Treatment Methods

While the choice of effective treatment methodology is important, clinical research has consistently demonstrated that clients who develop a good working relationship with their therapist tend to benefit more from their therapy.  Dr. Nix encourages open communication and a spirit of collaboration in the work she does with clients of all ages.  Because “one size fits all” approaches to treatment can actually do more harm than good for some clients, Dr. Nix employs a variety of treatment methods and tailors treatment plans to meet the specific needs and treatment goals of each client.  Some common therapeutic techniques used by Dr. Nix are listed below, but a combination of methods is generally the best way to insure that the treatment process is successful.    Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy:  This term actually describes a variety of techniques which focus on identifying and modifying maladaptive patterns of thought and behavior.  Brief, goal oriented treatment usually relies heavily on this type of therapeutic methodology, and emphasizes active, solution-focused approaches to symptoms and life problems. Insight-Oriented Therapy:  This term refers to a variety of treatment methods which emphasize the development of “insight” or understanding about the sources of an individual’s issues or symptoms.  These techniques can be especially useful in complex cases where symptoms are longstanding and disruptive.  Ego State Therapy:  This form of treatment is based on the notion that every individual has “parts of self” or “ego states” that are characterized by specific patterns of behavior and/or experience.  Ego states develop in response to an individual’s need to adapt and thrive, even in the face of adversity, and they provide an efficient means to quickly access specific networks of association in the brain.  The average adult shifts among ego states throughout the day as they fulfill various life roles such as “parent”, “spouse”, “working person”, “friend”, or “community member”.  So long as all the parts of self are adaptive and work together, the “family of self” functions without much thought or conflict.  However, clients who benefit from Ego State therapeutic methods frequently describe a great deal of internal conflict, and they often struggle to manage parts of self that developed in response to childhood experiences of family dysfunction or trauma. Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR):  EMDR is a treatment technique that is especially helpful in treating unresolved traumatic experiences, and it is often recommended for clients suffering from symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).   However, EMDR has a wide range of applications beyond the treatment of trauma, and specific EMDR protocols are available to help individuals develop and maximize the use of skills that decrease stress and anxiety, and improve emotional stability.   More detailed information on EMDR is available on the “Useful Links” page of this website.   Didactic Therapy:  “Didactic” methods of therapy are designed to provide useful information, and to encourage clients to educate themselves on topics that will enhance the attainment of treatment goals.