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knowledge is power

There are a variety of conditions that can affect your mood, thoughts and behavior. Knowing a bit about them makes it easier for you or a family member to support what you are going through.

Mind your body, too. Feeling good physically works wonders mentally. The reverse is true, too. So to improve your whole health, it’s important to work on your mental health. So exercising your mind, can recharge you and manage life’s events. Get a great head start here.

With you all the way

The strength you need

As wide as our world is, emergencies and trauma can hit very close to home. Just know that if you or your loved ones are coping with a crisis, you don’t have to cope with it alone. S.E.M.P.É. has services to support you as you make your way through life —for the good times, tough times or anytime in between.

 

Able To

Able To lets you talk by phone or video with qualified therapists, all from your home. You can get help with grief and loss, depression and anxiety, stress and more. To get started, just call S.E.M.P.É. at (954) 243-2033.

Steadiness comes from character and commitment 

Now it’s easier to use behavioral health services

Get counseling from anywhere…

No matter where you are, you can meet with a counselor when it’s convenient for you. Just access TheraPlatform  a HIPAA compliant and video conferencing platform via browser on a laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Group sessions can be conducted with participants from multiple locations, each using a secure and unique link. your webcam with any computer or smart device connected to the internet.

Now it’s easier to use behavioral health services…

It’s the next best thing to being in the same room, without the drive time. With televideo, you can:

  • Fit sessions into busy days
  • Cut out any travel time and expense
  • Skip the waiting room
  • Spend the same as you would with a face-to face office visit

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Mental Health Services

Individual Therapy

How does Individual Therapy Work?

Individual therapy is a form of therapy in which the client is treated on a one-on-one basis with a therapist. It is an effective treatment for a variety of emotional difficulties and mental illnesses. Also known as talk therapy, it can help improve or control symptoms that influence an individual’s well-being.

Individual therapy allows the therapist and client to focus on each other, building a rapport and working together to solve the client’s issue.

Therapy sessions give individuals the opportunity to confidentially talk through problems or situations with a trained professional. It does not necessarily make problems disappear, but it equips individuals with the tools needed to cope with them more appropriately.

This type of therapy may be used in conjunction with other types of mental and behavioral health treatment, such as family therapy or substance abuse counseling.

What to Expect from a Therapy Session

Individual therapy is useful for many types of situations that cause stress, anger, grief or conflict. In a comfortable, private setting, an individual and a therapist will explore many different important issues, including (but not limited to):

  • Expression of thoughts and emotions
  • Behavior patterns
  • Problem solving
  • Conflict resolution
  • Strengths and weaknesses

Individual therapy may be short-term (focusing on immediate issues) or long-term (delving into more complex problems). The number of sessions and the frequency of appointments depends on the individual’s situation and the recommendations of the therapist.

The exact way in which this therapy is implemented tends to vary depending on the issues in question, the practices of the therapist and the needs of the individual.

The Benefits of Individual Therapy

Individual therapy is an effective treatment for many types of mental, emotional and behavioral health issues. But, it can also help people who are facing difficult life situations, or would like to develop healthier, more functional personal habits.

Therapy sessions can provide these seven types of benefits and more:

  1. Adding to your support network
  2. Gaining a better understanding of yourself
  3. Learning how to handle emotions
  4. Identifying underlying causes of symptoms
  5. Providing coping strategies
  6. Managing symptoms
  7. Facilitating lifestyle changes

Whatever your issues may be, therapy can be a life-changing experience. S.E.M.P.É. provides mental and behavioral health services for those who work to improve overall wellness.

Anger Management Services

Anger is defined as “a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.” It’s important to note that anger is a normal, universal human emotion. There are a series of instances and events in life which can cause someone to become angry. Typically, anger arises when someone feels threatened, disturbed, or otherwise interrupted from a peaceful emotional state. Anger can also be combined with other emotions, such as jealousy, sadness or hopelessness.

Exploring the Roots of Anger

Many different events can make someone angry. These may include:
  • Internal events such as perceived failures, injustices, or frustrations
  • External events such as loss of property or privileges, teasing, or humiliation

Anger may result in externalizing behaviors. These can include verbal arguments and tantrums. Anger can also cause internalizing behaviors. Internalizing behaviors can include sulking or increased symptoms of depression. People may show anger through aggression. Aggression is the biological function of anger. It is an evolutionary response that helps prepare people to fight off threats.

Inappropriate displays of anger may mean a more serious mental health or emotional issue exists. People who receive anger management therapy learn skills to slow their reaction to anger. This can help them identify the reason for their feelings. The roots of anger may be buried in emotional trauma, addiction, grief, or other issues. But a natural inclination may be to find temporary relief in lashing out.

Patterns

Patterns exist throughout all facets of life. They manifest in relationships, career, choices and so much more. Patterns are also dominant themes in emotional states and feelings. When dealing with anger, it’s important to be cognizant of patterns and the roles which they play in your feelings. One of the most revealing things about patterns is that they provide insight into who you are, your choices and whether certain changes are in order.

If you find that you are constantly feeling angry around certain people or in certain environments, then this is a very negative pattern which requires a change. Remember, people and environments who are good for you will not constantly cause you to feel angry or otherwise unhappy. Sometimes we must make tough decisions now which allows us to grow and evolve in the long run.

Anger Styles

The following are identified and listed as anger styles. These are many, but not limited to the most common:

  • Anger Avoidance
  • Sneaky Anger
  • Paranoid Anger
  • Sudden Anger
  • Shame-based Anger
  • Deliberate Anger
  • Addictive Anger
  • Habitual Anger
  • Moral Anger
  • Hate (Hardened Anger)

An anger style is a pattern, a particular way in which you handle your anger. It answers the question, “What do I do when I get angry?”

