In the therapy world, there are what we call various approaches to treatment, meaning not all therapists “therapize” the same way, and not all interventions are effective for every person. Since I specialize in treating OCD, depression, and a range of anxiety disorders, I work primarily from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) framework since it’s often the most effective way to work through such problems. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) goes hand in hand with my OCD and anxiety work. When necessary, I sprinkle in some elements of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for those presenting with more emotional dysregulation and interpersonal problems.

I wonder if you find yourself asking, “what does this all mean, Michelle?!!” Let’s look at CBT as an example–it is an approach that emphasizes the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It includes skill-building and various techniques you can use on your own outside of our sessions, and yes, sometimes there’s homework. It also means that when you feel like I’m speaking gibberish, I will ensure I break it all down so you have an understanding of how it’s all working and impacting your mental health.

No matter the actual approach I take, one thing stays constant; I approach every session individualistically since each and every one of you is an individual with your own life experiences. There is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to therapy so it is my goal to work as a team with you and really get to know you so we can establish a safe and trusting relationship. Without that, no approach will be as effective as we’d like it to be. Try to think of the therapist/client roles as that of a coach and a player. I teach and provide the appropriate plays and it is up to the client to carry out those plays in their own life as they see fit. Once you do that, my hope is that you feel empowered and confident in your ability.

I’ll be cheering you on from the sidelines all the way through so you never have to feel like you’re going through this alone.