Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a treatment approach to therapy that combines psychotherapy
and behavioral therapy. CBT has been found to be effective in the treatment of anxiety disorders,
depression, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions and
situations. CBT emphasizes the importance and the link between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
When I treat clients with CBT I help clients identify underlying core beliefs they have developed about
themselves and their world which clients may or may not be aware of. I also work with clients to
identify when and how these core beliefs became automatic coping thoughts. Our core beliefs affect
how we feel about ourselves and others. If the core beliefs we have developed are negative and
irrational then we are not going to feel like our best selves. When our thoughts and feelings are
negative, we tend to want to avoid them instead of dealing with them and this is when people can
develop addictive behaviors and other behaviors that come with consequences. I help and teach clients
how to challenge and replace these core beliefs with positive, realistic and empowering core beliefs.
Sometimes when people are going through dark times it is difficult for them to see the facts and the
full picture realistically and clearly. CBT helps calm down irrational and negative thoughts and in turn
helps people feel better. Part of our work together when using CBT is also working on becoming more
comfortable with identifying, labeling, and communicating feelings. As we work on thoughts and
feelings that have been negatively impacting behavior, we also begin to identify and use healthier
coping strategies to produce better outcomes.
Mindfulness is a treatment strategy that has been used for many years starting with Buddhist meditation
practices. This practice is intended to bring increasing awareness to the present moment. Mindfulness is
a state of non-judgmental awareness that brings attention to thoughts, emotions, and sensations
experienced within our bodies as well as brings awareness to our surrounding environments.
Mindfulness helps take away the focus from the past which can create sadness and the future which can
create anxiety and focuses on the present moment in order to break from unhelpful thinking.
Mindfulness helps clients recognize thoughts and emotions for what they are. When I use mindfulness
techniques with clients I am teaching clients how to be present in the moment and pausing before
turning to reactivity and impulsivity. Mindfulness has been found effective for the treatment of anxiety
disorders, depression, anger, chronic pain, grief and loss, ADD/ADHD, substance abuse disorder,
bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions.
The Benefits of Mindfulness include:
· Better ability to regulate emotions
· Improvement of concentration and memory
· Increased ability to handle stressful situations
· Increased satisfaction and motivation\A decrease of ruminating thoughts
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that is an effective
treatment to help people manage overwhelming emotions. DBT is used to strengthen a person's ability
to overcome distressful situations without reacting in destructive and impulsive ways. It has been
useful for the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression,
eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Mindfulness practices are incorporated into DBT
techniques in order to help clients increase awareness of and acceptance of the present moment. DBT
also focuses on distress tolerance strategies which teaches clients how to stop avoidance patterns and
increase their ability to tolerant negative feelings. DBT covers strategies to help with emotional
regulation as well by teaching clients how to manage intense emotions. Another focus of DBT is
interpersonal effectiveness which is a focus on teaching interpersonal skills that encourages the
development of healthy communication skills, assertiveness skills, and the ability to set healthy
personal boundaries. The goal of DBT is to achieve acceptance and change. DBT can be practiced
through the use of one on one counseling sessions as well as can be paired with referrals to DBT group
Narrative therapy is a type of therapy that separates a person from their problems. Narrative therapy
focuses on the person's personal experiences and stories to help understand purpose. Techniques used
while treating with narrative therapy include objectifying problems, reframing problems, and teaching
people to add other storylines that exist beyond the problem story. This allows the person to rewrite
their story and focus on self-reflection. Through narrative therapy a person can find purpose, gain
awareness of personal values, and find a greater understanding of their actions and decision-making
Strength Based Approach
Positive psychology states that people who are aware of their strengths and good qualities have greater
ability to maintain healthy self-esteem levels and are more likely to practice self-care strategies. I
use a strength-based approach for clients who have issues with poor self-esteem and body image. This
is done through a variety of worksheets and activities to help identify strengths and teach people how to
practice positive self-talk. I also use identified strengths and qualities to challenge negative core beliefs
that are at the root of poor self-esteem and self-confidence issues. We may also identify and implement
the use of positive affirmations and mantras to help improve a positive sense of self.
Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider
In 2019, Kerry Duarte, LICSW became a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP). This means that this therapist is certified to provide alternative recommendations for clients interested in natural approaches to emotional healing or would like to combine holistic approaches with conventional medication (this therapist will collaborate with other providers when medication is being prescribed). When working with this therapist she may teach and help clients improve moods and behaviors through the help of nutritional medicine. As a CMHIMP, this therapist can also suggest herbal medicine as well as discuss and teach meditation and breathing exercises. This therapist also emphasizes the importance of having a healthy circadian rhythm and will develop treatment strategies to improve quality of sleep.