At Opened Heart Therapy we offer a variety of therapeutic approaches that can be used to address a broad array of difficulties. We work with you to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to meet your unique needs, grounded in science, and guided by empirically-derived best practices. We continually monitor change to ensure that therapy stays useful and effective over time. Examples of our services include:
Therapy for Perinatal Mental Health Difficulties
Perinatal Mental Health is an umbrella term used to describe the variety of mental health issues that women and their partners can experience during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Mental health issues during this period are extremely common worldwide, with as many as 1 in 5 women experiencing depression and/or anxiety (e.g., O’Hara and Wisner, 2014). Although less research has been conducted on male and female partners of pregnant women and new mothers, partners also frequently experience similar mental health difficulties.
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Therapy for Trauma, Loss, and Unexpected Complications in Mothers, Infants, and Children
In response to trauma, loss, and unexpected complications in birthing mothers, infants, and children, many families struggle with powerful and overwhelming shock, pain, grief, and devastation. In addition to how intense and consuming these experiences may be, many families may feel quite alone and isolated, as though no one quite understands exactly what they are going through or how difficult it is. Well-intentioned loved ones may also exacerbate feelings of sadness, anger, self-blame, and guilt in their attempts to be supportive.
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Mindfulness helps us stay aware of the present moment so that we can more richly savor the positive moments, and approach the more challenging ones in a calmer, wiser, more grounded way. It can also help us be more aware of our thoughts, feelings, sensations, behaviors, and patterns, listen to our bodies and intuition, and be thoughtful, rather than reactive, as we can consider negative feedback and reactions from others.
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is an evidence-based therapy with decades of research support. Although DBT was originally designed to address the intense emotions and interpersonal stressors that often characterize Borderline Personality Disorder, it has been shown to be effective with a variety of mental health concerns.
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PE is considered an evidence-based therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Over the past two decades, numerous well-controlled research studies have shown that PE significantly reduces symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other symptoms of depression, anger and anxiety. PE helps you gradually approach trauma-related thoughts, feelings, and situations, that have been understandably been avoided due to the distress they cause. Through this repeated exposure, you can process your trauma in new ways, and reduce its power over your life.
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The DBT PE protocol is evidence-based and has been shown to be effective with both male and female adults and adolescents in a variety of settings (e.g., outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential). It was originally developed to treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in clients with complex problems and high-risk behaviors (e.g., suicidal ideation, self-harm, substance use, severe dissociation, personality disorders), as many of these clients did not substantially benefit from standard treatments.
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CPT is considered an evidence-based therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Nearly three decades of well-controlled research has demonstrated that CPT significantly reduces symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other comorbid symptoms. Traumatic experiences, as well as the reactions we’ve received from others about our experiences, can lead us to develop negative thoughts that significantly interfere with our lives. Thoughts like, “I could’ve prevented it – it’s completely my fault;” “The world is a dangerous place,” “No one can be trusted,” “I can’t listen to my intuition,” are all common. Even though these thoughts make sense given your experiences, there may be ways in which you can shift these thoughts that cause less distress or keep you less “stuck.”
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STAIR is an evidence-based skills-focused treatment focused on difficulties with interpersonal relationships and emotion regulation, two domains commonly affected by trauma. Research suggests that STAIR can be used to support and facilitate the effectiveness of subsequent trauma-focused therapy or be a powerful standalone treatment. Efforts are currently underway to develop a parenting supplement for STAIR for parents who are trauma survivors to assist them in managing trauma symptoms and enhancing their relationships with their children.
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CBCT is a time-limited, evidence-based intervention focused on improving individual Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and enhancing relationship functioning. CBCT was originally designed for intimate relationships but can be successfully used for any kind of relationship in which one or more people have symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
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Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
IPT is considered an evidence-based therapy for depression, shown through decades of well-controlled trials to be effective for adolescents, adults, and older adults, as well as women experiencing depression in the perinatal period (e.g., antenatal (while pregnant) or postpartum). Evidence is also emerging for the effectiveness of IPT in treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a time-limited, present-centered, solution-focused, and goal-directed therapy with one of the strongest evidence bases. CBT has been shown to be effective for a range of mental health issues including, but not limited to, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, postpartum depression, eating disorders, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and insomnia.
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At Opened Heart Therapy, we offer support and coaching to families and loved ones. Mental health issues or life stressors often have a broad impact and may affect the entire family or community of which a person is a part. Families often need support not just in understanding how to better support their loved ones, but also in helping them cope with, normalize, and validate, their own personal feelings, experiences, and challenges .
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