Services
CBS offers the following services:
Individual and Family Therapy
Most people seeking counseling are looking for individual therapy. Occasionally a spouse or other family member may be involved but if couples counseling is needed, we do this a special way. Read Couples Therapy below.
Couples Therapy
We have found it works best for each member of a couple to have their own individual therapist. Each member will meet individually 2-4 times with their individual therapist. During this time, the individual is able to share their own experiences, thoughts and feelings and their history. Basic cognitive behavioral skills are taught. When both individuals are ready we move to group sessions in which both couples and both therapists come together to work on the issues in the relationship. This format has worked well for many couples primarily because each individual is able to express their own thoughts and feelings individually and build some skills prior to coming together. Once we come together, the couple has two therapists whose goal is to advocate not only for their individual client but for the betterment of the couple as a whole.
Pre-Marital Counseling
Research shows that about 50% of marriages end up in divorce. Don't be a statistic. We offer several sessions of pre-marital counseling to enhance communication and problem-solving skills. Any significant issues that are identified would then be addressed in individual sessions if needed.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Restructuring)
What is it:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a method of psychotherapy that can be effective for the treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety and many other psychological problems. It works on a physiological and emotional basis to facilitate change.
How does EMDR work?:
No one knows conclusively how it works. There are several theories that have been put forth to explain how EMDR works. EMDR appears to work directly with the brain’s information processing system and acts as a form of accelerated information processing. EMDR may tap into the same mechanisms used in learning and memory now identified with REM sleep. Another possibility is that blocked processing is manifested as phase discrepancies between equivalent areas in the brain’s hemispheres and that the EMDR rhythmic intervention results in improved hemispheric communication with the result that the blocked material is finally processed.
What we do know is that sometimes events, images, beliefs, memories and thoughts can become stuck or “frozen”. When this occurs there is often a lasting negative impact on the way that person lives their life, views themselves, and interacts with others. EMDR appears to have a direct effect on the way the brain functions. It allows the client and therapist to access thoughts, memories, images, beliefs that they normally would not have access to. During an EMDR session, this previously stuck and inaccessible “data”, is focused on allowing it to shift and be reframed and then put back in a way that allows it to be processed. When the information is processed, it helps a person see the information in a new and less distressing way.
Is EMDR HYPNOSIS?
No, EMDR is not hypnosis. During the EMDR session, the client is fully awake and alert and in control at all times. EMDR seems to work with the unconscious mind by bringing into the conscious mind the repressed thoughts and feelings that must be experienced again in order to release their hold on the person.
What should I expect during EMDR session?
A thorough history and understanding of the issues the client is seeking assistance with and a discussion and full overview of the technique will be discussed prior to the actual EMDR session. The client will be asked to identify an image, which represents the memory associated with a traumatic, painful or disturbing event. The client will be asked to identify a negative belief that was programmed into the subconscious as a result of the incident. The client is fully alert and in control at all times during the session. The therapist may utilize a light bar, hand stimulating sensors or other equipment to assist in the process. This equipment is painless and used to assist in stimulating eye movements while the client is guided through an account of the image or memory they identified. It is not uncommon for the client to experience a release of emotions during this experience. The client will also be asked to identify a positive, rational replacement that they would like to have activated in place of the negative belief. During this process of eye movements, the client will simply report anything they notice about the memory, negative belief, physical sensations and emotional state. The process of identifying the negative self destructive conclusions associated with the memory and exploring the rational replacements will continue until the client reports greater comfort and association with the rational beliefs.
What are the advantages of EMDR?:
Research studies show that EMDR can be very effective in helping people process emotionally painful and traumatic experiences. When used in conjunction with other therapy modalities, EMDR can help move the client quickly from emotional distress to peaceful resolution of the issues or events involved.
EMDR can bring greater results in much less time. The EMDR sessions can work extremely fast. The processing of very difficult memories can be achieved in a fraction of the time it previously would have taken with traditional therapy alone. EMDR can short-cut the process of analyzing cognitions, gaining insight and then achieving emotional release. After EMDR the memories remain, but the negative responses are neutralized.
