There is a solution to every problem.
XYZ Services
Psychotherapy
Disorders such as life transition disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, psychosis, and thinking disorders all are related to mental health. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Contributing factors to mental health issues can be any combination of genetics, early life experiences, innate abilities, external environmental factors, nature vs. nurture, and cultural differences. Even physical conditions and medication side effects can be psychiatric pretenders.
According to WHO mental health is defined as "a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, fruitfully, and can contribute to her or his community." Many mental illnesses such as social anxiety disorder, phobias, OCD, PTSD, or depressive episodes are not permanent and can be resolved in a reasonable amount of time with proper attention. The same conditions can progress, when unaddressed, severely limiting a person's freedom, sense of belonging, and safety. Serious mental illnesses that are lifelong and pervasive are important to understand and manage. Properly identifying an SMI, coming to acceptance, and willingness to be responsible (by learning unique self and how to manage) makes all the difference in one's life and to their loved ones.
At XYZ Holistic therapy there are various treatment options for mental health issues. It's important to remember that everyone's mental health journey is different. What works for you might not work for someone else. One of the most common treatments for mental illness or when someone is struggling with their moods, emotions, and behaviors is psychotherapy. Depending on your individual needs, I will offer the types of treatment suitable for your situation. Let's join hands and spread awareness and help every individual fighting mental health issues.
Complex Trauma
When an infant or child experiences an extremely distressing experience(s), such as being witness to verbal/physical abuse or being a direct target of abuse/neglect, that is trauma. Trauma causes the brain to develop survival strategies, which will continue to run inefficient and inappropriate reaction patterns long after the danger has passed. Considering that a child's brain and socialization skills are still developing, it is easy to understand how a learning child may adapt habitually poor coping skills if they are subject to trauma. Time alone does not heal these types of wounds and if a child is a witness or a subject to this sort of abuse/neglect throughout their lives, it has detrimental effects on their adult lives. It has now become Complex Trauma, also known as Developmental Trauma Disorder.
There is an adverse childhood events scale of 0-10 that measures the risks encountered in a developing mind. Research has demonstrated that the higher you score in specific adverse events while you were a helpless, dependent, and developing youngling, the more likely as an adult you will struggle with medical issues such as auto-immune disorders, and mental health issues. They are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance use disorders, personality problems, and relationship, trust, and attachment issues.
Natural reactions to trauma Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn turn into go-to coping mechanisms as a child reaches adulthood. It may look like any combination of these traits: Victimhood, Chronic Pain, Anger, Rigidity, Over- Achieving, Avoidance, Urges to Intoxicate, Addictive personality, Anxiety, Depression, Feelings of Emptiness, or People Pleasing, and Repetitive Dysfunctional Relationship patterns. There is also such a thing as an Emotional Flashback. This is embarrassing and damaging for an adult, tantrum, meltdown, losing it that is not in proportion to whatever the initial upset was. This can be diagnosed as Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or C-PTSD.
C-PTSD differs from classic Shock Trauma in that symptoms are more elusive yet pervasive, but there is GOOD NEWS! There is now a growing body of therapy to address these early life trauma effects, including EMDR, Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Experiencing, and others. C-PTSD affects the biology, psychology, and social function of the person and it is significant to your life story. A wHolistic therapy approach addresses the body, mind, spirit, and soul.
Somatic Therapy
The interactions between body and mind are very important. This is what Somatic psychotherapy is about. Body therapy incorporates awareness, breathing, and movement techniques to address a wide range of mental and physical health concerns that may lead people to take therapy. People experience things not only through their minds and emotions but also through their bodies. Gaining awareness of felt sense can release trauma long stored in the body without verbal or cognitive connections. This holistic approach to treatment works to address concerns of the mind and body as one. Proponents of the approach believe that many issues impacting emotional well-being result from continuous repression of traumatic or harmful memories, which are held in the body.
For any individual seeking help via touch-based body therapy, the first thing we do is have one or likely more talk sessions. Our therapist listens calmly to what the client has to say making sure there is no communication gap. The therapist assesses through assessments whether the client is going through presenting concerns, and secondary somatic symptoms including energetic cysts induced by trauma, interpersonal relationships, loss, or any trauma and abuse. The therapist will also utilize body reading, an assessment technique that helps identify how a person's body might be communicating crucial information. Once the therapist understands the issue the client is facing, they then perform different techniques designed to bring about a heightened awareness of both the body and mind. Every technique is tailored as per the individual's situation. The number of sessions to be conducted is also decided as per the individual's condition.
I am cross-trained and experienced in Cranio-sacral therapy (CST), a powerful light touch clothing-on modality that addresses the sympathetic nervous system via the dura matter surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Occasionally depression may be the direct result of specific structural restrictions. Emotional releases can occur simply through safe touch and without reliving painful events.
Body therapy can help overcome emotional numbness, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, mood swings, and body aches.
Anxiety Therapy
When you are ANXIOUS, you become so focused on the problem that things get distorted and perspective is lost. You cannot recognize or evaluate the options you have. This is what is meant by “can’t see the forest for the trees” Anxiety makes it hard to see the next move to make. That is what I do best, get a good picture of all the factors and the things you did not think of due to worry and fear. Amazing how a good reframing of the picture can bring back hope and clarity and motivation, and illuminate a new path of progress. Empowerment comes from owning your part in your problems. Maybe you need to enlighten up a bit or maybe you need to toughen up and ‘appear to mean’ as you establish healthy boundaries. I am one to call you on your sh!t and to praise you for real actions, as the case may be. Ongoing therapy provides support, accountability, attitude adjustments as needed, and a witness to your progress.
Realistically though, I do not know how long a client will stay, and I mean to help them here and now. It is not my goal to keep clients, just to help them feel better, see better, act better and achieve their higher potential. So if you come to me, I assure you I will talk straight and give you the best most useful stuff right up front. Some issues are easier than others. Complex Trauma, aka early childhood wounds, are the most ‘complicated', and for that, We take the time it takes. If you are stressed and hurting, just get started; we can take it from there.
Therapy Types
Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) • Accelerated Resolution (ART) • Attachment-based • Coaching • Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) • Eye Movement Desensitization and ReIntegration (EMDR) • Eclectic • Emotionally Focused • Energy Psychology • Family / Marital • Feminist • Integrative • Internal Family Systems (IFS) • Motivational Interviewing • Music Therapy • Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) • Positive Psychology • Psychoanalytic • Psychodynamic • Solution Focused Brief (SFBT) • Somatic • Strength-Based • Transpersonal • Trauma Focused