Psychotherapy
Have you been struggling with negative thoughts about yourself or situations? Are you finding daily tasks challenging to complete due to lack of motivation? Do you need assistance in improving skills to help you cope with negative feelings? Are you in the beginning stages of recovery from an eating disorder, or identify as being at risk of an eating disorder? If any of these situations sound like something you experience, then individual psychotherapy sessions could benefit you. We take our first session to get to know you and complete a thorough intake assessment where we can discuss symptoms, goals, and treatment options. After the first session we will schedule subsequent individual psychotherapy sessions around your schedule.
These psychotherapy sessions will be structured to address your specific goals. Sessions are typically one-on-one, but can have parents/significant others attend when appropriate and previously agreed upon. Individual therapy does not make problems vanish, but instead empowers and gives you skills to solve the problem on your own. Psychotherapy sessions could assist you in discovering and practicing positive coping skills, stopping a negative behavior, improving boundaries, problem solving, increasing communication skills, and so much more. The frequency and duration of sessions is dependent on each person, and we can give you a recommendation based off the intake assessment. Psychotherapy sessions give you a safe space to talk confidently and confidentially about issues that you may have trouble expressing to others in your life. We would love to help you live a healthier and happier life.
EAP
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) sessions are hosted at Loudoun Therapeutic Riding (LTR) in Lovettsville, VA. EAP sessions are conducted with one of our LCSW's and an equine specialist from LTR. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) helps build confidence, improve social skills, increase emotional intelligence and helps participants learn about trust and empathy. In national studies, EAP has been proven to be effective in managing symptoms related to anxiety, ADHD, autism, depression, eating disorders and PTSD. Typical EAP activities are unmounted and include: grooming, leading and caring for the horse. Riding is not a typical activity. Sessions end with time spent with one of our LCSW's to process the session. This processing time may include identifying different emotions that were felt, how the horse responded to the energy the client brought to the session, and overall, how the experience was and what they learned.
You may be wondering why EAP works. Horses pick up on the energy and non-verbal signals that humans demonstrate and then they respond accordingly. So for example, if someone approaches and is fearful, the horse may move away. If someone approaches them slowly and uses gentle motions, the horse will be calm and still. This is an effective way to work and understand emotions and impulsivity with less shame and more understanding. EAP is typically a supplement to regular mental health treatment.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy- Best known for treating trauma, EMDR assists people in processing through difficult experiences that are manifesting in some way in one's daily life. EMDR is also successful in processing through depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, and fear.
EMDR is a reprocessing psychotherapy that uses alternating bi-lateral (both sides of the body) stimulation- through either eye movements, touch, or sound- to enhance dual attention (past and present) in an effort to focus on difficult memories. EMDR can treat trauma, performance anxiety, complicated grief, low self-worth, or when someone feels stuck in traditional talk therapy. EMDR is a treatment that works in 8 phases that contain the past, present, and future. Memories are comprised of triggers, pictures, emotions, sensations, and beliefs. The goal of EMDR is shift the negative belief that is attached to the memory to a new, positive belief. (Tracey Musarra Marchese, MSW, LCSW-R)
If you have heard of REM sleep, you may already have an understanding of EMDR. REM sleep is where the mind consolidates memories, and EMDR mimics the eye moments that occur during the REM sleep cycle. EMDR helps to jump start memories that have stalled in the limbic processing system of the brain.
EMDR has no timeline or guide for how many sessions are needed to find success. EMDR works best immediately following a traumatic event, however can still be successful years after, when someone is ready to tackle it. It is extremely important that clients have a solid foundation of coping skills to manage the distressing feelings that may come up during EMDR. Coping skills will be built on in the first few EMDR sessions to ensure that you are ready for this form of treatment. It is our job to ensure that a client never leaves a session feeling activated.
The greatest benefit of EMDR is not having to disclose all of the information that is being processed because it allows the brain to do the healing.
Dylan and Amy are the only therapists at Beckner Counseling who are able to provide EMDR.
FBT
Family Based Therapy (FBT) for Anorexia Nervosa/Maudsley Method
Family Based Therapy (FBT), also sometimes referred to as the Maudsley Method, is an evidence based way of treating Anorexia Nervosa. FBT essentially puts parents in the drivers seat and empowers them to take charge of their child’s recovery.
FBT is broken down into 3 phases- the 3 phases include:
- Phase 1: Parents & The Weight Restoration Process (Weekly)
- Phase 2: Parents Hand Control Back to the Child (Weekly)
- Phase 3: Discuss Child/Adolescent Development (Monthly) One can expect to be seen for about 20 sessions to complete FBT.
With the help of the therapist, parents will learn the skills necessary to renourish their starving child in the comfort of their own home. Sessions occur in the therapy office and include weekly weight checks, with transparency around the child’s weight to the child, family, and other members of the team (doctors, dietitians, etc); family meals observed by the therapist, and problem solving strategies for meal and snack times at home. Successes and difficulties will be discussed weekly in session.
For all of eternity parents have been feeding their children when they are sick, and treating Anorexia Nervosa is no different. Parents typically need to be reminded that they know exactly what their starving child needs, and must learn to stay persistent with treatment, even when Anorexia does anything it can to make meal and snack times difficult. FBT is a great option for parents who wish to keep their medically stable child at home as opposed to opting their child in to an inpatient stay or private hospitalization program (PHP).
Couples
Have you and your partner been arguing? What about struggling to feel deeply connected in your relationship after falling into everyday life? Are you experiencing difficulties with trust in your relationship? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, or have ever thought that couples counseling might be for you, please reach out! Couples counseling doesn’t have to be a last resort to save a relationship to be beneficial, but through learning to communicate, relate, and connect to one another, you can build satisfaction in your life and relationship. We will meet together to explore the underlying cause of your struggles, maximize strengths, communicate effectively, and learn to manage conflict. Currently, Erika is available to work with couples through the tele-therapy portal allowing couples the flexibility to participate from anywhere.
Currently, Erika is the only therapist available to work with couples through the tele-therapy portal allowing couples the flexibility to participate from anywhere.
Groups
Group Therapy is facilitated by one therapist and typically has 5-8 participants depending on interest. Groups are a great way to invest in therapy in a cost-effective way. Group offerings vary depending on need and availability of our therapists. The duration of groups depends on the topic, and number of sessions can last from a few weeks to a few months. Some groups are open (clients can join at any time) while some groups are closed (clients begin and end the group in one cohort). Please contact us to see what upcoming groups we are offering!
