Individual Therapy in Kalamazoo, MI

Serving Portage, Comstock, Oshtemo, MI, and Surrounding Areas

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic technique that enables people to heal from symptoms and emotional distress that result from distressing/disturbing life experiences. EMDR demonstrates that the mind can heal from psychological trauma, similar to the way the body heals from physical trauma. Imagine if you cut your hand, and your body works to close the wound. If there is a foreign object or repeated injury to the wound, it festers and causes you pain. Once the block is removed, healing can continue. EMDR demonstrates a similar sequence of events that occurs with mental processes. The brain possesses an innate information processing system to naturally process experiences in a healthy and adaptive manner. If this processing system is blocked or out of balance due to the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing can resume. 


Much research has been conducted on EMDR, and it is now considered an effective treatment intervention for trauma and other disturbing experiences individuals may experience. Organizations recognizing EMDR as an effective form of psychological treatment include, but are not limited to, the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and the Department of Defense. It is believed that the biological mechanisms present in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep are involved during EMDR, which leads to internal associations and allows the client to begin processing the memory and associated distressing emotions.


EMDR is effective in the treatment of "everyday" memories that can impact a person's sense of self-worth, feelings of powerlessness, and various other issues that might bring someone to seek therapy. The meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level, and the insights gained come from the client's own accelerated intellectual and emotional processing rather than from the clinician's interpretations. Clients are able to feel empowered at the conclusion of EMDR treatment by experiences that previously debased them. The previously existing emotional wounds have not only healed but have transformed, allowing clients to have a different relationship/perspective regarding past experiences.


To learn more about EMDR, please visit EMDR Institute, Inc. at www.emdr.com.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Providers:

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. TF-CBT is highly structured, and the client and therapist typically meet 8-25 times to complete the treatment. TF-CBT helps children and adolescents build coping skills, improve emotion regulation, and process trauma. 

https://tfcbt.org/

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a therapy that was developed to help people confront their fears. When people are fearful of something, they tend to avoid the feared objects, activities, or situations. Fears can include unpleasant memories, physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts. Although avoiding situations where fears are experienced might help reduce feelings of fear in the short term, over the long term, it can make the fear become even worse and lead to a person spending most of their time and energy avoiding feared experiences and less time and energy doing what truly matters to them. In such situations, exposure therapy is clinically recommended to help break the pattern of avoidance and fear. In this form of therapy, the client and therapist create a safe environment in which to "expose" individuals to the things they fear and avoid. Exposure to the feared objects, activities, or situations in a safe environment helps create space for learning to live a life that is based on what is important to you as opposed to living a life focused on avoidance and fear. More information about exposure therapy can be found at https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/exposure-therapy.

Substance abuse can have a devastating effect on individuals, couples, families, and the community at large. When someone is ready to face their problem or has been put in a situation where they need to address their substance issues, it's important to get the kind of help you need. We have the kind of help you need. Our clinicians are credentialed in substance abuse counseling. After years of training and experience, they have many therapeutic options to draw from to help you be successful in abstaining from the substance you are struggling to manage. 

Often in our lives, we can be under stress and have feelings of fear and apprehension about what may be coming. The symptoms may show up as restlessness, heart palpitations, and inability to stop worrying about the future. Sometimes, these feelings can become overwhelming and affect our lives in negative ways. This is the time we need someone to help us through those challenges. We at Rinehart Institute are here to help with evidence-based approaches to help address these challenging times and help you find your footing once again. 

Living with depression can be described as an experience of disconnection—difficulties in doing those tasks and responsibilities in your life. Often, individuals' sleep can be impacted by having difficulty going to bed, staying asleep, or sleeping excessively. Thoughts of worthlessness or feelings of sadness can be experienced so intensely that individuals find themselves disconnecting from those people and things that are important to them in their lives. Along with feelings of worthlessness, individuals can experience thoughts of suicide and establish a plan or end their lives. Entering therapy can be an opportunity to work through depression and learn how to establish or reconnect to a life that is personally meaningful.

Grief and loss can come in many forms, from the death of a loved one or friend, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship, or the loss of mobility and a sense of freedom because of the pandemic, as just a few examples. We are here to help. Each clinician has their own unique approach to supporting you through this challenging time. 

When someone is struggling with their mental health and substance abuse problem, we call that co-occurring or dual diagnosis. We have help for you. Our special team of substance abuse clinicians can work with you to address both substance abuse and, at the same time, mental health issues you may be experiencing. 

Relaxation and Meditation Training

There are a variety of forms of meditation and relaxation techniques.

 

Some of these techniques are progressive muscular relaxation, breathing meditation, autogenic training, and guided imagery. Each of these techniques can be effective for people. Some techniques are more suited for certain circumstances, such as insomnia, test-taking stress, etc.

 

Techniques can be personally prescribed for individuals.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Across the world, including right here in Kalamazoo, MI, people struggle to overcome mental health struggles. These can range from mild to life-altering and come in many forms. These conditions can feel inescapable, but with the help of the Rinehart Institute's experienced therapists, you can progress toward a better life through acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

What Is Act?

Acceptance and commitment therapy is a treatment that focuses on reducing suffering. This form of therapy specifically addresses feelings of being stuck or unable to make progress. Many individuals with mental health struggles try to ignore their negative thoughts and urges, including the desire to self-harm, isolate, spend excessive amounts of money, or use drugs or alcohol. They might even simply have the desire to feel nothing at all.

 

Trying to force these thoughts away can lead to emotional distance from loved ones, and it's often ultimately ineffective. ACT is clinically proven to be an effective treatment for a variety of mental health conditions. These include anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, psychosis, and substance abuse. Act will give you strategies and mechanisms to free yourself from these negative thoughts.

 

The cornerstone of ACT is mindfulness. Negative thoughts will always exist; instead of expending all of your willpower trying to push them away, ACT will help you develop a healthy relationship with yourself so you can acknowledge these thoughts and reduce their influence over you. You deserve to live a life free of overpowering invasive thoughts, and Act can help you achieve this.

Why wait any longer? Request a free quote at 269-381-8191.

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