Anxiety

Feeling worried or nervous is a normal part of everyday life. Everyone frets or feels anxious from time to time. Mild to moderate anxiety can help you focus your attention, energy, and motivation. If anxiety is severe, you may have feelings of helplessness, confusion, and extreme worry that are out of proportion with the actual seriousness or likelihood of the feared event. Overwhelming anxiety that interferes with daily life is not normal. This type of anxiety may be a symptom of an anxiety disorder, or it may be a symptom of another problem, such as depression.

Anxiety can cause physical and emotional symptoms. A specific situation or fear can cause some or all of these symptoms for a short time. When the situation passes, the symptoms usually go away.

Physical symptoms of anxiety include:

  • Trembling, twitching, or shaking.
  • Feeling of fullness in the throat or chest.
  • Breathlessness or rapid heartbeat.
  • Lightheadedness or dizziness.
  • Sweating or cold, clammy hands.
  • Feeling jumpy.
  • Muscle tension, aches, or soreness (myalgias).
  • Extreme tiredness.
  • Sleep problems, such as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, early waking, or restlessness (not feeling rested when you wake up).

Anxiety affects the part of the brain that helps control how you communicate. This makes it harder to express yourself creatively or function effectively in relationships.

Emotional symptoms of anxiety include:

  • Restlessness, irritability, or feeling on edge or keyed up.
  • Worrying too much.
  • Fearing that something bad is going to happen; feeling doomed.
  • Inability to concentrate; feeling like your mind goes blank.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders occur when people have both physical and emotional symptoms. Anxiety disorders interfere with how a person gets along with others and affect daily activities. Women are twice as likely as men to have problems with anxiety disorders. Examples of anxiety disorders include panic attacks, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.

Often the cause of anxiety disorders is not known. Many people with an anxiety disorder say they have felt nervous and anxious all their lives. This problem can occur at any age. Children who have at least one parent with the diagnosis of depression are more than twice as likely to have an anxiety disorder than other children.

Anxiety disorders often occur with other problems, such as:

  • Mental health problems, such as depression.
  • Substance use problems.
  • A physical problem, such as heart or lung disease. A complete medical examination may be needed before an anxiety disorder can be diagnosed.

Panic Attacks

A panic attack is a sudden feeling of extreme anxiety or intense fear without a clear cause or when there is no danger. Panic attacks are common. They sometimes occur in otherwise healthy people. Panic attacks usually last only a few minutes, but an attack may last longer. And for some people, the anxiety can get worse quickly during the attack.

Symptoms include feelings of dying or losing control of yourself, rapid breathing (hyperventilation), numbness or tingling of the hands or lips, and a racing heart. You may feel dizzy, sweaty, or shaky. Other symptoms include trouble breathing, chest pain or tightness, and an irregular heartbeat. These symptoms come on suddenly and without warning.

Sometimes symptoms of a panic attack are so intense that the person fears he or she is having a heart attack. Many of the symptoms of a panic attack can occur with other illnesses, such as hyperthyroidism, coronary artery disease, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A complete medical examination may be needed before an anxiety disorder can be diagnosed.

People who have repeated unexpected panic attacks and worry about the attacks are said to have a panic disorder.

Depression

What is depression?

Depression is an illness that causes you to feel sad, lose interest in activities that you’ve always enjoyed, withdraw from others, and have little energy. It’s different from normal feelings of sadness, grief, or low energy. Depression can also cause people to feel hopeless about the future and even think about suicide.

Many people, and sometimes their families, feel embarrassed or ashamed about having depression. Don’t let these feelings stand in the way of getting treatment. Remember that depression is a common illness. It affects the young and old, men and women, all ethnic groups, and all professions.

What causes depression?

Depression is a disease. It’s not caused by personal weakness and is not a character flaw. When you have depression, there may be problems with activity levels in certain parts of your brain, or chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters may be out of balance.

Most experts believe that a combination of family history (your genes) and stressful life events may cause depression. Life events can include a death in the family or having a long-term health problem.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of depression may be hard to notice at first. They vary among people, and you may confuse them with just feeling “off” or with another health problem.

The two most common symptoms of depression are:

  • Feeling sad or hopeless nearly every day for at least 2 weeks.
  • Losing interest in or not getting pleasure from most daily activities that you used to enjoy, and feeling this way nearly every day for at least 2 weeks.

A serious symptom of depression is thinking about death or suicide. If you or someone you care about talks about this or about feeling hopeless, get help right away.

Substance Abuse Services

Substance abuse can simply be defined as a pattern of harmful use of any substance for mood-altering purposes. “Substances” can include alcohol and other drugs (illegal or not) as well as some substances that are not drugs at all.

“Abuse” can result because you are using a substance in a way that is not intended or recommended, or because you are using more than prescribed. To be clear, someone can use substances and not be addicted or even have a substance use disorder,

How People Get Addicted

People naturally seek out things that help them feel pleasure. What starts out as an “experiment” may turn into misuse and addiction. When people use a substance, their bodies build up a tolerance. This means they have to use more of the drug to get the same result.

And some people are more susceptible to addiction. Family history, genetics and lifestyle can all contribute to dependence. When a person continues to use a substance despite negative consequences, he or she is addicted to that substance.

Once addicted, chances are a person is also physically dependent. That means he or she might have withdrawal symptoms and strong cravings just a few hours after using.

Common symptoms of withdrawal can include:

  • Stomach problems or pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Feeling anxious and “on edge”
  • Body shakes
  • Seizures

Depending on how long the person has been addicted and how much they use, withdrawal can be dangerous or even life-threatening.

What are the signs of substance misuse?

A substance use disorder can take over a person’s life. Catching drug misuse early may help make treatment easier. Depending on the substance being used, you may notice different symptoms.

