Services & Techniques

Therapeutic Techniques & Services Of

Amanda Gray Counseling and Supervision's Approach

All therapists at Amanda Gray Counseling and Supervision are well trained and have experience in several different therapeutic approaches and styles. We very much value individuality and understand that each client is different. Because of this, we take pride in ensuring that we tailor every therapeutic service we provide to fit the unique needs of our clients. What we usually see happen is the counselor using several different approaches throughout the therapeutic process, changing on what is most beneficial to the client at the time of counseling. Some approaches you may see us apply are:

Psychodynamic

This approach uses the uncovering of unconscious motivations in order to change thoughts and behavior. It is more abstract than some other approaches, in that it is non-directive. The therapist’s role is not to advise or give specific tools.

Examples: Psychoanalysis

Behavioral

This approach is connected to role development in relation to behaviors. With an emphasis on conditioning and learning through rewards and punishments.

Examples: Exposure Response, Systematic Desensitization

Cognitive

These approaches emphasize changing thoughts and patterns of thinking. It addresses maladaptive emotions and behaviors through an examination of one’s thoughts and the development of concrete skills to change thinking and, in turn, emotions and behaviors.

Examples: Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectal Behavior, Acceptance and Commitment

Humanistic

These approaches focus on the human capacity for rational choice as the key to grow and achieve self-actualization. These therapies put a heavy emphasis on the client as an expert on him/herself. Clients are encouraged to increase their personal awareness, personal responsibility, and to execute their free will and self-determination.

Examples: Gestalt, Client-Centered, Existential

Our Therapeutic Techniques

Child Centered Play Therapy and Directive Play Therapy Services

Play therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach primarily used to help children ages 3 to 12 explore their lives and freely express repressed thoughts and emotions through play. Therapeutic play normally takes place in a safe, comfortable playroom, where very few rules or limits are imposed on the child, encouraging free expression and allowing the therapist to observe the child’s choices, decisions, and play style. The goal is to help children learn to express themselves in healthier ways, become more respectful and empathetic, and discover new and more positive ways to solve problems.

Individual Therapy Services

Individual therapy is a joint process between a therapist and a person in therapy. Common goals of therapy can be to inspire change or improve quality of life. People may seek therapy for help with issues that are hard to face alone. Individual therapy is also called therapy, psychotherapy, psychosocial therapy, talk therapy, and counseling.

Therapy can help people overcome obstacles to their well-being. It can increase positive feelings, such as compassion and self-esteem. People in therapy can learn skills for handling difficult situations, making healthy decisions, and reaching goals. Many find they enjoy the therapeutic journey of becoming more self-aware. Some people even go to ongoing therapy for self-growth.

Family Therapy Services

Family therapy is a form of treatment that is designed to address specific issues affecting the health and functioning of a family.

Family therapy views individuals’ problems in the context of the larger unit: the family. The assumption of this type of therapy is that problems cannot be successfully addressed or solved without understanding the dynamics of the group. The way the family operates influences how the client’s problems formed and how they are encouraged or enabled by the other members of the family.

Family therapy can employ techniques and exercises from cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, or other types of individual therapy. Like with other types of treatment, the techniques employed will depend on the specific problems the client or clients present with.

Sandtray Therapy

Sand tray therapy is a form of expressive therapy that is sometimes referred to as sandplay (although sandplay does have a slightly different approach) or the World Technique. It was developed by Margaret Lowenfeld, Goesta Harding, Charlotte Buhler, Hedda Bolgar, Lisolette Fischer, Ruth Bowyer, and Dora Kalff. This type of therapy is often used with children, but can be applied to adults, teens, couples, families, and groups as well. Sand tray therapy allows a person to construct his or her own microcosm using miniature toys and colored sand. The scene created acts as a reflection of the person’s own life and allows him or her the opportunity to resolve conflicts, remove obstacles, and gain acceptance of self.

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a powerful new psychotherapy technique which has been very successful in helping people who suffer from trauma, anxiety, panic, disturbing memories, post traumatic stress and many other emotional problems. EMDR is considered a breakthrough therapy because of its simplicity and the fact that it can bring quick and lasting relief for most types of emotional distress.

The EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation, right/left eye movement, or tactile stimulation, which activates the opposite sides of the brain, releasing emotional experiences that are "trapped" in the nervous system. This assists the neurophysiological system, the basis of the mind/body connection, to free itself of blockages and reconnect itself. As troubling images and feelings are processed by the brain via the eye-movement patterns of EMDR, resolution of the issues and a more peaceful state are achieved.

Couples/RelationshipTherapy

Keeping a relationship healthy and happy over time takes time and energy. It is wonderful when a couple in a troubled relationship is able to recognize and jointly work out their differences. This process is not always easy, however. Once problems have started to become chronic, emotional disconnect builds and compromise can often feel unsafe. In such cases, the safe and protected counseling offered by a marital or couples therapist can make the difference between a marriage that survives versus one that thrives!

Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an alternative or complementary type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. It falls under the realm of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI). AAI is general term that encompasses any intervention or treatment that includes an animal in a therapeutic context such as Emotional-Support Animals, Service/Assistance Animals (i.e., trained animals that assist and support with daily activities), and Animal Assisted Activity (AAA).[2][3][4] AAT contains sub-sections based on the type of animal, the targeted population, and how the animal is being incorporated into the therapeutic plan.[5] The most commonly used types of AAT are canine-assisted therapy and equine-assisted therapy. The goal of AAT is to improve a patient's social, emotional, or cognitive functioning and literature reviews state that animals can be useful for educational and motivational effectiveness for participants.[6][7]There are various studies documenting the positive effects of AAT reported through subjective self-rating scales and objective physiological measures, such as blood pressure, hormone levels, etc.