Our methods

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy was developed in the late 1970s by Marsha Linehan and is used in treating a wide range of disorders such as substance-use. DBT has been shown to be a highly effective treatment model for substance-use given the correlation between emotional dysregulation and unsafe behavior, such as using drugs or alcohol. DBT integrates principles of CBT and is specifically designed to improve emotional and behavioral functioning by strengthening four core components: distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, and mindfulness. Through DBT, individuals learn healthy ways to manage and/or change painful emotional states which may trigger substance-use. DBT also enhances interpersonal functioning by helping the individual learn assertive, appropriate ways to express thoughts and feelings within relationships

Equine therapy, also known as equine-assisted therapy (EAT), is a treatment that includes equine activities or an equine environment to promote physical, occupational, and emotional growth in persons with anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, abuse issues, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), drug and alcohol addiction, and other mental health problems. Horses, due to their unique animal nature, act as mirrors for our inner selves. They provide opportunities for us to develop greater self-awareness, increased self-confidence, and improved relationships – both personally and professionally. Equine therapy can involve more than just riding the horse. In some sessions, a client might not even touch the horse at all. Often the mental health professional leading the session will set goals for the client to complete, such as leading the horse to a designated area or putting a halter on the horse. The client will complete the task to the best of their ability and then discuss the thought process, ideas and problem solving used to complete the task. Not only is there communication between the rider and the instructor, but also between the rider and the horse.

The Equine Therapy is not about riding or horsemanship. It’s about partnership, communication, and authenticity; and having fun along the way. Working with a professional staff and the horses can help you discover a solution-focused approach to current problems, practice resilience, and live your inner strength, personal power, and integrity. Additional benefits of Equine therapy are to help you set healthier boundaries, gain insight about your interpersonal and communication skills with others, practice coping skills such as how to say no, develop leisure skills, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety and aggression, and build trust for yourself and others.

Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Art therapy involves the creation of art in order to increase awareness of self and others. This in tum may promote personal development, increase coping skills, and enhance cognitive function. It is based on personality theories, human development, psychology, family systems, and art education. Art therapists are trained in both art and psychological therapy. Our art therapist is trained to recognize the nonverbal symbols and metaphors that are communicated within the creative process, symbols and metaphors that might be difficult to express in words or in other modalities. It is this idea of self-exploration that can often lead a person to some insightful conclusions about themselves. Art therapy can help you process emotions and feelings that you are struggling with, so you can begin healing.

Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being. The art image becomes significant in enhancing verbal exchange between the person and the therapist and in achieving insight; resolving conflicts; solving problems; and formulating new perceptions that in turn lead to positive changes, growth, and healing. You don’t need to be talented or an artist to receive the benefits, and our art therapist will work with you to dive into the underlying messages communicated through your mi, which will aid in the healing process.

Reiki comes from Japan as a technique for de-stressing, relaxing and healing. The purpose  is to increase and free the energy flow in one’s own body. While traditional massages are more vigorous and aimed toward freeing up muscle groups, Reiki uses only touch or sometimes only the proximity of a healer’s hand to particular parts of the body. The healer may shift between 10-20 different hand positions while moving up and down the body, encouraging the flow of one’s own energy or “Chi”.

Neurofeedback is the training of brain function, allowing the brain to function more directly and efficiently. These scans are also often referred to as electroencephalogram or EEG. They are essentially heat and activity maps of the brain that show the active regions during thinking. By recording the brain as the patient goes through different thought exercises, the information can then be analyzed and studied for a discrepancy.

This is a great tool for helping to improve certain problem areas like attention, anxiety, depression, and migraines. Neurofeedback is great for learning how to achieve the optimal performance level. By learning how to utilize your brain to its full potential, you can begin to think clearer and more rationally in various situations or problems with addiction.