of psychotherapy theories and methodologies to provide the best possible treatment outcomes for her clients. The types of therapies Michelle provides are listed and described below:

 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps to change the context in which a person relates to their symptoms, allowing for more adaptive ways of relating to discomfort. Goals of ACT are to make behavioral choices that reflect upon a person’s values and to allow challenging and uncomfortable personal thoughts and feelings to coexist.

 

Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)

Some people find it helpful to explore a specific problematic behavioral pattern to better understand their current unsatisfactory choices they are making in their life. A better understanding of the connections between the past and the present pattern can lead to new and more desirable interactive patterns. Goals of STPP are to reduce symptoms, gain coping skills, gain awareness of choices, and to have better interpersonal relationships. 

 

Somatic Experiencing Psychotherapy

Somatic experiencing psychotherapy focuses on releasing emotions that are held in the body that are disconnected from conscious awareness. By increasing bodily awareness, people learn to recognize physical sensations and urges they experience when they encounter stress or trauma. One goal is to learn to self-regulate when a person feels overwhelmed. Somatic experiencing therapy can be implemented to treat anxiety, trauma, grief, and chronic pain.

​

Behavioral Psychotherapy

I will at times, use a structured behavioral model that examines environmental triggers that produce emotional and physiological responses. Undesirable behaviors can occur and lead to negative consequences. The goal is to change problematic behavior.

​

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a contemporary cognitive behavioral approach that provides a broad range of practical coping skills that are complemented by Eastern Philosophy (mindfulness). DBT targets ingrained patterns that are driven by negative thinking and unhelpful automatic behaviors. Improved relationships and managing emotions and anxiety are goals of DBT therapy.