Hello! Welcome to David Martin Therapy. Every therapist has a style and direction. I am providing this page for prospective clients who wish to know a little about what it is like to work with me.
Most importantly, I understand the significance of a good relationship and empathic support in the therapeutic encounter. I do not believe, however, it is ultimately healthy and beneficial to remain only “supportive and relational” for too long. Earnest and effective therapy is a practice that takes work, commitment, and education. As a client, I can guide you through what I like to call, “essential psychotherapy skills” which are an amalgamation of very accessible theories and interventions that all people can use regardless of ability or background.
New therapy always starts very slowly, kindly, compassionately. We have a lot of connecting and understanding to engage in. We will take plenty of time at the beginning to listen deeply to your journey in this life so far and learn about your struggles, victories, and hopes for your future. This is one of the best, most rewarding phases of therapy. I want to understand you in the way you wish to be understood and seen. Then we can move forward in our therapy and begin to get deeper into the work of making changes. As a client you will be expected to complete some reading assignments, most of which are books or articles. There will be some videos, personal writing, mindfulness-based practices, and some light internet research. I do not require clients to read massive amounts of information, but I do require that they are engaged in the process of therapy- not just during our session but also involved in learning and practicing skills while outside of the therapeutic hour. I like to think of it as similar to physical therapy. You meet with your physical therapist regularly to review progress, learn new exercises, and share insights and experiences. And while you are at home in your everyday life, you practice, read, journal, engage, and learn. It is my belief that honest, stable mental health cannot be achieved by just seeing a kindly therapist every so often. It requires an investment in yourself and the work at hand.
I know that might sound overwhelming at the moment, but I assure you, I am a fairly nice guy. This journey can be one of delight and learning, as well as deep, inner work that ultimately is life improving. We can also have a lot of fun and enjoyment along the way. Mental health does not always have to be serious and dark even when done in earnest. However, it must be more than just supportive; it must also be educational. I guarantee we can develop a fascinating, working relationship that is more than just “a new best friend and some worksheets.”
There are many modalities we can explore. I prefer to present my clients with a buffet of options. These options are guided by our work together and the insights we have gained along the way. Some of the modalities and skills a client can plan on learning are:
1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
2. Positive Self-Talk & Self-Compassion
3. Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
4. Distress Tolerance Skills & Resiliency
a. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
b. Mindfulness Based Therapy
c. Symptom Management
5. Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
6. Interpersonal Neurobiology
7. Polyvagal Theory
8. Existential Psychotherapy
9. Internal Family Systems (IFS)
10. Jungian Therapy & Depth Psychology
a. Including Dream Interpretation Skills
b. Mythopoetic Archetypal Analysis
11. Bibliotherapy
I am confident that we can build a rewarding therapeutic relationship together. If you are truly invested in your own self-actualization and healing, you will find me an enthusiastic and competent provider and confidant. Please consider what it is you are looking for and what you are able to commit to. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please use the email option on this website.
Over the years that I have been a psychotherapist and mental health provider, clients of all backgrounds ultimately want to know, “What can I do?” about this and that. Everyone naturally wants to know what actions and behaviors they can engage in to help them along their path and better handle the sometimes-painful vicissitudes of life. Whether we have experienced deep, life-changing trauma or struggle with the daily grind and feelings of being lost in a sea of mundane existence, everyone wants to have a little help and support. Most importantly, we all want to know, “what can I do to make my experience of living better.” Generally, no one person, one theory, or particular philosophy can answer that question. No one person, doctor, spiritual teacher, or guru can know what each individual must or should do to live a fulfilling and engaged life. However, I do believe that there are some skills, behaviors, and perspectives all humans can engage in that will promote health on all levels and even alleviate some types, frequency, and intensity of unnecessary struggle and suffering in our lives.
These resources and suggestions are “essential” in that they provide practical skills and knowledge from many modalities (and ages and cultures) that address any life difficulty. Whether you are struggling with a chronic mental health issue or a general life challenge, these basic skills are the ones that offer some of the best, most practical, time-tested assistance for moving through those experiences in a healthy way. I present the classics of humanist psychology and the cutting edge of interpersonal neurobiology. These practices will not “remove” obstacles or “get rid of” unwanted experiences. Rather they help us become present, alive, engaged, and offer us the ability to learn from each and every experience that comes our way. They can also help us identify meaningful experiences as we move forward and feel vitally engaged in achieving life goals and states of being. Additionally, they help us develop resilience and engagement.
For those of you who prefer a more scientific perspective, these modalities and skills can build a stronger physical bridge between all the other parts of the brain with the prefrontal cortex. The reason that this is important is because, in general, the very definition of “mental health” is exactly equal to a properly and highly functioning and accessible prefrontal cortex. The nine functions of the prefrontal cortex are considered to be: bodily regulation, attuned communication, emotional balance, response flexibility, fear modulation, empathy, insight, moral awareness, and intuition. Moreover, the traditional goal of “symptom reduction” for therapy and treatment is the result of this developed access and increased ability of executive functioning. This is the first major part of any mental health, individuation, or self-actualization process. The second part, quite simply, is engagement. How do each of us find meaningful engagement in the world around us, no matter what is going on or how others may react? This, then, is the beginning of “mental health.”
Copyright © 2018 David Martin Therapy - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy