There are many different approaches, modalities and styles of Psychotherapy. At CCP our therapists all have their own unique training and preferred modalities they practice.
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learn more below.
The list below is does not include all of the modalities we use in our work here at CCP. This list is an overview of some of the more specialized approaches to care and a brief introduction to help clients get a sense of what each abbreviation means.
ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy)
What is ART?
"Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a unique approach to psychotherapy. ART is unique because the ART Therapist guides the client to replace the negative images in the mind that cause the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress with positive images of the client’s choosing. And this is done quickly, most often within one session! Once the negative images have been replaced by positive ones, the triggers will be gone. Nightmares and repeated intrusive thoughts will stop.
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ART is also unique in that it combines the enormous power of eye movements to allow voluntary changes in the client’s mind with well-established therapies like Gestalt, Psychodynamic Therapy and Guided Imagery. Within the ART protocol, the eye movements, along with other ART enhancements, make these therapies work much faster and more effectively.
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With these therapies, combined with ART’s eye movements and other ART enhancements, many mental health problems other than Post Traumatic Stress can also be resolved quickly. Among the things ART can deal with are OCD, Eating Disorders, Generalized Anxiety and Generalized Depressive Disorders. ART can deal with traumas often associated with Dyslexia but also go beyond that to improve reading!
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One of the special aspects of ART is that when clients replace their negative images with positive ones they don’t need to talk to the therapist about any details of the trauma. This is because ART is procedural, though creative; and the client is really in control of the process, while the ART Therapist is a helpful guide. This makes the therapy easier on the client and easier on the therapist."
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Lindsay Miedema is our ART specialist at CCP. Learn more about Lindsay here.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
What is EMDR?
"Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps individuals with concerns, whether they stem from the past, present or future, feel better now. It is a collaborative process that does not require an individual to share their entire story or to share details of the traumatic event/s. It is effective across cultures, and ethnicities, from children to adults and seniors.
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EMDR works by having an individual focus on the upsetting situation with the clinician simultaneously using back-and-forth (bilateral) motion, typically with the eyes, for the individual to follow. Eye movements have been shown to reduce the vividness, arousal and emotional intensity of traumatic events (Barrowcliff, et al., 2004). Each EMDR clinician is trained extensively in the 8-phase EMDR protocol to be able to safely and effectively deliver bilateral stimulation.
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There is no need to share the cause of one’s trauma in EMDR, making it an ideal option for those protecting classified information (for example, military personnel) or those who simply do not want to repeat their story."
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Marcia Nazartchyk and Riley Martin are both trained EMDR therapists at CCP.
EFT, EFIT, EFFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy and Emotionally Focussed Family Therapy)
What is EFT?
"Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a unique and highly effective form of therapy that helps people understand and improve their emotional connection with themselves and others. Developed in the 1980s, EFT is based on the principle that our emotions are central to our experiences and relationships. It suggests that we are naturally designed to have a secure sense of who we are and a sense of self we can trust and rely on. This solid base allows for strong, supportive bonds with others, and when these bonds are secure, we tend to be happier and healthier.
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One of the great things about EFT is its versatility. While it’s widely recognized for helping couples strengthen their relationships (which is known as Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy or EFCT), it’s also extremely beneficial for individuals and families. For individuals, EFT (known as EFIT) can be particularly helpful in dealing with feelings of depression, anxiety, or the emotional aftermath of traumatic events. For families, EFT (EFFT) is used to deepen connections and repair strained relationships, making it an excellent choice for families looking to improve their dynamic.
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What makes EFT stand out is its focus on emotions and how we manage and use them. This approach helps people understand their feelings and the feelings of those around them, leading to healthier and more fulfilling relationships. It’s not just about finding quick fixes; it’s about getting to the heart of the matter and creating lasting change.
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If you’re looking to deepen your personal connections, manage emotional challenges, strengthen your sense of self as a confident and competent person, and improve your family or romantic relationships, Emotionally Focused Therapy will be a transformative choice. It’s about building stronger connections, understanding self and each other better, and fostering emotional health, all of which are key to a happier, more fulfilling life."
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Carly Crawford, Riley Martin and Lindsay Miedema are trained in EFIT.
DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy)
What is DBT?
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"Dialectical means "the existence of opposites." In DBT, people are taught two seemingly opposite strategies: acceptance (i.e., that their experiences and behaviours are valid), and change (i.e., that they have to make positive changes to manage emotions and move forward).
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DBT is divided into four stages of treatment. The stages are defined by how severe a person’s behaviours are.
