We operate from an evidence-based perspective which means that we use treatments that have been proven to be effective! Below you will find some examples of the treatments we use.

Treatment for Adults

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to treat victims of sexual assault.  CBT is designed to help victims examine and challenge distressing trauma-related beliefs.  Therapy focuses on educating victims on the relationship between thoughts and emotions, exploring common negative thoughts held by trauma survivors, identifying personal negative beliefs, developing alternative interpretations or judgments, and practicing new thinking.

Exposure Therapy is used to treat symptoms of PTSD that have developed as a result of the assault.  Exposure therapy is one of the best-supported treatments for PTSD.  It is designed to help the victim confront painful emotions and memories associated with the trauma.  There are two types of exposure: imaginal exposure and in-vivo exposure.  Imaginal exposure requires the client to imagine the feared images or situations, and then describe traumatic experience out loud.  The client is then asked to listen to the audio of their imaginal exposure daily.  In-vivo exposure requires the client to directly confront the feared objects, situations, or activities.

Treatment for Children

 All treatments require involvement of the non-offending parent or primary caregiver. It is absolutely crucial that the primary caregiver be heavily involved in treatment.

 

Treatment for children involves coping skills training, exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, education, and parent participation. Children are taught to express their emotions and to cope with anxiety related to the abuse.  Relaxation training and mediated self-talk are also included.  In the final phase of treatment, gradual exposure therapy is used to help the child confront abuse-related thoughts and memories, as well as education regarding abuse, healthy sexuality, and personal safety skills.

 

Since children who have been abused sometimes experience difficulty regulating emotions and behavioral problems, parents will also receive behavioral interventions in order to learn how to work with their children. In addition, the non-offending parent is given supportive psychotherapy, taught coping skills, parent-child communication skills, behavior management skills, and how to respond to their children’s behavioral problems in a therapeutic manner.

Bibliotherapy for Specific Disorders

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Your Defiant Child: 8 Steps to Better Behavior
By: Russel A. Barkley PhD, Christine M. Benton PhD

Drawing on his years of work with parents and children, Dr. Russell A. Barkley offers a simple step-by-step program for correcting the behavior of children with ODD.  The book clearly explains the causes of problematic behavior, when behaviors become problematic, and ways to change these behaviors into more desirable ones. The program stresses consistency and cooperation, promoting changes through a system of praise, and mild punishment.  It also teaches you the tools you will need to communicate behavioral goals with your child in a way that they can understand. With helpful charts, questionnaires, and checklists, this book will easily guide you through its program.

Anxiety

Coping with Anxiety: 10 Simple Ways to Relieve Anxiety, Fear & Worry
By: Edmund J. Bourne, Lorna Garano

This book is written in an easy to read format that makes clinically proven approaches for dealing with and coping with anxiety available to you. The program consists of ten steps that allow you to overcome the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms of anxiety. From "thinking realistically" to "taking constructive coping actions," this book makes it easy to comprehend your anxiety and correct it.  It will give you information on how to perform relaxation exercises, proven strategies on coping with anxiety, how to control your symptoms, and when to consider medication.

Depression

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Revised and Updated
By: David Burns

This book provides easy methods to help you alleviate depressive symptoms, such as negative thoughts and feelings, guilt, low self-esteem, and irritability.  You will be able to immediately lift your own spirits and gain a more positive outlook on life.  Critically acclaimed psychiatrist, David Burns M.D., offers proven techniques that will help you manage your symptoms and alleviate stress.  He gives you the tools to help you face hostility, recognize the reasons behind your depression, and overcome your addiction for needing to be loved. Feeling Good was rated number one—from a list of more than one thousand—as the most frequently recommended self-help book on depression.

Self-Coaching: The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety and Depression, 2nd Edition
By: Joseph J. Luciani

This book combines self-help exercises with the techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy to help you alleviate your depression. This book provides a self-driven course to help you combat negative thought patterns. The course is based on Luciani's personality typed treatments to give you a specific solution to your own problems.  The book provides moral-boosting checklists, examples, and self-tests that help you talk yourself out of mild to moderate depression.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Emotional Processing of Traumatic Experiences Therapist Guide
By: Edna Foe, Elizabeth Hembree, Barbra Olaslov Rothbaum

This straightforward textbook gives you techniques to deal with PTSD symptoms.  It is based on the principles of Prolonged Exposure Therapy, the most scientifically tested and proven treatment for sufferers of trauma. Therapy focuses on exposure techniques, such as imagery, to help you decrease levels of anxiety and other symptoms of PTSD.  The book is full of example essays, worksheets and homework assignments to keep you engaged.  It also comes with a companion website (www.oup.com/us/ttw) which offers downloadable clinical tools and helpful resources.

The PTSD Workbook: Simple, Effective Techniques for Overcoming Traumatic Stress Symptoms
By: Mary Beth Williams, Ph.D., LCSW, CTS, Soili Poijula, MA, Ph.D

This book gives you advice on how to alleviate your PTSD symptoms.  It gives you the tools you will need to understand your traumatic experience and personal symptoms. The chapters address everything: the definition of trauma, how to feel safe and secure before starting the work, coping skills, physical aspects of PTSD, the emotions associated with trauma, and how to find meaning in the whole experience. The at home tasks and exercises provided by this workbook are excellent when paired with therapy.