Talk therapy ties it all together

These techniques work well in tandem with art therapy and mindfulness practices because they are all about building your skills for understanding how your thoughts, emotions and behavior work together, and how you can develop habits that work better for you.

Together, you and I can develop a way of working that is the most comfortable and effective method for you.

If you’re interested, here’s a little more information about my favorite evidence-based talk therapy approaches:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly personalized, efficient method of understanding how past events impact our behavior in the present, and changing the way we interpret those events in order to relieve suffering. It helps us break the vicious cycle of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that are often related to anxiety and depression. Unlike traditional analysis, for example, it’s less focused on is the past, and more about improving our mental well-being in the present, to create healthy habits going forward.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is based on the principle that whatever we resist, persists. When we’re faced with difficult emotions or unpleasant thoughts, this approach helps us learn how to defuse them—rather than try to escape them—using mindfulness practices, metaphors and language. It’s about not allowing adversity to stop us from acting according to our values, which are what give our lives direction, meaning, and purpose.

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) stems from research on how our brains have evolved to be sensitive to potential threat, which is why we often react in unhealthy ways when we’re hurting emotionally. It reframes our focus onto our common humanity, the understanding that all people experience suffering. Through developing compassion for ourselves and others, we transmute negative feelings—like shame, rejection and depression—into positive, sustaining ones—like warmth, empathy and the strength to cope with distress.