My therapeutic style is collaborative and empathetic. I see myself as my clients’ partner in the therapeutic journey and strive to provide a safe space for them to explore their fears and concerns. My approach is an integration of psychoeducation (e.g., understanding nervous system regulation) and skills training based on theories and research. Through purposeful exploration, my clients and I learn to gain a deeper understanding of their challenges. Drawing on the biopsychosocial model, we identify contributors of health and ways to make meaningful changes that have a lasting impact on physical and mental health. Over time, my clients develop the ability to bring awareness to their internal experience- thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, to gently challenge their belief systems when necessary, and to reframe their thinking. In coping with challenges that are chronic, I help my clients learn to make a conscious choice to accept life circumstances that are hard to change. I believe that the key to lessen one’s suffering often lies in acceptance, and therefore it is essential to learn psychological tools that can facilitate such mental attitude.
Trained as a scientist practitioner, I strive to remain up to date with the current research and regularly collaborate with psychologists and professionals in healthcare to promote my learning. All this is to say that I deeply care about the quality of my work; I want to provide my clients the best care possible as I value their time and courage for seeking therapy!
I utilize several approaches to help my clients: Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Exposure-based Behavioral Therapy (e.g., Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD), and relaxation training based on psychophysiology research. I wish to highlight two approaches that are particularly helpful for patients with chronic pain and other health concerns.
MBCT integrates traditional cognitive therapy with mindfulness meditation. Research suggests that patients with depression, anxiety [1], work-related stress [2], chronic pain [3], and adjustment difficulties to illness [4-5 ] can benefit from this approach. How does it help? Through this work, people become better observer of their experience- thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, rather than getting caught up by it and letting it dictate behavior in an unhelpful way. I believe this approach can lessen the struggles we have with ourselves and reduce our emotional suffering. In addition, the meditation practice can improve mind-body connection, which is crucial for promoting health and for finding a way to live with chronic illness.
I have been teaching mindfulness for the past 10 years. I believe that it is important to make the practice work for each person. Many of my clients find it helpful to listen to a familiar voice because of the strong relationship we build in therapy. I can provide personalized recordings using your smartphone or a recording device. Alternatively, we can discuss apps and websites that offer credible guided meditations.
The modern lifestyle may lead to the development of chronic stress, leaving the nervous system in a constant fight or flight response. Understanding how your nervous system functions and learning skills to promote your body's natural ability to relax can be crucial. I can introduce a menu of relaxation skills to help reduce stress and tension in the body as well as promote sleep [6]. Having personalized audio recordings based on your needs and preference may help maximize the benefit of this practice. For example, for those who work full-time, it is essential to develop practices that can be completed in 5 to 10 minutes, so that these tools can become a natural part of the work day.
Here are examples of relaxation therapy skills:
Diaphragmatic breathing training
Autogenic training
Progressive muscle relaxation
Tools for "talking to" your nervous system
Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 78(2), 169.
Bartlett, L., Martin, A., Neil, A. L., Memish, K., Otahal, P., Kilpatrick, M., & Sanderson, K. (2019). A systematic review and meta-analysis of workplace mindfulness training randomized controlled trials. Journal of occupational health psychology, 24(1), 108.
Veehof, M. M., Trompetter, H. R., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & Schreurs, K. M. G. (2016). Acceptance-and mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of chronic pain: a meta-analytic review. Cognitive behaviour therapy, 45(1), 5-31.
Simpson, R., Booth, J., Lawrence, M. et al. Mindfulness based interventions in multiple sclerosis - a systematic review. BMC Neurol 14, 15 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-14-15
Shennan, C., Payne, S., & Fenlon, D. (2011). What is the evidence for the use of mindfulness‐based interventions in cancer care? A review. Psycho‐oncology, 20(7), 681-697.
Van Dixhoorn, J., & White, A. (2005). Relaxation therapy for rehabilitation and prevention in ischaemic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 12(3), 193-202.
"Thank you so much for listening, your support, and insights. You helped me reflect, make sense of my feelings and guide me to act. You are truly great at what you do."
Graduated client, DFB