Overview

 

 

What is Cognitive-Behavior Therapy or CBT?  Wikipedia has a good definition within which Multimodal Therapy—as it evolved from Behavior Therapy—is described.  Briefly, a person is viewed within several internal and external contexts (or environments).  CBT examines these environments in great detail to ascertain what has shaped and continues to maintain behavior.  Then based on empirical research, from which clinical techniques are derived, a CB Therapist applies an intervention to weaken or extinguish undesirable behavior.  Conversely, an alternate behavioral repertoire is often taught to replace the less adaptive behavior.  “Behavior” is defined as overt (observable actions of a person), covert (thoughts/beliefs), and somatic (body/emotional) responses.  

 

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from which my training in CBT and Behavioral Medicine is derived is the “brass tacks” of behavior therapy.   Using ABA principles, behavior is operationalized (or clearly defined), quantified, tracked, and even graphed to demonstrate changes, and thus effective interventions.  Observational and analytical skills are another hallmark of ABA.  Compared to many forms of “psychotherapy,” behavior therapy is very concrete and specific.

 

However, there are misconceptions surrounding CBT that may include the belief that it is easy and anyone can do it.  Or, that CBT is rigid, manualized and prescribed, versus specific to an individual.  That therapists who practice CBT are more interested in the treatment than the client and are therefore less “humane” or “client centered”.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  CBT is very much a bio-psycho-social approach to wellness involving mutual discovery and collaboration.  CBT seeks to increase a client’s self-knowledge and to give each person the capacity to be his/her own therapist through education and self-discovery.  My interest in a career in CBT stemmed from my own negative experiences in psychotherapy as a young woman in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.  I was labeled and pathologized (blame the victim) or told not to “make a mountain out of a mole hill”.  I never felt better as a result of therapy nor did I learn anything other than I was the problem.  Not helpful.  Discovering  CBT and Behavioral Medicine (at SIU-C) explained everything.  As it turns out, making “the problem” the behavior and not the person is very empowering.  Likewise, understanding that all behavior is functional—whether or not it’s adaptive—is also empowering.  And, 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.    

 

                                                                                                                         

 

 

 

The Behavioral Approach

 

My services focus on a continuum of client needs ranging from personal coaching to CBT.  And, while CBT continues to be misunderstood or misrepresented, it is remarkably effective.  All good therapy is based on the therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist.  Even the use of the word “client” reflects a CB philosophy that using the word “patient” implies a person is sick.  Most of us have times in our lives when coping effectively is more of a challenge due to stress or illness or trauma.  To that end, CBT is often focused more on the “here and now” versus re-visiting the distant past, except to the extent that past events contribute to current problems.  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 by-product of CBT and most forms of therapy.  CBT goes beyond the “light bulb moments” to learning the skills to improve coping and quality of life.   

 

My approach to service delivery is to obtain a detailed assessment of one’s internal and external environments initially and throughout the course of treatment.  Strengths and abilities are identified and reinforced.  Barriers, which often include cognitive and behavioral conditioning, are also identified. Mutual goals are identified and often tracked throughout the course of treatment.   This is not a long, mysterious process but a detailed analysis of what’s going on in a person’s daily life.  By determining what’s working and what isn’t, then arranging or adjusting internal and external environmental factors, there is a great likelihood of success.

 

From personal coaching to CBT, the application of cognitive and behavioral interventions allows a person to learn and practice more adaptive strategies to change and improve functioning.  Small changes can make a big difference.

 

 

 

 

 

Behavioral Medicine

 

Addressing the “Mind-Body” connection is an important part of therapy.  The somatic or emotional reactions we all experience are addressed through various techniques within the field of Behavioral Medicine.  Relaxation training and other forms of self-regulation can be learned and practiced by most people with excellent results.  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.  Changing one’s behavior changes the brain.  Thus learning and practicing new ways of thinking, behaving, and emotionally/somatically reacting allow the brain and body to attain and maintain optimal functioning.  Hypnosis is another avenue employed to tap into the not conscious (or subconscious) brain’s ability to naturally heal and facilitate change.  Conditioned responses that exacerbate physical symptoms such as allergies, asthma, arthritis, migraines, IBS/colitis and other inflammatory-based or autoimmune disorders can also be addressed with hypnosis.  Neurotherapy in the form of photic and audio stimulation is often useful in facilitating other brain states.

 

                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

Credentials

 

(Jacqueline) Neysa Buckle, M.S.

LMHC, LCPC, CCBT, BCBA

 

Master of Science degree in

Behavior Analysis & Therapy from

Southern Illinois University

 

Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology

with Business concentration

 

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

 

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

 

Certified Cognitive-Behavior Therapist

 

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

 

Professional Memberships

 

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

 

Florida Association for Behavior Analysis

 

With nearly 25 years of professional experience

 

Learn more about CBT and Mental Health

(National Institute of Health pdf)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services Available

 

Improvement of mental and physical health and wellness through applications of behavior therapy, hypnosis and behavioral medicine in the treatment of stress-related disorders, addictions, anxiety, mood and emotional disorders, phobias, panic; OCD, eating disorders, smoking, and other compulsive behaviors.  

 

Practice Location:

Behavior Coach

2831 Ringling Blvd., Suite 221F

Sarasota, FL  34237

 

Inquiries or to schedule an appointment:

naace@behaviorcoach.org

941-545-8038

 

 

 

Phone and Internet sessions are also available. 

 

 

 

 

 

Fees and Managed Care

 

Important information to obtain from your managed-care provider before scheduling an appointment: find out exactly what is covered (outpatient therapy, inpatient treatment, etc.), and what level of coverage you have.  Ask about co-payments, deductibles, and annual or lifetime maximums.  Ask who determines how many treatment sessions will be covered, and how/when that decision is made.  Ask what you can do if your coverage is denied or cut short.  Find out if there is a group of providers, a “network” that you must choose from, or if you can choose any qualified provider.  If you can choose any qualified provider, find out what licenses or degree s/he must have before coverage is authorized.  Other sources of insurance and coverage information are the Benefits or Human Resource Manager at your place of employment, and the website of your insurance provider. 

 

Regarding clients for whom I am not a preferred (in-network) provider:  clients pay me each session and submit a copy of the fee sheet to their insurance for reimbursement.  Reimbursement rates vary widely and in some cases are not much different than being in-network (once the deductible is met).  Managed care also requires a diagnosis that becomes a permanent part of your health record.  A sliding fee scale (ranging from $65-$95 per hour) is available for those clients who meet income guidelines and choose not to use insurance.

 

According to the National Institute of Health study on Mental Health (1999, see pdf link above), Cognitive-Behavior Therapy is one of the two most effective forms of therapy available.  Providers who are credentialed members of ABCT.org are the best source of qualified Cognitive-Behavior Therapists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Links

 

Feeling Good by David Burns, M.D. (Note:  AABT/ABCT.org is linked here also)

Scientific American Mind (Magazine)

A Symphony in the Brain by Jim Robbins

MindSpa in Sarasota, FL

 

 

 

Last Updated September 2007