Talk Therapy
I integrate ideas and processes from what’s considered more traditional psychology, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), schema therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and psychodynamic psychoanalysis.
I am not a pure enthusiast of any particular therapeutic model—I take an integrative approach. But I value how language and ‘story’—speaking about your everyday lived experiences—are honoured as a doorway to begin the work.
I also value how each approach offers some nuance and a unique lens through which to help build awareness and facilitate change.
There is good medicine in each; for me, it boils down to the right blend and mix for each person, situation, and time.
What is common to these models is that they emphasise a “top-down” approach.
The “top” refers to the entry point being language, story, and higher-level mental processes (like logic and reasoning, organising, tracking or ‘mindfulness’) to work with thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behaviours.
When working through this lens, attention is brought to current, long-standing and underlying cognitive and behavioural patterns, schemas, and psycho-energetic knots.
If these have little usefulness or relevance for your life now, the work is in dismantling or reorganising the complexes of thoughts, beliefs, emotions, sensations, urges, and behaviours.
Exercises like thought experiments, identifying cognitive distortions, and doing behavioural experiments can result in new experiences, perspectives and mental frameworks, improved ego functioning, more helpful storylines, and a life that feels connected to values and meaning.
Top-down approaches see that changes in thoughts lead to transformation and a new sense of self.
On the other hand, “bottom-up”[hyperlink] processes are a different doorway to understanding through somatic or body-centred psychotherapy, depth[ hyperlink], and symbolic work [hyperlink], like working with dreams or tarot.
I don't believe that pure “top-down” or “bottom-up” therapies can work in reality - I imagine these as processes that dance partners that make beautiful and better art together.