If someone is misusing depressants — such as alcohol or marijuana — you may see some of the following symptoms:

  • Poor concentration and memory issues
  • Unsteadiness and slow reaction speed
  • Slowed or slurred speech
  • Dizziness
  • Taking undue risks
  • Slow breathing or heart rate

If someone is misusing stimulants — like amphetamines or cocaine — you may notice:

  • Restlessness
  • Dilated pupils
  • Behavior changes or aggression
  • Rapid or rambling speech
  • Confusion
  • Irritability, anxiety or paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Lack of sleep

If someone is misusing hallucinogens — such as LSD and PCP — you may notice:

  • Hallucinations
  • Changed perception of reality
  • Tremors
  • Increased heart rate and blood pressure
  • Poor judgment
  • Impulsive behavior

Signs of Addiction

Addiction is the repeated, compulsive use of a substance that occurs despite negative consequences to the user.

To meet the criteria for drug addiction, a person does not need to show signs of tolerance nor withdrawal. They need to show signs that they obsessively think about the drug and are preoccupied with plans to obtain it, to satisfy their intense desire for it, as well as a compulsion to repeatedly use the drug to avoid the pain of withdrawal.

Signs of compulsive use usually involve some kind of impaired control that may or may not be predictable in a given situation. The person shows impaired control over amounts of the substance consumed, or impaired control over craving to use the substance, or impaired control over their behavior, or any combination of these. There might be failed attempts to cut down or discontinue use. They spend a lot of time obtaining, using, and recovering from effects of the substance. They often give up hobbies and social activities, and let responsibilities slide. They continue to use their drug, despite the evidence of problems it is causing, including legal, financial, job, health, family and relationship problems.

Denial is another marker of addiction. Denial is a distortion of thinking that is probably related to neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain. It is a pattern of thinking in which the addict has “blinders” on against seeing the extent of his or her drug use, in order to protect his drug lifestyle from self – examination. The addict’s denial causes him or her to blame others or outside circumstances for life problems rather than facing the fact that the use of drugs or alcohol is the true source of these problems.

Since success tends not to occur all at once, any improvements are considered important signs of progress

Because addiction affects so many facets of an individual’s functioning—from the ability to tolerate frustration to establishing and maintaining a productive role in society—good treatment focuses on many dimensions of life, including family roles and work skills as well as mental health.

Treatment can include any of a number of components, which are often deployed in combination and are likely to change over the course of recovery:

  • Detoxification, conducted under medical supervision, may be needed but is only the first stage of treatment.
  • Medications that reduce or counter use of illicit substances are suitable for some individuals, or medications may be used to target co-occurring disorders such as anxiety and depression.
  • Motivational Interviewing, which is a short-term counseling process to help a person resolve ambivalence about treatment and find and hold onto incentives for change.
  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) can help a person recognize and cope with situations that trigger the desire to use substances.
  • Group therapy and other peer-support programs leverage the direct experience of many to support individual recovery and prevent the recurrence of substance use.
  • Family therapy helps individuals repair any damage done to family relationships and to establish more supportive ones.
  • Life skills training, including employability skills, may be part of an individual’s treatment plan.
  • Good treatment programs also feature the regular monitoring of individual progress.

The reality is that many people can learn to control their use and reduce their problems (something called ‘harm reduction’), whereas other people will truly never be able to do that, and need to quit altogether or dramatically change their lives (‘abstinence’).

Couples Therapy Service

What Is Couples Therapy?

Couples therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which a therapist with clinical experience working with couples, most often a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist [LMFT], helps two people involved in a romantic relationship gain insight into their relationship, resolve conflict and improve relationship satisfaction utilizing a variety of therapeutic interventions.

Although gaining insight is important, another crucial aspect of couples therapy involves actually changing behaviors and ways of interacting with each other.

Most couples can come away from couples therapy having gained insight into relational patterns, increased emotional expression and developed the skills necessary to communicate and problem-solve with their partners more effectively.

Who Is It For?

Couples therapy is beneficial for any kind of relationship, whether partners are straight, gay, mixed-race, young, old, dating, engaged or married.

Couples therapy can resolve a current problem, prevent an exacerbation of problems or simply provide a “check-up” for a happy couple that is experiencing a period of transition or increased stress. Common areas of concern addressed in couples therapy include issues with money, parenting, sex, infidelity, in-laws, chronic health issues, infertility, gambling, substance use, emotional distance and frequent conflict.

Senior Citizen Group Therapy

In group therapy, you learn that you are not alone in experiencing psychological adjustment problems, and you can experiment with trying to relate to people differently in a safe environment, with a therapist present to assist. Additionally, group therapy allows you to learn from the experiences of others with similar problems, and also allows you to better understand how people very different from yourself view the world and interact with people.

Helping seniors not just live more fully but truly thrive as they move through the emotional and behavioral issues associated with the aging process. Encouraging long-term, mutually supportive relationships with families and loved ones in order to achieve a calmer, less stressed environment and a more satisfying quality of life.

Therapy for Geriatric Issues

Therapy can help older adults who may have difficulty with the transitions of aging to manage their emotions, find new sources of enjoyment and meaning, and find new support systems. It can help people face their fears of death, if they have such fears, and deal with grief as friends and family members pass on. Family or individual therapy can also assist family members who may be caretakers of their elder relatives, as it can assist them in dealing with their emotions, communication issues—which may be especially helpful if an elder has some form of dementia—and community resources. Possible diagnoses associated with aging might be include depression or anxiety. Dementia is technically a medical diagnosis rather than a mental one, but therapeutic treatment may be able to help treat some of the symptoms associated with dementia.

