Elizabeth Michael, Ph.D
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Call for an appointment 847-372-5046
Types of Treatment
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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
A well-established, highly effective, and lasting treatment is called cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT. It focuses on identifying, understanding, and changing thinking and behavior patterns. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you weaken the connections between troublesome situations and your habitual reactions to them. It also teaches you to calm your mind and body, so you can feel better, think more clearly, and make better decisions. Benefits are usually seen in 12 to 16 weeks, depending on the individual and what types of problems are being addressed. In this type of therapy the patient is actively involved in his or her own recovery, has a sense of control, and learns skills that are useful throughout life. CBT typically involves reading about the problem, keeping records between appointments, and completing homework assignments in which the treatment procedures are practiced. Patients learn skills during therapy sessions, but they must practice repeatedly to see improvement.
Exposure Therapy
A form of CBT, exposure therapy is a process for reducing fear and anxiety responses. In therapy, a person is gradually exposed to a feared situation or object, learning to become less sensitive over time. This type of therapy has been found to be particularly effective for anxiety disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder OCD, phobias, and acute and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy- ACT
Also known as ACT, this type of therapy uses strategies of acceptance and mindfulness (living in the moment and experiencing things without judgment), along with commitment and behavior change, as a way to cope with unwanted thoughts, feelings, and sensations. ACT imparts skills to accept these experiences, place them in a different context, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change.