How to find a great therapist - is our practice right for you? 

1.      Find someone you like: Simply having a mental health professional that you trust and are confident in to explore your inner thoughts and feelings with, is a great place to start. Research consistently shows that the quality of the relationship between the therapist and client is the single most important factor in the effectiveness of mental health treatment. Most of us heal in relationship, by being able to share our burdens with others that are capable of hearing and holding space for our darkest stories.

2.      Figure out what type of therapy you need: Find out whether your therapist has training with your particular symptoms or disorder, and what types of therapies s/he prefers. Certain therapies are more supported by research than others, based upon the particular symptoms that you are having. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely researched and supported types of therapy, and is particularly effective for anxiety and depression, but there are many other effective talk therapy treatments too (too many to list here). Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on analyzing and changing your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, whereas other approaches like psychoanalysis include a greater emphasis on considering your past and subconscious. (See the about Alissa page for information on her areas of expertise.)

3.      Consider what you might need besides therapy: Figuring out what lifestyle changes and modifications will work for you is an important addition to talk therapy, and is what sets our practice apart from others. Sometimes, particularly in the case of trauma or extreme stress, the limbic system (aka the emotional brain) is so impacted that the brain and body become over or under aroused. When this happens, people frequently feel panicked, enraged, terrified, or irritated by sounds, lights, and touch (in the case of over arousal), or numb, tired, and able to feel little at all (in the case of under arousal). These types of symptoms are experienced across many diagnostic groups including Bipolar disorder, Borderline personality disorder, addiction problems, other disorders related to trauma, anxiety, depression, attention deficit, and other dissociative and somatic problems. Mindfulness meditation, yoga, bodywork, rhythmic movement, spending time in nature, creating therapeutic art and music, and other complementary approaches can assist in the process of helping the nervous system return to equilibrium. In addition, eating well and getting enough sleep and exercise are just as important to a balanced nervous system. Re-engaging in social and community supports is also essential, once a person feels safe to do so. There is no one right mental health lifestyle plan; instead our interest is in guiding and assisting you as you put together a plan that will work for you.

Note on medication: This practice does not offer prescription medications for mental health disorders but does support the judicious use of medications when taken as prescribed by a trained psychiatrist. As part of your treatment plan, you may be referred to a psychiatrist, nutritionist, body-worker, or other trained professional when appropriate.