Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School – Chicago, Illinois

Couples Therapy is a specialized form of counseling designed to help couples navigate and improve their relationships. In this therapeutic process, a trained therapist or counselor works with couples to address communication issues, conflicts, and emotional challenges within their partnership. Couples Therapy provides a safe and supportive environment for couples to explore their feelings, understand each other’s perspectives, and develop effective strategies for building stronger, more fulfilling connections. It can be instrumental in fostering healthier relationships, enhancing intimacy, and promoting long-term relationship satisfaction.

Group Counseling is a therapeutic approach where individuals come together under the guidance of a trained counselor to share experiences, provide mutual support, and gain insights. It fosters a sense of community, promotes understanding through diverse perspectives, and offers personal growth and problem-solving strategies.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely practiced form of psychotherapy that seeks to address dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts through a goal-oriented, systematic process. It encourages individuals to challenge distorted cognitions and change destructive patterns of behavior by promoting self-awareness and effective coping strategies. CBT is often used to treat a range of disorders including anxiety, depression, and stress, making it a versatile and practical therapeutic approach. Through enhancing an individual’s capacity to manage life’s challenges, CBT contributes to improved mental well-being and overall quality of life.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach primarily to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder. It combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques with distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindfulness concepts. DBT emphasizes the balance between accepting and changing behaviors, aiming to help patients build life skills, regulate emotions, and improve interpersonal relationships. It has since been adapted for and shown effectiveness in treating a variety of other mental health conditions.

Activity therapy is a therapeutic method aimed at aiding individuals in their journey to overcome physical dependencies or emotional hurdles. This therapeutic approach primarily seeks to engage individuals in imaginative activities that encourage favorable shifts in their thought processes. Activity therapy can be administered through individual sessions with a therapist or within a group context. Its overarching goal is to mitigate stress and anxiety while nurturing enhanced self-assurance and refined social interaction abilities.