Our Approach & Specialties

This is the cornerstone of our treatment approach. CBT is a direct and collaborative approach; it is not necessarily the traditional insight-oriented “talk therapy” that people imagine when they think of seeing a therapist. The premise of CBT is that we must change the way someone acts and thinks in order to change the way they feel.

This is the evidenced-based, empirically validated CBT intervention used to treat OCD. If you have OCD, it is essential that you find a therapist who knows how to implement ERP. Quite literally, in ERP we expose you to your fear (obsession) and then prevent your anxiety-driven response (compulsion). These exposures tend to be prolonged, which means we’ll continue the exposure for a while so that your brain can adapt and learn that your anxiety- response was falsely triggered. At Gameplan Therapy, our clinicians will actually stay with you during the exposures and model the appropriate techniques, so that you can practice them on your own. You will be supported through the process.

This is the evidence-based, empirically validated CBT intervention used to treat Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder. We create exercises designed to trigger the same sensations as a panic attack. By practicing these exercises, your brain and body begin to normalize the sensations and they are less likely to trigger panic attacks. And, after mastering Interoceptive Exposures, you will feel much more confident to handle a panic attack even if one occurs!

This includes all other exposures that may not be prolonged ERP exposures, including Social Rejection Exposures to treat social anxiety, or exposures designed to target separation anxiety. The purpose of exposures is to prove to your brain- and yourself!- that you can handle extremely uncomfortable situations. Once you’ve learned this, anxiety will no longer cripple you!

This is a major component of treatment for pediatric anxiety disorders that is often overlooked. Anxiety often leads to meltdowns, verbal and physical aggression and adamant refusal to participate in basic activities. It is extremely difficult for parents to know how to approach their child with anxiety. We’ll tailor a specific behavior plan that takes into account you child’s anxiety, as well as addresses their inappropriate or dangerous behaviors. Most parents report that this service is a tremendous benefit to creating harmony in the home while undergoing the difficult treatment process.

Behavioral Activation- To treat depression we’ll help you to create a daily schedule to keep you active and allow you to appropriately “fake it until you make it” at your own pace. We’ll incorporate self-care, work/school obligations, and exercise. We’ll build in activities that you once enjoyed but toward which you might now feel apathetic. Every step will be planned to help you feel more like yourself.

Both people who suffer from social anxiety as well as emerging adults who may be stuck in the “failure to launch” phase of life often need to build basic social skills. Social Skills Training is an adjunct service provided in addition to exposures. Social skills include body language, vocal training, mastering the art of “chit chat”, and overcoming any hesitations that may lead to avoidance techniques that appear awkward or socially inappropriate. We model appropriatebehavior, use mirrors, video feedback, and role-play to build social skills.We also offer therapy sessions based in the “real world” to provide in the moment feedback. This may also include assertiveness training- learning effective ways to get your needs met.

This is an evidenced-based approach to anxiety treatment and is an adjunct intervention in our sessions. We teach you how to accept anxiety as part of your life without letting it rule you or dictate your actions. This acceptance brings peace, less distress and is shown to reduce anxiety symptoms.

Mindfulness training means many things to many people! At Gameplan Therapy, we gear our mindfulness interventions toward anxiety-treatment. People with anxiety often get stuck in the “what-ifs” of life, and live in the future world of what-ifs rather than dealing with the present moment. Anticipatory anxiety- that is, to anticipate and worry about potential upcoming scenarios- is rampant within the mind of the anxiety-sufferer. Our goal is to give you tools to help you pay attention to what is happening right in front of you and to be less distracted by worries and fears about the future. These interventions are typically concrete, kid-friendly, and require minimal time to implement. We tend not to start with meditation, which can be frustrating or too difficult for someone with an overflow of anxious thoughts. This is an adjunct service provided in nearly every therapy session.

This is a model used to treat Tic Disorder and other repetitive behaviors. We’ll build an awareness to the behavior you want to reduce, and after you achieve awareness we can slowly introduce new habits that satisfy the urge in a similar way to the original tic.

Anxiety can seriously impact someone’s ability to perform at school or work. Some students will benefit from accommodations to help support their learning. We can guide you in the process to request accommodations, and advise which accommodations will be best for your child so that all of their learning needs are met at school. If formal accommodations are not necessary, we can lead school/teacher meetings to build understanding and awareness of the student’s needs.