Integrated Therapy Associates

Products And Services

• Counseling

  An atmosphere of trust, compassion, and empathy is at the core of any healing process. Within this context, guidance is provided in uncovering patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that lie at the root of present day difficulties. Often it's as if we're carrying wounds from the past that have not yet had the opportunity to heal. These past hurts may continue to have a direct effect on our current feelings and circumstances. For others, the primary reason for seeking counseling may have more to do with a major life change or transition. Whatever the case may be, counseling is available for a wide range of issues and situations. Services are provided for individuals, couples, and families. Adolescents and adults of all ages are welcome. Some of the issues addressed in counseling include: depression; anxiety; grief and loss; eating disorders; trauma; sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; creative block; personal growth; relationships; sexuality; and women's and men's issues across the lifespan.

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• Insight Oriented

  Link: Insight Oriented

• Psychodynamic

  Link: Psychodynamic

• CBT

  Link: CBT

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

  EMDR is a powerful new therapy which has helped an estimated half million individuals to experience relief from many types of psychological distress. It seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain functions. When a person experiences a traumatic event it often becomes crystallized or "frozen" in time. Subsequently the memory of the trauma may feel as emotionally intense as the actual event. Such memories have profound effects on people's views of the world, their sense of safety, and their perceptions of themselves and others. In short, people's lives become disrupted. During an EMDR session therapist and client identify a specific memory to work with. Everything about the memory is called to mind including the negative beliefs about one's self that remain present. The therapist provides a monitor-like screen with a focal point on which the client focuses. As this point moves back and forth across the screen the client follows with his or her eyes. This process seems to provide bilateral stimulation of the brain allowing for the memory to be re-processed. The client is totally awake and alert during this process and notices whatever comes to mind without trying to control it. This experience may be analogous to watching a movie of the event. As the session progresses the disturbing aspects of the memory diminish and positive beliefs about oneself strengthen. For example, by the end of a session the sentiment expressed might be "that event, awful as it was, no longer has an influence on how I view myself". In short, a great reduction in disturbance is usually reported at the end of a session. Usually an EMDR session lasts about 90 minutes and is used in conjunction with psychotherapy. Although a single session is sometimes sufficient, more complex and severe issues usually require a longer term approach. EMDR has been shown to be helpful with post-traumatic stress, panic attacks, disturbing memories, phobias, performance anxiety, stress reduction, and sexual/physical/emotional abuse.

  Link: EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

• Art Therapy

  Art Therapy is an integrative mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. When working with a professional art therapist, art therapy supports each person's unique personal and relational treatment goals. Art Therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress. Art therapists are master-level clinicians who are guided by their profession's ethical standards and scope of practice. Art therapists work with people who are challenged with medical and mental health problems, as well as individuals seeking emotional, creative, and spiritual growth. Kinesthetic, sensory, perceptual, and symbolic opportunities invite alternative modes of receptive and expressive communication, which can circumvent the limitations of language. Visual and symbolic expression gives voice to experience, and empowers individual, communal, and societal transformation.

