Why Evidence-Based Practices?
Deerfield Counseling is committed to providing the most effective services possible to our clients. That’s why we use evidence-based practices (or EBP’s). What does it mean when we say that a psychotherapy practice is evidence based? It simply means that there have been scientific studies that have proven that a particular therapy works. Not all psychotherapy is the same. Some treatments do work better than others. Below are a number of the evidence-based practices that are used at Deerfield Counseling.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a first line and evidence based treatment for OCD. It is considered the “optimal treatment” for OCD and has shown greater effectiveness than drug treatments, like clomipramine. Treatment consists of guided and gradual exposure to trigger experiences and active suppression of compulsive behavior. Charles, Marissa and Jenna are trained in ERP.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidenced based treatment for PTSD and other forms of trauma. It’s a powerful multi-modal form of therapy that has been found in numerous studies to be highly effective in the treatment of trauma and anxiety. Better yet, it doesn’t require you to talk endlessly about the terrible thing that happened to you. Charles is trained to provide EMDR. What happens during EMDR? Here’s a video that describes the process.
Evidence Based Couples Therapy
While there are many different schools of couples therapy, only a handful have been subjected to scientific scrutiny. The two most researched and proven methods are the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Charles has specialized training in both of these interventions.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (or EFT) is a couples therapy that is grounded in attachment theory and has been studied extensively since it was formulated in the 1980’s. Research studies have shown that between 70-75% of couples are able to move from conflict to recovery using EFT interventions.
Gottman Method Couples therapy is another evidence-based couples treatment. It was developed from over 30 years of research and clinical experience into why couples stay together or separate. Here’s a very quick video describing what the Gottman Method is all about and a dated but still interesting video about how this system of therapy was developed. Marissa is trained in the Gottman Method.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (or ART) is a a relatively new treatment that is a refinement and expansion of EMDR. It has shown “exceptional promise” as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has also been shown in studies to be an effective treatment for complicated grief and depression as well. For those interested, here is a link to a video that reviews the empirical evidence base for ART. Charles and Anastatia are ART Trained Therapists.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or CBT for short) is the gold standard of psychotherapy. There is no other method of therapy that has been proven in study after study to be as successful against a board range of problems as CBT. Depression, anxiety, and even psychosis have been treated successfully with CBT. Charles has extensive training in CBT from the Beck Institute which was founded by Aaron T. Beck, one of the founding fathers of CBT. Marissa is also trained in CBT.