Evidence-Based Modalities
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
IPT is based on the concept that personal relationships are at the center of psychological problems. It stresses the therapeutic alliance between therapist and patient to:
*learn how interpersonal issues cause and maintain distress
*learn skills to improve interpersonal conflict, reduce distress, and create
social support
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on changing ineffective cognitions and behaviors to create more positive emotions. Research has shown that just learning to think new thoughts can be as effective in treating depression as anti-depressant medication. Drawing on the principals of CBT allows us to:
*learn how thoughts interplay with emotions and behaviors
*learn skills to behave and think more effectively, which in turn changes
how we feel
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a relative newcomer, having been created by Dr. Marsha Linehan in the late 1980s. It was originally created to treat people with chronic suicidal ideation. Research found it to be the first treatment to effectively treat a condition called borderline personality disorder (in which chronic suicide ideation is a symptom). This was a condition that had previously been considered untreatable. Subsequent research has shown DBT’s effectiveness with a myriad of conditions such as addiction, depression, eating disorders, and anxiety. I like to say there isn’t anyone who wouldn’t benefit from learning and practicing the skills. I believe this applies both to individuals and businesses/organizations.
Building on the behavioral component of CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (as the name suggests) offers a dialectical worldview. That sounds complicated, but the heart of it is actually quite simple. By adopting a way of thinking from different (dialectical) perspectives and then bringing them together a synthesis is created. In DBT, acceptance and change is the central dialectic. DBT teaches skills that help us accept things about ourselves (or businesses/ organizations) while working to change the things we can.
Learn skills from the 4 DBT units:
mindfulness - to pay attention, be fully aware and engage in the present moment, implement wise choices, validate one’s self and others
emotional regulation - to learn to think and act constructively with feelings, remedy behavioral problems, navigate negative emotions effectively, develop & strengthen positive emotions
interpersonal effectiveness - to learn effective relational communication, conflict prevention & resolution
distress tolerance - to prevent, accept, tolerate and manage crises
