Psychodrama is an active and creative therapeutic approach that uses guided drama and role playing to work through problems and traumatic pasts. Developed by Dr. Jacob Moreno, psychodrama can be effective individually or in a group (sociodrama). During each psychodrama session, clients reenact specific scenes and experiences with guidance from Andrea Rusher, LCSW. These scenes may include past situations, dreams and preparations for future events. In a group setting, other clients play the roles of significant others or the audience, offering support and bringing to the surface underlying beliefs and issues. The goals of psychodrama are to gain new insights, resolve problems, and practice new life skills and behaviors. Psychodrama can be a powerful experience. Because it is an active, “real-time” therapy, psychodrama can be an empowering alternative to traditional talk therapy Psychodrama can help people improve their relationships and communication skills, overcome grief and loss, restore confidence and well-being, enhance learning and life skills, express their feelings in a safe, supportive environment, experiment with new ways of thinking and behaving.

Clinical hypnosis is a treatment modality that enables deep concentration, inner absorption and focused attention (trance). Clinical hypnosis is considered to be a rapid response treatment. It can be a wonderful modality for people who want to evoke change in ways of thinking or behaving. Clinical hypnosis has been a valuable treatment modality for hundreds of years and has been a demonstrably efficacious intervention in medical, dental, and behavioral health care. Clinical hypnosis incorporates understanding of current concepts of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuroplasticity with core established and evident patient relationship and communication skills. This effective and useful clinical skill has been defined as: a special state of mental functioning and the process to create that state and the experience of oneself in that special stat (Araoz, 1982).

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders and severe mental illness. Numerous research studies suggest that CBT leads to significant improvement in functioning and quality of life. In many studies, CBT has been demonstrated to be as effective as, or more effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications. CBT treatment involves efforts to change thinking and behavior patterns.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides clients with new skills to manage painful emotions and decrease conflict in relationships. DBT specifically focuses on providing therapeutic skills in four key areas. First, mindfulness focuses on improving an individual’s ability to accept and be present in the current moment. Second, distress tolerance is geared toward increasing a person’s tolerance of negative emotion, rather than trying to escape from it. Third, emotion regulation covers strategies to manage and change intense emotions that are causing problems in a person’s life. Fourth, interpersonal effectiveness consists of techniques that allow a person to communicate with others in a way that is assertive, maintains self-respect, and strengthens relationships.

Unlike traditional forms of therapy that take time to analyze problems, pathology and past life events, Solution-Focused Therapy concentrates on finding solutions in the present time and exploring one’s hope for the future to find quicker resolution of one’s problems. This method takes the approach that you know what you need to do to improve your own life and, with the appropriate coaching and questioning, are capable of finding the best solutions.

Conflict arises from differences. It occurs whenever people disagree over their values, motivations, perceptions, ideas, or desires. Sometimes these differences look trivial, but when a conflict triggers strong feelings, a deep personal and relational need is at the core of the problem—a need to feel safe and secure, a need to feel respected and valued, or a need for greater closeness and intimacy. Conflict resolution involves being taught specific skills to take conflict in stride and resolve differences in ways that build trust and confidence.

Psychoanalytic therapy is one of the most well-known treatment modalities, but it is also one of the most misunderstood by mental health consumers. The goal of psychoanalytic therapy is to help patients better understand the unconscious forces that can play a role in current behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. This type of therapy is based upon the theories and work of Sigmund Freud, who founded the school of thought known as psychoanalysis. Andrea Rusher, LCSW will look for patterns or significant events that may play a role in the client’s current difficulties. Psychoanalysts believe that childhood events and unconscious feelings, thoughts, and motivations play a role in mental illness and maladaptive behaviors.

Strength-based therapy is a type of positive psychotherapy and counseling that focuses more on your internal strengths and resourcefulness, and less on weaknesses, failures, and shortcomings. This focus sets up a positive mindset that helps you build on you best qualities, find your strengths, improve resilience and change worldview to one that is more positive. A positive attitude, in turn, can help your expectations of yourself and others become more reasonable.

The therapeutic use of a pet to enhance individuals’ physical, social, emotional, or cognitive functioning.