In Stage 1, the person is often miserable and their behaviour is out of control. The goal is for the person to move from being out of control to achieving behavioural control.
In Stage 2, the person may feel they are living a life of quiet desperation: their life-threatening behaviour is under control, but they continue to suffer. The goal is to help the person move from quiet desperation to full emotional experiencing.
In Stage 3, the challenge is to learn to live: to define life goals, build self-respect and find peace and happiness. The goal is for the person to lead a life of ordinary happiness and unhappiness.
For some people, Stage 4 is needed. The goal is to find a deeper meaning through a spiritual existence.
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Standard DBT therapy is provided as a group and generally requires a one year long commitment. At CCP, we provide DBT skills therapy. This is where Individual psychotherapy focuses on enhancing motivation and helping people apply the skills to specific challenges and events in their lives. These sessions provide opportunities for the person and the therapist to come together and discuss their individual goals. Sessions are usually held on a weekly basis for 60 to 90 minutes.​"
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Marcia Nazartchyk, Carly Crawford, Lindsay Miedema, Shelagh Keesmaat, Rebekah Bender and Remi Long all have DBT training.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
What is ACT?
"Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gets its name from one of its core messages: accept what is out of your personal control and commit to action that improves and enriches your life.
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The aim of ACT is to maximise human potential for a rich, full and meaningful life.
ACT (which is pronounced as the word ‘act’, not as the initials ‘A.C.T.’) does this by helping you to:
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a) develop psychological skills to deal more effectively with difficult thoughts and feelings, to reduce their impact and influence over you;
b) clarify your values (your heart’s deepest desires for how you want to behave as a human being; how you want to treat yourself, others and the world around you). You then use these values to guide, inspire and motivate yourself to take action: to do what matters, face your fears, live meaningfully, and change your life for the better;
c) focus your attention on what is important and engage fully in whatever you are doing.
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ACT (which is pronounced as the word ‘act’) uses a wide range of experiential exercises to undermine the power of destructive cognitive, emotive, and behavioural processes. It helps clients to fundamentally change their relationship with painful thoughts and feelings, to develop a transcendent sense of self, to live in the present, and to take action, guided by their deepest values, to create a rich and meaningful life.
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ACT takes the view that most psychological suffering is caused by ‘experiential avoidance’, i.e. by attempting to avoid or get rid of unwanted private experiences (such as unpleasant thoughts, feelings, sensations, urges & memories). Clients’ efforts at experiential avoidance might work in the short term, but in the long term they often fail, and in the process, they often create significant psychological suffering. (For example, think of any serious addiction: in the short term it makes you feel good and helps you get rid of unpleasant thoughts and feelings – but in the long term, it destroys your health and vitality)."
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Carly Crawford and Rebekah Bender are trained in ACT.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
What is CBT?
"Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a practical, short-term form of psychotherapy. It helps people to develop skills and strategies for becoming and staying healthy.
CBT focuses on the here-and-now—on the problems that come up in day-to-day life. CBT helps people to examine how they make sense of what is happening around them and how these perceptions affect the way they feel.
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CBT:
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is structured
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is time-limited (usually 6-20 sessions)
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is problem-focused and goal-oriented
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teaches strategies and skills
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is based on a proactive, shared therapeutic relationship between therapist and client
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How does Cognitive behavioural therapy work?
In CBT, clients learn to identify, question and change the thoughts, attitudes and beliefs related to the emotional and behavioural reactions that cause them difficulty.
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By monitoring and recording thoughts during upsetting situations, people learn that how they think can contribute to emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. CBT helps to reduce these emotional problems by teaching clients to:
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identify distortions in their thinking
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see thoughts as ideas about what is going on, rather than as facts
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stand back from their thinking to consider situations from different viewpoints.
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The CBT model is built on a two-way relationship between thoughts (“cognitions”) and behaviours. Each can influence the other.
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There are three levels of cognition:
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Conscious thoughts: Rational thoughts and choices that are made with full awareness.
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Automatic thoughts: Thoughts that flow rapidly, so that you may not be fully aware of them. This may mean you can’t check them for accuracy or relevance. In a person with a mental health problem, these thoughts may not be logical.
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Schemas: Core beliefs and personal rules for processing information. Schemas are shaped by influences in childhood and other life experiences.
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Behaviour can be changed using techniques such as self-monitoring, activity scheduling (for depression) and exposure and response prevention (for anxiety).
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All of the therapists at CCP have a background in CBT.