Psychotherapy
Life struggles can be understood from the viewpoint of our childhoods, focusing on how the beliefs we formed about ourselves, others and the world - of which we are often not aware as children, impact on our present struggles. Therapy focuses on challenging maladaptive beliefs and learning new skills and strategies to manage specific issues.
From a Christian viewpoint, therapy can also help by bringing to light our thoughts, feelings, and motivations. By opening ourselves to taking on God's view of ourselves and life, by God's power a transforming experience is allowed to happen at a deeper level.
The psychological treatments for older adults are generally the same as younger population but take into account specific challenges common in later life (e.g. chronic pain, medical conditions). While Cognitive Behavior Therapies (i.e. CBT and ACT) are the most widely accepted psychological treatments and very effective, they are not always sufficient to make changes at a deeper level. In this case an integrative approach with other recognized interventions (e.g. brief psychodynamic therapy) is more effective. Relaxation skills (e.g. progressive muscle relaxation, controlled breathing) are important for everyone. The ability to relax allows you to manage stress, tension, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, anger, and physical pain more easily and objectively. In the initial assessment phase, Liz will recommend the best course of treatment for your specific problem.
Modes of Therapy
Psychoeducation is a focus on educational skill building in which clients learn practical and positive emotional and behavioral skills to improve life adjustment, management of emotions and self-awareness. It gives clients the tools needed to make changes in their lives, feel empowered, and learn tips to effectively manage an individualized personal development plan.
(CBT) - CBT is a form of therapy that assumes that faulty thinking patterns cause maladaptive behavior and ‘negative’ emotions. (Maladaptive behavior is behavior that is counter-productive or interferes with everyday living.) CBT focuses on changing an individual's thoughts (cognitive patterns) in order to change his or her behavior and emotional state. CBT strategies include: exposure techniques, activity scheduling, and thought challenging).
ACT is a recent mindfulness-based therapy shown to be effective with a diverse range of conditions including depression, chronic pain, and anxiety. The goal of ACT is to create a rich and meaningful life, while accepting the pain that inevitably goes with it. It is about taking effective action guided by our deepest values and in which we are fully present and engaged.
IPT is a form of therapy in which the focus is on a person’s relationships and the way they see themselves. The goal is to help people to identify and modify interpersonal patterns of relating, and to understand and manage relationship problems. For older adults experiencing relational problems, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a key treatment. IPT is most effective for depression.
This type of therapy is a deeper approach to treating problems. It involves examining childhood experiences, especially family patterns, and using this insight to understand current psychological well-being. It also involves observing the way people relate during therapy and how this reflects and also influences their actions in every day life.
This type of therapy involves exploring the shaping moments of a person’s life, the turning points, the key relationships, and those particular memories which are not dimmed with time. Focus is drawn to the intentions, dreams and values that have guided a person’s life despite the set-backs. Often this process brings back stories that have been overlooked, stories that speak of forgotten competence and victory. Narrative therapy is especially useful for indigenous clients