Sara M. Brown, LMHC

Depending on the nature of your inquiry, interest, goals, and concerns; a thorough assessment is initialized for the beginning weeks of treatment. A ‘Modality’ is a scientifically-based approach which is formatted and often sequenced. “CBT”, is the acronym for “Cognitive Behavior Therapy”. The approaches here are like a tool box offering, with skills offered depending on the faulty thinking which is effecting behavior (and thereafter, communication or relationship issues). “MI” means “Motivational Interviewing, and is an approach created of questions around why resistance and obstacles exist to better choices. Almost all treatment plans involve a collaborative approach with essential problem-solving, and are meant to build the confidence in the treated individual to trust their own abilities, and build distress tolerance skills. It is always helpful to inform your new clinician of times you felt successful or unsuccessful in past treatment, and what type of communication or modality you felt was most helpful. To understand your sessions are best used by following a plan and checking into goals; honest reviews and input are essential to your progress. It is recommended, should you have a primary issue or something you want to make sure is discussed, to bring this up at the beginning of your session. You will be offered skills and are encouraged to schedule times for change and for optional homework. Clients are offered both activities and skills for daily implementation, given the more proactive and mindful use of skills, the more quickly the gains of insight and confidence begin to emerge. There is no point in attending therapy and leaving to the old thinking and habits. CBT is the cornerstone of most therapy plans; because mindfully ‘thinking about thinking’ and changing those neuropathways and thoughts that crash you, are essentially, an active and on-going exercise, until your habit is new again, and you feel consistently better (regardless and not dependent to outer circumstances). There are many other modalities which may be utilized, and will be explained to you, should they be incorporated; such as “ACT” (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), or Mindfulness (akin to “DBT” or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which is usually more stringent in its’ approach and not collaborated with other modalities. What is most important is to communicate how you are feeling, where you are feeling successful, when overwhelmed, and when strategies aren’t working, even given due time and effort. We spent quite a bit of time “Reframing”, and also finding patterns and roots. Your input and effort or two actions which drive your success, in your time (both short and long-term).

You can always call or e-mail, as a client, with questions about your therapy or things which come up throughout your weeks. Individuals seek treatment for situational occurrences, or intense Clinical Disorders. After assessment, we typically schedule six sessions and reassess, at that point, continuing and if goals need adjusting. Many clients attend counseling for years as a supportive insight tool, and to continue gaining tools for positive perspective and balance, scheduling every 2-3 weeks as a mental health check-up. When your goals are met and you feel consistently equipped and happy, we will discuss a reduction in frequency, discharge, or a change of treatment goals to address other chronically challenging areas.