Our Services
Adult Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
What is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term, goal-oriented therapy that takes a hands-on, practical approach to mental health problem-solving. CBT aims to change the patterns of thinking or behavior that underlie mental health difficulties, and so to change feelings. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to treat a wide range of issues, from insomnia and relationship struggles to drug and alcohol abuse to anxiety and depression.
What are the advantages of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
An important advantage of cognitive-behavioral therapy over older mental health treatments is that the therapy tends to be short, taking five to ten months in most cases. Clients attend one therapy session per week, each session lasting approximately 50 minutes. During this time, client and therapist work together to understand the problem(s) and develop strategies. Cognitive-behavioral therapy introduces patients to a set of principles that they can apply as needed for the rest of their lives.
How does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy differ from other psychotherapies?
Therapy sessions are structured rather than wandering freely. At the beginning of the therapy, problems and goals are identified. These problems and goals then become the basis for planning subsequent sessions.
Client and therapist decide together challenging mental health topics they want to discuss
Time reserved for discussing conclusions from previous sessions as well as reviewing homework
Homework is a vital part of cognitive-behavioral therapy
Child/Play Therapy
What is play therapy?
Child play therapy uses play to communicate with and help children aged 2-12 develop necessary social skills, manage their aggression, develop empathy, and resolve trauma. Children naturally engage in play in order to work through their interior confusions and anxieties. A child therapist can observe a child playing with toys (play-houses, pets, dolls, etc.) to determine the cause of the problematic behavior. The objects and patterns of play, as well as the willingness to interact with the therapist, can be used to understand the underlying rationale for children's behavior both inside and outside of therapy session.
What role does the parent play in child's therapy?
The parent or caregiver plays an important role in a child’s therapy. After conducting an initial intake interview with the parent, when the child therapist collects information about the child — and often a separate interview with the child — the child's counselor can make an assessment prior to beginning treatment. Play therapy usually occurs in weekly sessions lasting 30 to 45 minutes each.
Two approaches to play therapy:
Nondirective play therapy is based on the principle that children can resolve their own issues given the right conditions and the freedom to play with limited instruction and supervision.
Directive play therapy uses more input from the therapist, which places restrictions on the child but can speed results in some cases.
Child play therapists can use both approaches, depending on the situation.
Marital Therapy and Divorce
Why should I start marital therapy?
Most relationships will get strained at one time or another, resulting in a failure to function and self-reinforcing, negative patterns of behavior. There are many possible reasons for this, including insecure attachment, jealousy, anger, greed, poor communication or problem solving, ill health, interference from third parties, and so on.
Often the breakdown results from an interaction between two or more factors, and frequently it is not just one of the people who are involved that exhibit problematic behaviors. Relationship influences are reciprocal: it takes each person involved to make and manage problems.
What is a viable solution for marital issues?
A viable solution to marital issues may be to reorient the individuals' perceptions and emotions — how one looks at or responds to situations and feels about them afterward. These responses can be explored collaboratively and discussed openly in marriage counseling. The core values they suppose can then be understood and respected or changed when no longer appropriate.
What makes couples therapy successful?
Successful couples therapy requires that each person takes equal responsibility for awareness of the problem when it arises, awareness of their own contribution to the problem, and responsibility for making some fundamental changes in thoughts and behaviors.
Take control of your marriage today and make an appointment with one of our professionals!
Depression
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional, physical, and social problems. Sufferers may have trouble completing normal day-to-day activities. Some may feel as if life is no longer worth living.
Depression isn’t just sadness, nor is it a weakness or something you can simply “snap out of.” It is often chronic and long-lasting.
How can I treat depression?
One should never get discouraged. Treatments are available. Studies have shown that a combination of medication and therapy is effective for most people. The first step is to get help from a therapist with expertise in depression counseling.
We're here for you. Schedule an appointment today!
Anxiety Disorders
Is anxiety common in adults and children?
Anxiety disorders are common in both adults and children. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 1 in 5 adults and 1 in 4 adolescents will experience severe anxiety at some time in their life.
Types of Anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder is a persistent worry or anxious feeling resulting in restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating or sleeping.
Panic disorder is marked by recurrent panic attacks that may include sweating, trembling, shortness of breath or a feeling of choking, a pounding heart or rapid heart rate, and feelings of dread. Such attacks often happen suddenly, without warning. People who experience panic attacks often become fearful about when the next episode will occur, which can cause them to change or restrict their normal activities.
