My approach to Psychotherapy

The "medical model" of psychotherapy says that there is a particular therapeutic approach or intervention (such as EMDR or CBT) that is the "best" treatment for a particular "disorder," such as depression or anxiety. The clinical research supporting this view is questionable and the subject of debate; a significant body of research indicates that the therapeutic approaches and interventions all work about equally well for most problems, My approach is integrative in the sense that, while I have a particular style and philosophy, I may draw on various theories and approaches based on the individual client.

Rather than identifying a clear winner, the research about what therapy works best has shown  that the most significant predictors of whether therapy will be successful are the the quality of the relationship between therapist and client (the "therapeutic alliance"), the individual therapist's qualities (such as empathy, positive regard for the client, and genuineness), and the client's expectations. These are referred to as the "common factors" because they are not particular to any therapeutic approach. 

AEDP is itself an integrative approach to therapy, incorporating person-centered, experiential, mindfulness-based, attachment- and trauma-informed, and psychodynamic approaches. More about AEDP is included on the About AEDP page. 

Person-centered therapy is premised on the humanistic belief that the client is inherently driven toward and has the capacity for growth and self-actualization. The role of the counselor is to provide a nonjudgmental environment conducive to  self-exploration and change.

Psychodynamic therapy focuses on unconscious processes that effect clients' feelings and behavior. The goals of psychodynamic therapy are client self-awareness and understanding of the influence of the past on the present.

My approach to therapy is experiential in the sense that I believe the experience of therapy--what happens between therapist and client in session--is itself therapeutic. For instance, the experience of accessing, feeling, and describing difficult emotions with an attuned and empathetic guide can be an effective way of "processing" those emotions and reducing their negative influence over time--sometimes more effective than merely understanding them conceptually,   

Experiential-existential therapy is similar to a person-centered and experiential approach but adopts an existential theoretical framework to deepen the therapist's and client's understanding of the client's process. Key existential themes include life/death, meaning/absurdity, isolation/connection, and freedom/responsibility, which are seen as the causes of anxiety. Existential therapy works with these themes as they appear in a client's life to help clients  make authentic, meaningful, and self-directed choices.

Attachment theory concerns relationships between humans. Its central tenet is that young children need to develop a secure relationship with at least one primary caregiver for healthy social and emotional development and that the absence of such a relationship causes us to adapt in ways that have reprecussions for us as adults (e.g., in "attachment styles'). Since its inception in the 1950s, the theory has been extended to adult relationships and the concept of "corrective" attachment experiences, such as the relationship between a therapist and a client.

Buddhism has much to say about the causes of human suffering and how to alleviate it, including mindfulness. Buddhist concepts, and the practice of mindfulness in particular, have been incorporated into many modern approaches to therapy. My many years of practicing Buddhism, mindfulness, and meditation inform my approach to therapy.  

In working with couples, my approach combines elements of Gottman Couples Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). The Gottman approach focuses on strengthening the elements that have been identified as common to successful romantic relationships. I have completed the Gottman Level 1 training. EFT seeks to identify and shift the emotional dynamics at play in romantic relationships. It is grounded in Attachment Theory.