A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
Different theories can be combined to address the highly individual goals of each patient on their healing journey. I am specialized in the following therapeutic approaches:
Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic model developed by psychologist Richard C. Schwartz. It is based on the premise that each individual mind has various sub-personalities or parts that interact with one another. These parts can be thought of as different aspects of our psyche, each with its own thoughts, emotions, and beliefs.
IFS holds the belief that within each individual there also exists an innate core self that is naturally calm, compassionate, curious and ever present. In IFS therapy, the goal is to establish a harmonious relationship between the core self and the different parts, transforming any inner conflicts or dysfunction into a more balanced and integrated state.
A goal of IFS is to help clients learn to develop a compassionate and non-judgmental attitude towards their parts, recognizing that each part has a positive intention and serves a protective function, even if its actions or beliefs may be maladaptive. By establishing a trusting relationship with the core self, clients can engage in a process of dialogue and negotiation with their parts, working towards healing and transformation. IFS emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, self-awareness, and self-leadership, enabling individuals to achieve greater internal harmony and live more fulfilling lives, and can be used to address a wide range of psychological issues (trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and self-esteem problems).
Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy
Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) is a pro-relationship approach that combines principles from attachment theory, neuroscience, and somatic (body-centered) psychology to help couples improve their relationship and create secure and lasting connections. One of its foundational goals is to help couples establish secure functioning which it considers the goal of a healthy relationship. PACT supports couples to establish a partnership where both individuals feel safe, protected, and valued. To meet this goal PACT works with each partners attachment style and needs so that both partners can understand each other better and create secure functioning.
Additionally, PACT integrates knowledge from neuroscience to help couples understand how the brain and nervous system influence their behaviors and emotional responses. By increasing awareness of their own and their partner's neurobiological reactions, including nonverbal communication, couples can cultivate empathy and attunement and develop strategies for managing conflicts. PACT encourages couples to develop an awareness for bodily sensations and cues that signal safety, threat, or distress. This awareness can help couples learn to recognize and regulate each others nervous system reactions during stress and in turn foster greater emotional connection.
Relational-Cultural Therapy
Relational Cultural Therapy (RCT) is an approach to psychotherapy that focuses on the importance of relationships and connections in the development of individuals. RCT recognizes that humans are fundamentally relational beings and that our well-being is deeply intertwined with the quality of our relationships. It highlights the significance of cultural and societal factors in shaping our experiences and relationships. It emphasizes the power of relationships to heal emotional wounds, build resilience, and promote personal growth. The approach is particularly effective in addressing issues related to trauma, attachment, relational difficulties, and social and cultural challenges.
NeuroAffective Relational Model
The NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) is a framework for addressing attachment and developmental trauma. It is theorized that attachment patterns can cause life-long psychobiological symptoms as well as interpersonal difficulties. Attachment patterns form early on in our development - during adverse childhood experiences. They are unconscious patterns of disconnection that can deeply affect our identity, emotions, physiology, behavior and relationships.
Through therapy, it is possible to recognize these patterns and learn new ways of coping when adverse situations arise, thus enabling us to outgrow behaviors that no longer serve us and may be standing in the way of our happiness.
Integral Theory
Integral theory is a school of philosophy that seeks to integrate all of human wisdom into a new, emergent worldview that is able to accommodate the gifts of all previous worldviews, including those which have been historically at odds: science and religion, Eastern and Western schools of thought, and pre-modern, modern and post-modern worldviews. It is a comprehensive framework that seeks to integrate and understand various dimensions of human experience, knowledge, and development. It provides a multidisciplinary approach to studying and addressing complex issues by incorporating insights from psychology, philosophy, spirituality, sociology, science, and other disciplines.
Integral theory is founded in evolutionary and developmental theory. Integral theory posits that evolution is not limited to the exterior forms of reality (matter and organisms), but is also evident in the interior spaces of reality, namely in the development of culture, consciousness, and interconnectedness. It has been applied to fields like psychology, education, leadership, ecology, and spirituality, aiming to foster a more holistic and inclusive approach to human understanding and progress.