Phobias are intense fears about certain objects (such as spiders or needles) or situations (such as flying or being in cramped spaces) that are distressing or intrusive, affecting daily life.
Social anxiety disorder is the fear of social situations in which we might feel embarrassed or judged. People with this disorder typically feel nervous in social settings, are self-conscious in front of others, and worry about being rejected by or offending others to the point that they have difficulty participating in life activities or making friends.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is marked by persistent, uncontrollable feelings and thoughts (obsessions) accompanied by routines or rituals (compulsions) intended to control those thoughts, such as repeated hand washing due to a fear of germs or repeatedly checking work for errors.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often develops after severe physical or emotional trauma, such as a serious accident or being the victim of a crime. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and frightening thoughts that interfere with life for months or years after the traumatic experience.
Though there are many types of anxiety disorders, research suggests that most are driven by similar underlying processes.
Often, people with anxiety disorders try to cope by avoiding situations or experiences that make them anxious. Unfortunately, avoidance can backfire and will often end up feeding the anxiety.
How can anxiety be treated?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to be highly effective at treating anxiety disorders and giving those who suffer mechanisms to cope.
We are here to help you. Contact us to book an appointment with our specialists in Wichita!
Bipolar Disorder
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Previously called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a common but very serious mental illness. Nearly 3% of US adults have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. While the exact cause is not known, both hereditary and environmental factors seem to play a role.
People with bipolar disorder typically alternate between mania and depression, occasionally with “normal” periods between. While in a manic episode, persons with bipolar disorder feel great. They are excited and have lots of energy. They may even feel euphoric and indulge in impulsive and damaging behaviors such as spending sprees, unprotected sex, or drug use.
But no matter how good the high, mania is eventually followed by depression: not just sadness but loss of energy, lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities, too much or too little sleep, feelings of hopelessness, and even suicidal thoughts.
Is there a cure for bipolar disorder?
Although it’s not a rare condition, bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose due to its varied presentation. And unfortunately, there is no cure.
However, there is hope. The majority of persons with bipolar disorder have good success managing their condition and can lead happy, fulfilling lives with a mix of medication and therapy.
Book an appointment today with our Wichita specialists!
Grief Therapy
How do I know if I need Grief Therapy?
Grief counseling is recommended when a person is so overwhelmed by their loss that their normal coping processes are inhibited or inadequate. Grief often causes people to feel disorganized or tired, to have trouble concentrating, to sleep poorly or have vivid dreams, even to have changes in appetite.
Five stages of grief according to the book The Phoenix Phenomenon: Rising from the Ashes of Grief written by Joanne Jozefowski
Impact: shock, denial, anxiety, fear, and panic.
Chaos: confusion, disbelief, irrational thoughts and feelings, feeling despair, feeling helpless, desperate searching, losing track of time, difficulty sleeping and eating, obsessive focus on the loss, shattered beliefs.
Adapting: amid the act of grieving: taking care of basic needs (personal grooming, shopping, cooking, cleaning, paying bills), learning to live with absence, accepting help, connecting with grieving others.
Equilibrium: attaining stability and routines: reestablishing a functional life, enjoying pleasant activities, doing productive work, choosing a positive direction while honoring the past, learning to talk about your loss.
Transformation: rethinking your purpose and identity; looking for meaning in tragedy; allowing yourself to have both painful and positive feelings about your loss and choosing which feelings you focus on; allowing yourself to discover that your struggle has made you stronger; learning how to talk with others about your loss without exposing them to your pain; becoming supportive of others dealing with losses of their own.
Grief counseling facilitates the healthy expression of emotion and includes thinking creatively about the challenge of loss and mechanisms to cope.
We want to help you. Contact us today for an appointment!
Anger Management
What is Anger Management?
Many people think that anger management is about suppressing anger. But anger is a normal, healthy emotion. Never getting angry is impossible. But that doesn’t mean venting is healthy or appropriate. In fact, anger feeds on itself. The more you indulge it, the worse it becomes.
What is the goal of Anger Management?
The goal of anger management isn’t to suppress anger but rather to understand the cause and to learn how to express it in healthy ways without losing control. Those who can do that not only feel better, they are also more likely to have their needs met, both in their relationships and in life.
Book an appointment today with our specialists in Wichita!