Individual and Family Therapy
Most people seeking counseling are looking for individual therapy. Occasionally a spouse or other family member may be involved but if couples counseling is needed, we do this a special way. Read Couples Therapy below.
Couples Therapy
We have found it works best for each member of a couple to have their own individual therapist. Each member will meet individually 2-4 times with their individual therapist. During this time, the individual is able to share their own experiences, thoughts and feelings and their history. Basic cognitive behavioral skills are taught. When both individuals are ready we move to group sessions in which both couples and both therapists come together to work on the issues in the relationship. This format has worked well for many couples primarily because each individual is able to express their own thoughts and feelings individually and build some skills prior to coming together. Once we come together, the couple has two therapists whose goal is to advocate not only for their individual client but for the betterment of the couple as a whole.
Pre-Marital Counseling
Research shows that about 50% of marriages end up in divorce. Don't be a statistic. We offer several sessions of pre-marital counseling to enhance communication and problem-solving skills. Any significant issues that are identified would then be addressed in individual sessions if needed.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Restructuring)
What is it:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a method of psychotherapy that can be effective for the treatment of trauma, depression, anxiety and many other psychological problems. It works on a physiological and emotional basis to facilitate change.
How does EMDR work?:
No one knows conclusively how it works. There are several theories that have been put forth to explain how EMDR works. EMDR appears to work directly with the brain’s information processing system and acts as a form of accelerated information processing. EMDR may tap into the same mechanisms used in learning and memory now identified with REM sleep. Another possibility is that blocked processing is manifested as phase discrepancies between equivalent areas in the brain’s hemispheres and that the EMDR rhythmic intervention results in improved hemispheric communication with the result that the blocked material is finally processed.
What we do know is that sometimes events, images, beliefs, memories and thoughts can become stuck or “frozen”. When this occurs there is often a lasting negative impact on the way that person lives their life, views themselves, and interacts with others. EMDR appears to have a direct effect on the way the brain functions. It allows the client and therapist to access thoughts, memories, images, beliefs that they normally would not have access to. During an EMDR session, this previously stuck and inaccessible “data”, is focused on allowing it to shift and be reframed and then put back in a way that allows it to be processed. When the information is processed, it helps a person see the information in a new and less distressing way.
Is EMDR HYPNOSIS?
No, EMDR is not hypnosis. During the EMDR session, the client is fully awake and alert and in control at all times. EMDR seems to work with the unconscious mind by bringing into the conscious mind the repressed thoughts and feelings that must be experienced again in order to release their hold on the person.
What should I expect during EMDR session?
A thorough history and understanding of the issues the client is seeking assistance with and a discussion and full overview of the technique will be discussed prior to the actual EMDR session. The client will be asked to identify an image, which represents the memory associated with a traumatic, painful or disturbing event. The client will be asked to identify a negative belief that was programmed into the subconscious as a result of the incident. The client is fully alert and in control at all times during the session. The therapist may utilize a light bar, hand stimulating sensors or other equipment to assist in the process. This equipment is painless and used to assist in stimulating eye movements while the client is guided through an account of the image or memory they identified. It is not uncommon for the client to experience a release of emotions during this experience. The client will also be asked to identify a positive, rational replacement that they would like to have activated in place of the negative belief. During this process of eye movements, the client will simply report anything they notice about the memory, negative belief, physical sensations and emotional state. The process of identifying the negative self destructive conclusions associated with the memory and exploring the rational replacements will continue until the client reports greater comfort and association with the rational beliefs.
What are the advantages of EMDR?:
Research studies show that EMDR can be very effective in helping people process emotionally painful and traumatic experiences. When used in conjunction with other therapy modalities, EMDR can help move the client quickly from emotional distress to peaceful resolution of the issues or events involved.
EMDR can bring greater results in much less time. The EMDR sessions can work extremely fast. The processing of very difficult memories can be achieved in a fraction of the time it previously would have taken with traditional therapy alone. EMDR can short-cut the process of analyzing cognitions, gaining insight and then achieving emotional release. After EMDR the memories remain, but the negative responses are neutralized.