Therapy is considered by many older adults as a form of treatment, and research shows that seniors are often more serious about therapy, realizing that their time is limited, and that they tend to obtain results more quickly than younger people do. In therapy, seniors may address issues from childhood or early adulthood; current life adjustments; and issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, or family concerns, among others.

Like any other form of treatment, the purpose of psychotherapy is to relieve suffering, to allow normal functioning, and if possible to cure and prevent difficulties. Psychotherapy has been demonstrated to be as effective for elderly people as for younger populations, although clear superiority of one modality of psychotherapy over another has not emerged.

Psychotherapy can be used as either a primary or an adjunctive method of treatment, depending on the elderly patient and the presenting problem.

We use the latest tools and techniques, and work how you think best; from anywhere we conduct sessions through our Teletherapy platform.

LGBTQ Group Therapy

Many lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (or questioning) individuals seek counseling for reasons similar to non-LGBTQ individuals (i.e. – depression, anxiety, grief, couples therapy, work stress, etc). And while some issues have little to do with sexuality, gender, or identity, the LGBTQ community does have their own set of unique challenges as well.

Group therapy can create emotional support networks for queer individuals working through romantic hang-ups, confront complicated emotions with the guidance of medical professionals, and question heteronormative assumptions from doctors and therapists.

The goal is to craft an environment free from the typical social and sexual pressures of the LGBTQ community so that participants are encouraged to share personal stories and support others. By wading through fears in a group, you’re adding more voices and viewpoints to a discussion that would otherwise be restricted to you and your therapist.

We agree, explaining that participants can be positive forces in the lives of fellow group members. The community developed within group counseling allows gay, lesbian, trans, and queer individuals to feel at ease and platonically intimate with others experiencing similar concerns within their relationships.

Psychotherapists work to uncover the underlying beliefs and assumptions driving emotional and sexual intimacy issues that may be holding queer patients back from forming stable romantic relationships.

Group therapy can help prevent or alleviate both anxiety and depression. By opening up to a vetted and supportive network of other patients alongside a trained psychotherapist, you can learn to identify ways that anxiety and depression may negatively impact your relationships and develop strategies to combat their influence.

In group counseling, you have the chance to work through these experiences and prejudices, particularly with those who understand your experience and a therapist who specializes in queer health. Hearing from other queer people who struggle with heteronormative ideas about the “right” way to speak, dress, act, and express love can help you deal with what you’re going through more constructively, and to feel a sense of connection to the community as a whole.

LGBTQ individuals seek mental health treatment at a higher rate than their non-LGBTQ counterparts.  This may be due to the stigma and discrimination LGBTQ individuals often face on a regular basis, from society, family members, peers, co-workers, and even classmates. This discrimination contributes to the higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles seen amongst LGBTQ. Those in the LGBTQ community are also much more likely to have a substance abuse problem, engage in self-harm behaviors, and/or experience suicidal thoughts. Thus, it is not surprising this population seeks mental health services at higher rates. In addition to the effects of stigma and discrimination, the LGBTQ population also often obtains mental health support for:

Gender dysphoria –a psychological condition experienced by individuals whose gender identity and expression does not match with the gender assigned at birth.  Gender dysphoria can cause significant distress and affect a person’s overall mental wellbeing.

Sexual identity issues – sexual identity issues can refer to numerous concerns.  Sexual identity (or sexual orientation) refers to the emotions, thoughts, feelings, and fantasies that contribute to a person’s sexual or romantic attraction to another person.  LGBTQ individuals often go through periods of questioning their sexual identity, which can cause confusion and stress. Also pertinent to the LGBTQ community and sexual identity issues is the “coming out” process, and coping with the reactions of friends and family.

Mindfulness Services

A state of active, open attention to the present. This state is described as observing one’s thoughts and feelings without judging them as good or bad. Mindfulness encompasses two key ingredients: awareness and acceptance. Awareness is the knowledge and ability to focus attention on one’s inner processes and experiences, such as the experience of the present moment. Acceptance is the ability to observe and accept—rather than judge or avoid—those streams of thought.

Understanding Mindfulness

To live mindfully is to live in the moment and reawaken oneself to the present, rather than dwelling on the past or anticipating the future. To be mindful is to observe and label thoughts, feelings, sensations in the body in an objective manner. Mindfulness can therefore be a tool to avoid self-criticism and judgment while identifying and managing difficult emotions.

What is the purpose of mindfulness?

The goal of mindfulness is to cultivate perspective on one’s consciousness and identity that can bring greater peace mentally and relationally. Mindfulness may also be used in mindfulness-based therapies, to address stress, anxiety, or pain, and simply to become more relaxed.

To cultivate awareness, observe your thoughts and emotions and explore why those specific ideas might be surfacing. To cultivate acceptance, avoid judging or pushing away unpleasant thoughts. Emotions are natural and everyone has them—acknowledging them can help you understand yourself better and move forward.

The Benefits of Mindfulness

Mindfulness is frequently used in meditation and certain kinds of therapy. Its benefits include lowering stress levels, reducing harmful ruminating, and protecting against depression and anxiety. Research even suggests that mindfulness can help people better cope with rejection and social isolation.

Mindfulness improves well-being. Increasing your capacity for mindfulness supports many attitudes that contribute to a satisfied life. Being mindful makes it easier to savor the pleasures in life as they occur, helps you become fully engaged in activities, and creates a greater capacity to deal with adverse events. By focusing on the here and now, many people who practice mindfulness find that they are less likely to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets over the past, are less preoccupied with concerns about success and self-esteem, and are better able to form deep connections with others.

Mindfulness improves physical health. If greater well-being isn’t enough of an incentive, scientists have discovered that mindfulness techniques help improve physical health in a number of ways. Mindfulness can: help relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties.

