My Approaches

My approach to therapy is…

Compassionate

Real healing can only happen when we remove the barriers of judgment and shame. That’s why you’ll never feel judged by me.

I work hard to create a compassionate space where you feel safe, understood, and accepted.

Integrative

Integrative therapy combines many different modalities to fit your unique needs. We’ll create a therapy roadmap that uses the approaches you feel are best for you.

You have a say in how you want your therapy to go, and I continually stay up to date on the most recent research on neuroscience and psychology to offer you the most effective tools possible.

Interactive

You may have been to or heard of therapists who stare at you blankly, cryptically writing notes, and not offering you any other feedback other than “Mmm, hmm.”

I am not one of those therapists. I actively engage in conversation, give you specific exercises and strategies to employ during session, and provide homework to help you between meetings.

And more than just talk…

You’d be healed if you only needed to talk about your problems.

You need more than that.

I strongly believe that therapy is most effective when we tap into our body’s unique wisdom and language and leverage the power of the mind.

To that end, here are just some of the unique approaches I employ in therapy…

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Knowing when “A part of me feels…”

Developed by Richard Schwartz, IFS or “parts work” is an empirically based, compassionate approach to therapy that recognizes and welcomes all parts of you.

The name refers to your INTERNAL family – all of the distinct parts of you that have different desires, motivations, and fears. IFS treats these parts of you as sentient beings – with their own wisdom and intelligence.

There are no bad parts – just misunderstood parts – and our problems persist when we try to push these parts of us away.

The goal is to become aware of and better acquainted with our different parts in a way that gives us more self-compassion, confidence, and clarity.

IFS is an effective treatment for many mental health difficulties, including trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, existential issues, and grief.

I also practice a unique type of therapy called IFS-Informed EMDR (keep reading), which integrates the two approaches and results in powerful transformation.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Processing the past using the mind and body…

EMDR is an evidence-based therapy developed by Francine Shapiro. It is effective for PTSD, trauma, anxiety, grief, and relationship issues. EMDR gets to the core of issues in a way that regular talk therapy cannot do.

You can go into more detail about EMDR and how it works here, but painful experiences and memories are often not stored in the cognitive part of our brain. They are stored in our unconscious and our bodies. So, while talking can provide some relief, we need to do more than just talk to heal fully.

While EMDR cannot erase the painful memories, it allows us to have a different relationship with them to feel more at peace and more free from the past.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Getting out of your mind and into your life!

ACT is action-oriented psychotherapy developed by Steven Hayes. ACT acknowledges that suffering is a part of life. By accepting and leaning into these emotions (rather than trying to get away from them), we can free up time and energy to live a life that is more in line with our values.

With ACT, you will learn strategies to “unhook” from your thoughts, approaches to tolerate difficult emotions, and how to take meaningful action even when in the grips of suffering.

Meditation and Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapies

Finding the calm within the storm…

Research and millennia of experience validate the powerful effects that meditation can have on our bodies, minds, mental health, and world.

I am a certified meditation and yoga instructor, and I can help you incorporate these strategies into your life so that you can enjoy the myriad benefits that these tried-and-true approaches can offer.

If you’ve tried meditation but feel like you’re not “good at it,” I promise I can help you feel confident about how to integrate these practices into your life.

Read more about my meditation groups and how I incorporate meditation in individual therapy here.

Psychedelic Integration

Opening your mind to new possibilities…

Psychedelic integration explores the insights and challenges experienced in your mind and body during a non-ordinary state of consciousness after ingesting a psychedelic.

It is important to note that I do not provide, condone, or support illegal substances. There are significant legal and medical risks associated with the casual use of psychedelics. These risks can be greater for people already experiencing mental health difficulties.

However, as people sometimes choose to take risks that are not medically advised, I work to provide a safe and judgment-free place to help process these experiences.

I have specialized training with non-ordinary states of consciousness, and I understand that these experiences can bring up powerful emotions, sensations, and shifts in thinking. Professional support can help you make meaning from these experiences, facilitating further healing and personal transformation.

Are you ready?

It’s time to take the next step in your healing journey and experience real and lasting change.

Let’s talk about how I can help. Contact me today for a free 15-minute consultation: agarrattcounseling@gmail.com.