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• Eclectic

  Link: Eclectic

• Expressive Arts

  Link: Expressive Arts

• Humanistic

  Link: Humanistic

• Interpersonal

  Link: Interpersonal

• Multicultural

  Link: Multicultural

• Person-Centered

  Link: Person-Centered

• Phenomenological

  Link: Phenomenological

• Positive Psychology

  Link: Positive Psychology

• Sand Play

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• Strength-Based

  Link: Strength-Based

• HeartMath® Stress Management System

  HeartMath® is a comprehensive approach to reducing stress and creating better health. When you're stressed your body is out of sync. Typical negative emotions we feel when stressed, such as anger, frustration, anxiety, and worry lead to increased disorder in the heart's rhythms and in the nervous system. However, when we intentionally shift to a positive emotion, heart rhythms immediately change as well. This shift in heart rhythms creates a favorable cascade of neural, hormonal, and biochemical events that benefit the entire body. The effects are both immediate and long lasting. Utilizing Freeze-Framer® technology you see your heart rhythm patterns in real time on a computer screen. As you move towards a more positive emotional state, you're able to see changes in your heart rhythm patterns. By correlating the patterns on the screen with a calm internal feeling you're able to establish greater control of your emotions, which helps reduce the physiological and psychological effects of stress. Regular use of the HeartMath® system has resulted in significant stress reduction benefits in people with ADD/ADHD, anger, anxiety and panic disorders, arrhythmias, asthma, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, digestive disorders, hypertension, and sleep disorders. The HeartMath Stress Management System is particularly effective in managing pain.

  Link: HeartMath® Stress Management System

• Mindfulness

  Mindfulness is the practice of being in the present moment instead of lost in the worries of our minds. As humans with brains that are highly evolved for problem solving, so much of our time is spent worrying about the future or ruminating about the past. Although some degree of planning is a necessary part of life, most of the things we worry about do not actually occur. On the same note, although learning from mistakes in the past is necessary for personal growth, staying stuck in our shame is not productive or beneficial. All of that worry and regret leaves us feeling tense, stressed and unsure of ourselves. Mindfulness can help to pull you out of this rut. Additionally, mindful self compassion is a specific form of mindfulness that focuses on evoking kindness towards ourselves, especially when we're experiencing painful emotions. Our practitioners can teach you tools, techniques and “ways of being” from the mindfulness tradition that can help you to clear your mind and tap into the beauty of the present moment and all that is unfolding around you. Many of these tools use your own sensory experience as a grounding force so they are easy to learn and accessible no matter where you are. Meditation is one way to cultivate mindfulness by choosing a focal point for the mind to practice and develop discipline for what we allow ourselves to focus on. Our brain is like a muscle in that it strengthens the areas we use the most. For instance, if you play an instrument , the areas of your brain that are dedicated to the somatosensory cortex, and particularly the areas associated with touch and hearing, will be highly innervated and developed as compared to the rest of the brain. This works in our favor with meditation, as we cultivate the ability to direct our attention towards healthy and nourishing ways of being. If we focus on our breath to clear our mind, then our ability to clear our mind during stressful times is improved. If we focus on positive intentions that encompass goodwill towards ourselves and others, then our ability to be compassionate and loving during difficult times improves. There are many ways to practice meditation. Our practitioners can assess your preferences and experience level to find a meditation practice that is individually suited to you.

  Link: Mindfulness

• Energy Psychology®

  Energy Psychology® applies ideas and techniques that focus on the capacity of the body's energy system to bring about positive changes in emotions, thoughts, and behavior. In a sense, energy psychology can be considered "acupuncture for the emotions" without the needles. Incorporating the idea that problems arise when specific energy pathways, or meridians, become blocked, this form of therapy consists of tapping specific points on the skin in a particular sequence to alleviate these emotional blockages. The therapist guides the client to first access a particular problem or issue, simultaneously an intervention involving a sequence of tapping is introduced. It is always the client who does the tapping. The shifts are often rapid and profound leaving one in awe of how something so simple can be so powerful. This treatment has been found to be highly effective in helping people experiencing: anxiety, phobias, addictions, post-traumatic stress, and depression. Most recently, it was found to be quite beneficial for those dealing with the emotional aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

  Link: Energy Psychology®

• Clinical Hypnosis

  Clinical hypnosis is used to treat a wide array of physical and psychological conditions. It involves a very relaxed state during which the client's conscious and subconscious minds are focused and receptive to the therapist's suggestions. It is a very safe and effective procedure when used professionally. Hypnosis has been shown to be beneficial in addressing issues such as: smoking, food and weight, phobias, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, self-esteem, and daily stressors. It is typically very pleasant and quite relaxing. Hypnosis is usually used in conjunction with other forms of therapy. The therapist considers an individual's complete history in order to determine if hypnosis is an appropriate treatment choice.

  Link: Clinical Hypnosis