Mindfulness improves mental health. In recent years, psychotherapists have turned to mindfulness meditation as an important element in the treatment of a number of problems, including: depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, couples’ conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Conflict Resolution

Social conflict emerges when the aspirations, beliefs, or values held by one individual or group are frustrated by another individual or group. It emerges between parents and their children, between friends on a weekend outing, between colleagues at work, between groups from adjacent neighborhoods, or between rivaling teams within an organization. In fact, social conflict is part and parcel of any relationship and any social interaction between individuals or groups around the globe.

Conflict resolution refers to the process geared toward reaching an agreement in a dispute, debate, or any other form of conflict between two or more parties. It can take different forms: Participants may negotiate and attempt to solve their problems to mutual satisfaction, they may withdraw from the situation and avoid interacting with each other, they may fight and try to dominate their counterpart, or they may yield and give in to their adversary’s position.

Most conflict situations are “mixed-motive” interactions, because disputants simultaneously experience the motivation to cooperate and compete with each other. For example, someone may prefer an agreement that satisfies his or her interests over one that favors the adversary’s interests (an incentive to compete), while also preferring any agreement over no agreement (an incentive to cooperate). Cooperative versus competitive motivation is part of a broader category of social motives that also includes fairness considerations and concern preferences for the way outcomes are distributed. In addition to these, disputants have goals and aspirations—preferences for a particular level of benefit to achieve (e.g., “I hope to get $10,000 for my used car”) or the amount of losses to avoid. They also have identity concerns, seeking a particular image of self or of the group they represent and belong to, and they have epistemic needs to understand the conflict situation and their counterpart.

How can you tell when there is a conflict afoot?

When people sense disagreement, they tend to feel uncomfortable. Discomfort—that is, slightly negative emotions—alerts you to the reality that a situation of conflict is occurring. One person wants, thinks, or does one thing, and another has a different perspective or prefers a different course of action. Decisions, therefore, are one danger point. Any time two people need to pick a shared course of action, they are at risk for experiencing conflict.

Seeing things differently can also provoke conflict. Fortunately, there are ways to disagree that prevent conflicts from emerging in these situations. An approach to treatment that seeks to teach people conflict resolution skills, was designed primarily to help couples but can be used to address conflict in any situation, whether it arises in a family, between friends or romantic partners, at the workplace, or in any other situation. Conflict resolution therapy can help them find solutions to certain challenging situations, relieve related mental health symptoms, and build a skill set that can be used to navigate future conflict.

Development of Conflict Resolution Therapy

This approach to therapy, recognizes that many individuals are able to communicate in a more collaborative way in the workplace than in their personal relationships and thus possessed the skills for conflict resolution. This specialized form of therapy is grounded in the belief that both parties involved in conflict, when they are able to truly listen to each other and work together, have the ability to resolve conflict in a cooperative way by translating these conflict resolution skills.

The goal of conflict resolution therapy is to help all parties involved feel as if they have achieved a “win-win” scenario.

How Can Conflict Resolutional Therapy Help?

Conflict resolution therapy is based on the premise that conflict lies at the heart of emotional distress. This conflict, which might occur internally, interpersonally, or externally (situation-based), may be the result of one or more core concerns—recurring issues often leading to conflict and emotional distress. Conflict resolution therapy applies its problem-solving approach to each type of conflict in order to reduce tension, improve well-being, and find solutions. It has been known to improve mental health issues related to anger, depression, and anxiety. 

People who engage in this type of therapy are often able to develop the skills necessary to adequately address any future circumstances that might otherwise result in conflict, whether this conflict occurs with a romantic partner, a family member, or a colleague. Because the principles of this approach can also encompass issues such as financial difficulties or health circumstances, this therapy may have benefit to a wide range of individuals in a variety of situations. 

Trauma Based Therapy

What is Trauma?

A response to distressing or disturbing event caused by psychological damage to the human mind. The inability to cope with the presenting stressors individuals experience. There are various grievous symptoms that can affect the individual daily functioning.

What causes Trauma?

Manifestations include PTSD, Depression, Personality Disorders, Pain, Poor Memory, Strained Relationships, and Disassociative/depersonalization disorder.

Emotional signs of trauma include:

  • sadness
  • anger
  • denial
  • fear
  • shame

These may lead to:

  • nightmares
  • insomnia
  • difficulty with relationships
  • emotional outbursts

What are the symptoms?

Trauma can lead to guilt, anger, feelings of powerlessness, self-abuse, acting out behavior, and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Post-traumatic stress disorder, which affects children and adults, can manifest in a number of ways, such as bothersome recurring thoughts about the traumatic experience, emotional numbness, sleep issues, concentration problems, and extreme physical and emotional responses to anything that triggers a memory of the trauma.

Response to a traumatic event varies significantly among people, but there are some basic symptoms of trauma that are common. The following not limited to, symptoms of trauma are intrusive thoughts, traumatic memories, nightmares, distress, avoidance of thoughts, conversations, personal and external memories, mood changes, blame/guilt, amnesia, loss of interest, disconnection from others, arousal and reactivity, sleep depravation, difficulty concentrating, hyper arousal, and sensitive startle

Physical symptoms are also common, including:

  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • altered sleep patterns
  • changes in appetite
  • headaches
  • gastrointestinal problems

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

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.

CBT treatment usually involves efforts to change thinking patterns. These strategies might include:

  • Learning to recognize one’s distortions in thinking that are creating problems, and then to reevaluate them in light of reality.
  • Gaining a better understanding of the behavior and motivation of others.
  • Using problem-solving skills to cope with difficult situations.
  • Learning to develop a greater sense of confidence is one’s own abilities.

CBT treatment also usually involves efforts to change behavioral patterns. These strategies might include:

  • Facing one’s fears instead of avoiding them.
  • Using role playing to prepare for potentially problematic interactions with others.
  • Learning to calm one’s mind and relax one’s body.

