Psychotherapy Approaches | Connected Beings Fam

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) is a body-centered psychotherapy method drawn from somatic therapies, neuroscience, attachment theory, and cognitive approaches, as well as from Hakomi therapy. SP aims to treat physical sensations associated with the traumatic event. While traditional talk therapies utilize the words of a person as the entry point for treatment, SP depends on the bodily experiences of the individual as a gateway to awareness and improved mental health. SP holds that traumatic experiences may become trapped deep within the body, with those who are affected sometimes completely unaware of the existence of unresolved trauma. Traditional talk therapies may fail to unearth these unconscious issues. SP is often utilized for adults and children who have been exposed to a single traumatic event (i.e. rape, car accident, witness death of a loved one) as well as those exposed to multiple traumas and relational trauma (i.e. child abuse, domestic violence, bullying).While this form of therapy provides multiple benefits such as improved physical health, trauma release, and reduction of stress, the most notable benefit is the increased somatic awareness. Clients accurately understand the body memories of the trauma in present experience as they learn to differente their past from their present experinces.

Emotionally Focused Psychotherapy

Emotionally Focused Psychotherapy is a humanistic approach to psychotherapy developed with the science of adult attachment, a profound developmental theory of personality and intimate relationships. EFT is best known as a proven couple intervention but it is also used to address individual depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress disorders as well as to repair family bonds and relational systems. EFT expands and reorganizes key emotional responses, creates an emotional shift in relational patterns and ultinately increases security in the attachment relationship. EFT therapies follow 3 phases to create a pathway for success: deescalation, restructuring of the negative response and reinforcement and reintegration. The EFT therapist identifes the triggers that create a negative emotional cycle, evoking a deep emotional response that allows clients to exchange emotional vulnerabilities. As a result, clients shifts the perspective into their own attachment needs and intrinsic motivations as they deepen theiir undertsanding of the attachment blueprint and the needs to repair the relational dynamics with their loved ones . Ultimately, EFT practictioner supports the development of a new plan to manage relational triggers and to affirm newly developed attachment behaviors.

Dialectical Behavioral Psychotherapy

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a specialized form of cognitive-behavioral therapy that teaches clients to manage intense emotions, improve relationships and cope with stress by balancing self acceptance with the need for change. Although DBT has evolved to treat many mental health difficultues, such as mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD and eating disorders, borderline personality disorder (BPD) remains its primary and most recognized application. DBT operates on two fundamental principles: validation and change. The process begins with the therapist validating the client's emotions, which creates a supportive environment where individuals feel safe to express themselves openly. This validation is crucial, as it helps clients feel heard and understood while increasing emotional safety. Once this foundation is established, therapists teach clients essential mindfullness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectivess skills. This powerful capacity building approach aims to support clients to manage intense emotions, set emotional and physical boundaries with themselves and others, eliminate destructive behaviors and maintain attention in present experience in a non-judgemental manner. DBT is useful for both young and adult clients and it can be expanded to group psychotherapy settings.

Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an effective, structured approach that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. By utilizing practical strategies, CBT helps individuals develop coping skills, improve emotional regulation and foster healthier thinking. CBT is primarily concerned with current problems and finding practical solutions for the "here and now," rather than extensively exploring past causes of distress. Therapy sessions follow a specific structure, often lasting a limited number of sessions (typically 5 to 20), to increase efficiency and maintain a goal-oriented focus. The CBT therapist can also add other modalities to complement the collaborative goals established with the client. A primary goal of CBT is to equip clienta with tools and skills they can use to manage their own mental well-being long after therapy has ended. This is often reinforced through "homework" assignments between sessions and psychoeducation during sessions. The primary goal if s to enhance CBT skills including cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, thought diffusion and stress reduction practices. These skills offer benefits like recognizing and changing negative thought patterns, improving mood, managing stress/anxiety, boosting self-esteem, enhancing problem-solving, and strengthening relationships clients experience anxiety, depression, or other challenges, CBT can make lasting changes and enhance well-being.

Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a form of psychotherapy that views the mind as being naturally composed of multiple sub-personalities, or "parts," each with its own unique perspectives, feelings, and roles. The goal of the therapy is to help individuals access their core, undamaged "Self" to understand and heal these parts, thereby bringing internal harmony and balance to the entire mental system. These internal parts can be divided into 3 categories: managers, firefighters and exciles. The mangers.act as proactive protectors that control behaviors, thoughts and feelings preventing emotional pain. The firefighters are the emergency responders of the internal world that use extreme measures to extinguish emotional pain, trauma and distress. These measures are compulsive, reactive and maladaptive.Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy heals mental health difficulties by helping individuals access their core, compassionate "Self" to understand and guide their internal "parts." The Self witnesses and validates the extreme roles these protector and exile parts developed due to past trauma or pain. With the Self's guidance and compassion, the vulnerable exiled parts can safely "unburden" their emotional pain and traumatic memories. This process allows the entire internal system to integrate and work harmoniously under the leadership of the innate Self, restoring balance and wellbeing

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported, process-focused psychological intervention built on the premise that suffering is an inevitable part of human life. Rather than trying to control or suppress unwanted private experiences, ACT uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies alongside commitment and behavior change processes to develop psychological flexibility. Success in this form of therapy is ensured through the application of its six core processes: accpetance, cognitive diffusion, mindfullness, self as context, commited action and value clarification. This particularly thoughtful therapeutic approach is useful for individuals to deeply understand their emotions and the motivations as well as the reasoning behind their feelings. The ACT therapist provides practical tools to help acknowledge difficulty emotions, detach from unhelpful thoughts, and clarify deepest personal values. Additionally, the ACT therapist collaborately building a plan for commited action goals alligned with the clients values for meaningful life.