Coaching Some people “sleepwalk” through life. Finding themselves thinking, behaving, and emotionally reacting in “automatic” ways that are learned consciously and unconsciously. Typically functioning well, these clients seek self-awareness —a better understanding of themselves, their lives, and their potential. Or, there is some issue, decision, or life event that creates the need for gaining another perspective. For many, the impetus to seek coaching can stem from a current challenge or the realization that something is missing and previous efforts have not created the desired results. Coaching incorporates all of the expertise and clinical experience a therapist acquires through education and years of face-to-face therapy. However, in coaching the focus shifts from 'healing' to facilitating and creating the life you want. Allowing you to reach your full potential. Instead of 'recovering from the past' coaching focuses on improving your now and proactively creating your future. What is the next step you can take? What are the barriers—perceived or real? How can you build upon what is working? Is your behavior congruent with your goals? As a Behavior Coach, I work with high-functioning, successful adults to help them convert life challenges into opportunities to learn and grow. By focusing on achievement, exploring newly created options, and identifying potential barriers, coaching allows clients to reach for more in life. Importantly, coaching is about doing something else to create the life you want—with the help of an experienced guide. My training and experience (of 25 years) as a Behavior Analyst uniquely lends itself to identifying patterns, their origins, and how they’re maintained. Thus providing valuable information on what to do differently to achieve the results you want. The field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has many very useful applications to human behavior. Derived from the scientific study of behavior, it’s the “brass tacks” of my clinical training. Having a solid behavioral background is an excellent springboard into other more eclectic approaches to helping people create, grow, and change in ways that are more authentic to the self. Incorporating Eastern philosophies and dialectical thinking allow shifts in perspective that can be very freeing.       Therapy Some people experience recurrent or persistent problems with “normal” functioning, on a regular basis. They experience some degree of mental / emotional distress or debilitation often in the form of withdrawal / anxiety / avoidance, or over-reactivity / anger / panic. There is typically a corresponding mental health diagnosis (DSM IV) describing common symptoms of the disorder. Likewise, there are conditioned responses. But the difference—requiring therapy—is the interference with optimal brain or body functioning. This is reflected in impairment in some area of life such as job, family or social relationships, health, etc. My clinical practice specializes in improvement of mental and physical health and wellness through the application of cognitive and behavior therapy, hypnosis, and behavioral medicine in the treatment of anxiety and stress-related disorders which can result in mood- and emotion-regulation problems; obsessive and compulsive behaviors; phobias and panic, as well as interpersonal and relationship problems. Therapy can be office based, and/or by: telephone, e-mail, text chat, or webcam, depending on the diagnosis. Being seen in another location is also possible. Behavior Therapy “Behavior” is defined as Overt (observable actions of a person), Covert (thoughts / beliefs), and Somatic (body / emotional) responses. Therefore, Behavior Therapy also encompasses what is more popularly known as Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT). There are many misconceptions about CBT even among practitioners who call themselves CB therapists. One is that anyone can do it without specialized training. Another is that “cognitive-behavioral” refers only to cognitive behavior or thoughts (more accurately known as cognitive therapy). Or, that CBT just addresses the symptoms without getting to the "deeper" issues. CBT is a bio-psycho-social approach to improved functioning that does not subscribe to the belief that getting to the "deeper" issues will spontaneously provide relief. It's about changing the brain by doing something different. There are key ingredients to behavior therapy that set it apart from other forms of therapy. Professional training and credentials plus the skillful use of evidence-based treatment (vs theories) are hallmarks of CBT. CBT within which Multimodal Therapy—as it evolved from Behavior Therapy—is described briefly as: a person is viewed within several internal and external contexts (or environments). CBT examines these internal and external environments in great detail to ascertain what has shaped and continues to maintain behavior—this is the conditioning mentioned earlier. Learning how we’re shaped and conditioned by environmental events—whether cultural, familial, biological, social, economic, etc.—allows for self-acceptance and growth when effective tools for change are supplied. We’re all unique individuals with our own brand of life’s challenges. Many people have episodes in which stress or illness or trauma put their coping abilities to the test. To that end, CBT is often more focused on the “here and now” versus re-visiting the distant past at length. Interest in past events is typically focused on the contribution of those events to the current problem, and educating the client about the conditioning that took place. Likewise, understanding that all behavior is functional i.e., serves a purpose—whether or not it’s adaptive—is also empowering. Therapy tends to be aimed at more immediate change and can be sought on an “as-needed” basis versus a treatment approach that requires one to settle into therapy for many months or years. And, while the primary goal is not to gain insight per se, it is a natural byproduct of CBT and most forms of therapy. CBT goes beyond the “light bulb moments” to learning the skills to improve coping and one’s quality of life. Changing behavior changes the brain. Behavioral Medicine Mental / emotional distress invariably produces physical symptoms just as physical illness always has a mental / emotional component. Effective treatment addresses the whole person. Behavioral medicine has applications to many chronic health problems. Extensive research in the use of behavioral medicine documents such effects as enhanced immune response, decreased inflammation, and increased relaxation. My interest in behavioral medicine stems from the physical effects of anxiety on the body. Signs and symptoms of the anxiety disorders can include feeling jittery, unsettled, overwhelmed, excessively worried, preoccupied with catastrophic thoughts, easily startled or being emotionally overreactive. There are often disturbances of sleep, concentration, or mood which in turn affect social relationships or occupational functioning. Addressing the Mind-Body connection is an important part of my practice. Changes in thoughts, emotions, behavior and lifestyle can improve health and prevent, reduce or eliminate symptoms of illness. Behavioral medicine interventions empower the client thus potentially reducing reliance on medication. Methods of behavioral medicine I employ are cognitive-behavior therapy, relaxation training, hypnosis, neurotherapy, and education. Hypnotherapy is one of the most effective methods for working with clients from the "inside out" whereas behavior therapy works from the "outside in". Hypnosis helps loosen or dissolve conditioned responses and creates new associations to resolve problems and achieve goals. Clients who engage in compulsive eating to manage anxiety can also benefit. Educating clients about brain science and health introduces a new perspective that often helps a person realize the brain is a unique organ with special needs. Neurotherapy in the form of photic and audio stimulation (entrainment) is another resource for altering brain states and eliciting relaxation. Photic stimulation refers to the use of light (glasses with LEDs) to elicit particular brainwaves; whereas audio refers to the use of sound. It is well known that the human brain experiences a range of frequencies ranging from beta (fast) to delta (sleep / slow) waves. There are corresponding brain states or feelings that are characteristic of each category of brain waves. For example, alpha-theta brainwaves are conducive to relaxation. In turn, the relaxation response puts the brakes on the “fight, flight or freeze” response associated with stress. Anxiety Facts * Anxiety disorders affect 40 million Americans, making them the most common mental health disorders. The causes of anxiety disorders stem from genetics, personality, life circumstances, and brain chemistry. 6.8 million Americans have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). 2.2 million Americans have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). 6 million Americans have Panic Disorder (PD). 7.7 million Americans have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 15 million Americans have Social Anxiety Disorder. 19 million Americans have a Specific Phobia. Treatment for anxiety disorder is highly effective yet only about one-third of Americans with an anxiety disorder receive counseling and treatment. Anxiety Disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion annually. *Compiled from data on the Anxiety Disorders Association of America website, www.adaa.org