The focus is primarily on moving forward in time to develop more effective ways of coping with life.

What you can expect…

Cognitive behavioral therapy may be done one-on-one or in groups with family members or with people who have similar issues. 

CBT often includes:

  • Learning about your mental health condition
  • Learning and practicing techniques such as relaxation, coping, resilience, stress management and assertiveness

Steps in CBT

CBT typically includes these steps:

  • Identify troubling situations or conditions in your life.

 You and the therapist may spend some time deciding what problems and goals you want to focus on.

  • Become aware of your thoughts, emotions and beliefs about these problems.

Once you’ve identified the problems to work on, the therapist will encourage you to share your thoughts about them. This may include observing what you tell yourself about an experience (self-talk), your interpretation of the meaning of a situation, and your beliefs about yourself, other people and events. 

  • Identify negative or inaccurate thinking.

To help you recognize patterns of thinking and behavior that may be contributing to your problem, the therapist may ask you to pay attention to your physical, emotional and behavioral responses in different situations.

  • Reshape negative or inaccurate thinking.

The therapist will likely encourage you to ask yourself whether your view of a situation is based on fact or on an inaccurate perception of what’s going on. You may have long-standing ways of thinking about your life and yourself. With practice, helpful thinking and behavior patterns will become a habit and won’t take as much effort

Confidentiality

Except in very specific circumstances, conversations with the therapist are confidential. However, a therapist may break confidentiality if there is an immediate threat to safety or when required by state or federal law to report concerns to authorities. These situations include:

  • Threatening to immediately or soon (imminently) harm yourself or take your own life
  • Threatening to imminently harm or take the life of another person
  • Abusing a child or a vulnerable adult ― someone over age 18 who is hospitalized or made vulnerable by a disability
  • Being unable to safely care for yourself

Getting the most out of CBT

You can take steps to get the most out of your therapy and help make it a success…

  • Approach therapy as a partnership.

Therapy is most effective when you’re an active participant and share in decision-making. Make sure you and your therapist agree about the major issues and how to tackle them. Together, you can set goals and assess progress over time.

  • Be open and honest.

Success with therapy depends on your willingness to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences, and on being open to new insights and ways of doing things. If you’re reluctant to talk about certain things because of painful emotions, embarrassment or fears about your therapist’s reaction, let your therapist know about your reservations.

  • Stick to your treatment plan.

If you feel down or lack motivation, it may be tempting to skip therapy sessions. Doing so can disrupt your progress. Attend all sessions and give some thought to what you want to discuss.

  • Don’t expect instant results.

Working on emotional issues can be painful and often requires hard work. It’s not uncommon to feel worse during the initial part of therapy as you begin to confront past and current conflicts. You may need several sessions before you begin to see improvement.

  • Do your homework between sessions.

If your therapist asks you to read, keep a journal or do other activities outside of your regular therapy sessions, follow through. Doing these homework assignments will help you apply what you’ve learned in the therapy sessions.

  • If therapy isn’t helping, talk to your therapist.

If you don’t feel that you’re benefiting from CBT after several sessions, talk to the therapist about it. You and the therapist may decide to make some changes or try a different approach.

Person-Centered Therapy

Person-centered therapy uses a non-authoritative approach that allows you to take more of a lead in discussions so that, in the process, you will discover your own solution(s). 

When it is used

You would be better off gaining more self-confidence, a stronger sense of identity, and the ability to build healthy interpersonal relationships and to trust your own decisions benefiting from person-centered therapy. This approach, alone or in combination with other types of therapy, can also be helpful for those who suffer from grief, depression, anxiety, stress, abuse, or other mental health conditions. Person-centered therapists work with both individuals and groups. 

How It Works

Person-centered therapy, a belief that you are different and, therefore, your view of your own world, and ability to manage it, should be trusted. You have the power to find the best solutions for yourself and make appropriate changes in your life. Advancing toward a process that allows you to use your own understanding of your experiences as a platform for healing.

Self-Concept

The self-concept play an important role in determining not only how you see yourself, but also how you view and interact with the world around you.

What Can Person Centered Therapy Help With?

Person centered therapy is used in a broad range of circumstances, including work with adolescents, parenting difficulties, individual adults, as well as adult relationships. It is most effective for persons who are highly self-motivated, since much of the effort and direction actually comes from the client.

A common concern of clients who benefit from person centered therapy is a need for greater self-confidence. This is particularly true when the lack of confidence is related to social anxiety or fear of rejection, as opposed to a lack of confidence in one’s skills or talents. Because it is relationship based, person centered therapy is well suited for you who seeks an increase in self-esteem or in becoming open to new experiences.

Psychoeducational Group

What is a Psychoeducational Therapy

A form of group therapy that is less focused on developing relationships between clients, and instead, focused on providing education through information-sharing and the development of healthy coping mechanisms. Rather than allowing the group to guide the direction of therapy sessions, a qualified therapist leads discussions and guides clients by setting goals.

A group often share the same (or a similar) diagnosis. This allows the group to focus on a specific set of needs and unique topics. Because addressing mental health needs is a vital component of the recovery process, providing space for people to explore complex, personal topics is required in providing effective care. You benefit from interacting with others who share similar experiences. Other people may ask difficult questions, share experiences, and listen to one another in order to learn more about their own needs.

You focus on mental health conditions and help others learn about potential triggers, how to develop healthy coping mechanisms, and how to avoid pitfalls in the future. Mental health plays a significant role in the development and continuation of addiction making education and treatment related to it a foundational component of recovery.

Why Psychoeducational Groups?

Lessens feelings of isolation and loneliness through attendance, especially as you begin to realize that your problems are not yours alone. Realizing that others experience similar issues can help you open up more and become more engaged. In these sessions, you are able to learn about their needs and practice new skills in a safe environment surrounded by people who more readily relate to your experiences. It not only helps you develop a better understanding of the challenges you face, but also helps you understand mental health’s relationship to addiction. With assistance from external influences, you can begin working on developing your strengths and learning how to manage your own needs moving forward.

Simply knowing you are not alone in your struggles can make a significant impact. It reduces stress and fear while simultaneously improving motivation and feelings of self-worth. Group therapy provides an excellent opportunity to network with others who understand one another’s experiences and can provide support throughout the recovery process. You can learn from one another, help each other manage difficult situations, and motivate each other, even when times feel especially hard.

Some of the contexts in which psychoeducational groups may be most useful are…

  • Helping you in the pre-contemplative or contemplative level of change to reframe the impact of drug use on your life, develop an internal need to seek help, and discover avenues for change.
  • Helping you in early recovery learn more about your disorders, recognize roadblocks to recovery, and deepen understanding of the path you will follow toward recovery.
  • Helping families understand the behavior of a person with substance use disorder in a way that allows them to support the individual in recovery and learn about your own needs for change.
  • Helping you learn about other resources that can be helpful in recovery, such as meditation, relaxation training, anger management, spiritual development, and nutrition.

Psychoeducational Group Therapy can address a variety of struggles you may be  dealing with:

  • Anxiety disorders 
  • Phobias
  • Eating disorders 
  • Depression 
  • Grief
  • Substance abuse 
  • Personality disorders

How to get the most from the group setting…

Getting you to attend a psychoeducational group is a good first step. Yet once you are there, certain things can help him or her get the most out of the experience.

Commit – if you are motivated to feel better and manage his or her struggles effectively, it is important for you to make a commitment to the group. This means understanding what is expected of you throughout the therapeutic process.

Share – when you actively share personal experiences, it is helpful to not only you, but also other group participants.

Participate – just as important as sharing is listening. If you can practice active listening, you will be able to walk away from each group having learned something.

Benefits of Psychoeducational Group Therapy for you…

  • Normalizing – being around others who share similar struggles, you can gain a sense that what he or she is experiencing is “normal.”
  • Process time – although psychoedducational groups are primarily focused on education, there is often opportunity for processing. Processing in group therapy is sharing one’s experiences, feelings, struggles, etc., and receiving feedback on how other’s can relate.
  • Positive peer support – hearing from others who struggle in similar ways to that of you can help feel less alone. 
  • Coping skills – part of the educational aspect of psychoeducational groups is teaching effective coping skills and providing tools. You can then begin to incorporate healthier approaches to coping with difficult emotions, thoughts, and interactions.
  • Goal setting – part of any therapeutic process is a treatment plan that includes goals. It is important your goal is specific, realistic, and attainable.
  • Decreased isolation – if you struggle with anxiety, depression, or another mental illness, you may notice pulling away from social outlets. You tend to spend less time with family and friends. Joining a psychoeducational group can help you begin to pull out of isolation, and interact with others.
  • Social skills – not only do groups facilitate decreased isolation, but it can also promote reintegration and re-engagement with others. Group therapy can help you hone appropriate social skills.
  • Witness others’ recovery process – witnessing peers’ progression in recovery can increase your motivation to work on struggle(s).
  • Feedback – group therapy often serves as a sounding board for participants. Hearing from you can be helpful in terms of seeing situations from different perspectives and outlooks.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

A psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories and other adverse life experience to bring these to an adaptive resolution. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.  When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound.  If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.  EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes.  The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health.  If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.

How does EMDR therapy affect the brain?

Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.

Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create feelings of overwhelm, of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.”

What is it used for?

EMDR is used to treat troubling symptoms such as anxiety, depression, guilt, anger, and post-traumatic reactions. It can also be used to enhance emotional resources such as confidence and self-esteem.

How It Works

The goal of EMDR is to fully process past experiences and sort out the emotions attached to those experiences. Negative thoughts and feelings that are no longer useful are replaced with positive thoughts and feelings that will encourage healthier behavior and social interactions. Ultimately, clients learn to handle stressful situations themselves.

What to Expect

The therapist will help you focus on related negative thoughts and feelings that you are still experiencing, and decide which of these beliefs are still relevant and which ones you would like to replace with positive thoughts and beliefs. You will learn techniques to help you deal with disturbing feelings. 

Therapy for Kids

Often children show us how they are feeling through their behaviors. Whether a child is withdrawn, anxious, melting down or getting into fights, these behaviors are a form of communication. As this service help kids to explore themselves and the environment around them and uncover the feeling beneath the behavior and give voice to the child’s needs.

What is child and adolescent therapy?

Child therapy, or counseling for kids, is an evidence-based approach to counseling, designed to help children and teens their challenges. These challenges include mental illnesses, traumatic events, the loss of family members, difficult feelings and behaviors.

S.E.M.P.É is well-equipped to work with children and understand how their minds work. This enables them to break down their problems in a way they can understand.

Who should seek child counseling?

Imagine what it is like for a child who cannot express themselves. Therapy can serve as a guiding light for them.

Kids can benefit from talking to a counselor, from a child suffering amid their parents’ divorce to a depressed teen who’s being bullied at school. Common issues not limited to the following addressed in child therapy:

  • Mental health diagnoses
  • Death of a loved one
  • Abuse (sexual, emotional, physical, mental)
  • Addiction in the family
  • Experiencing a traumatic event
  • Moving to a new town
  • Starting at a new school
  • Bullying
  • Divorce

It is not always easy to tell when your child or teen might need therapy—even if they are dealing with one of the issues above. Here are some signs that your child is, indeed, having a difficult time and might need (or could benefit from) therapy:

  • Change in appetite
  • Significant weight loss or gain
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Unwarranted aggression
  • Persistent anxiety and nerves
  • Failing or worsening grades
  • Social isolation
  • Alcohol or drug use
  • Self-harm
  • Expression of suicidal thoughts

Child therapy focuses on each child’s specific needs. The therapists at S.E.M.P.É are equipped with the skills to cater treatment to each young individual they work with.

What will be the parent’s role in the child’s therapy?

The more involved the parent will be. We like parents to know what their child is working on and will recommend ways that you can help your child practice the tools we teach. For children and young adolescents especially, parents are often active participants in the sessions. We obtain feedback from parents on a regular basis, in addition to providing our own feedback on a child’s progress.

In addition to child counseling, family therapy is also incorporated when needed, in order to reduce stress and conflict in the home. We take an individualized approach with each child, so your involvement will be specific to helping your child achieve the well-being every child deserves.

There is hope for any child…

Identifying strengths as a parent you have not recognized, helps to build on those strengths and provide new strategies for the parent and child to try at home. Similarly, kids also have strengths that he/she may not yet recognize. We can help the child build on these strengths, allowing them to feel more confident, competent, and self-assured.

We are trained in the specific developmental needs of children and recognize indicators that a child may need some extra support. S.E.M.P.É uses evidence-based treatment modalities for children. The therapists work with the children in a number of different ways to help the process and cope with emotions in the same ways that therapists support adults. The therapists utilize a variety of treatment modalities and will usually pull from a variety of techniques to best meet your child’s unique needs. Some techniques not limited to the following:

What is cognitive-behavior therapy?

Cognitive-behavior therapy focuses on changing the thoughts and emotions that can affect a child’s behavior negatively.

The therapist helps the child become aware of their thoughts and feelings. The therapist also helps the child evaluate if feelings or thoughts may be distorted or illogical, and then helps the child through the process of changing the thoughts as well as the emotional reactions and behaviors that go along with them.

Cognitive-behavior therapy often works directly with the child, but can also include parents.

Play Therapy

Involves the use of toys, blocks, dolls, puppets, drawings, and games to help the child recognize, identify, and verbalize feelings. The psychotherapist observes how the child uses play materials and identifies themes or patterns to understand the child’s problems. Through a combination of talk and play the child has an opportunity to better understand and manage their conflicts, feelings, and behavior.

Why Play?

Play is the child’s language and …

Play is a fun, enjoyable activity that elevates our spirits and brightens our outlook on life. It expands self-expression, self-knowledge, self-actualization and self-efficacy. Play relieves feelings of stress and boredom, connects us to people in a positive way, stimulates creative thinking and exploration, regulates our emotions, and boosts our ego. In addition, play allows us to practice skills and roles needed for survival. Learning and development are best fostered through play.

How Does Play Therapy Work?

Children are referred for play therapy to resolve their problems. Often, children have used up their own problem solving tools, and they misbehave, may act out at home, with friends, and at school. Play therapy allows us to assess and understand children’s play. Further, play therapy is utilized to help children cope with difficult emotions and find solutions to problems. By confronting problems in the clinical Play Therapy setting, children find healthier solutions. Play therapy allows children to change the way they think about, feel toward, and resolve their concerns. Even the most troubling problems can be confronted in play therapy and lasting resolutions can be discovered, rehearsed, mastered and adapted into lifelong strategies.

Family therapy 

Offers support to children, along with their families. A child therapist can work with families to help parents and children navigate through a child’s challenges and needs. Children with behavioral issues often hear more negative feedback than positive, which can negatively impact their self-esteem and worsen behaviors. A child therapist can work with parents to develop behavior plans and other positive reinforcement strategies to help parents most effectively manage their child’s behaviors and boost their self-esteem.

Group therapy 

May help children who struggle with behavior issues or who need emotional support. Group therapy allows children to interact with peers who are facing similar problems. Group therapy can help children build social skills and self-esteem. It can let children know that they are not alone and that there are other children who are facing similar challenges.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

What is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition in which a person has trouble paying attention and focusing on tasks, tends to act without thinking, and has trouble sitting still. It may begin in early childhood and can continue into adulthood. Without treatment, ADHD can cause problems at home, at school, at work, and with relationships. In the past, ADHD was called attention deficit disorder (ADD).

What causes ADHD?

The exact cause is not clear, but ADHD tends to run in families.

What are the symptoms?

The three types of ADHD symptoms include:
  • Trouble paying attention. People with ADHD are easily distracted. They have a hard time focusing on any one task.
  • Trouble sitting still for even a short time. This is called hyperactivity. Children with ADHD may squirm, fidget, or run around at the wrong times. Teens and adults often feel restless and fidgety. They aren’t able to enjoy reading or other quiet activities.
  • Acting before thinking. People with ADHD may talk too loud, laugh too loud, or become angrier than the situation calls for. Children may not be able to wait for their turn or to share. This makes it hard for them to play with other children. Teens and adults may make quick decisions that have a long-term impact on their lives. They may spend too much money or change jobs often.

How is ADHD diagnosed?

ADHD is often diagnosed when a child is between 6 and 12 years old. Teachers may notice symptoms in children who are in this age group.

First, the child will have tests to make sure that he or she doesn’t have other problems such as learning disabilities, depression, or anxiety disorder. We use guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association to diagnose ADHD. We utilize written reports about the child’s behavior. Parents, teachers, and others who have regular contact with the child prepare these reports.

How does ADHD affect adults?

Many adults don’t realize that they have ADHD until their children are diagnosed. Then they begin to notice their own symptoms. Adults with ADHD may find it hard to focus, organize, and finish tasks. They often forget things. But they also often are very creative and curious. They love to ask questions and keep learning. Some adults with ADHD learn to manage their lives and find careers that let them use those strengths.