Therapeutic Approach
Therapy is more effective if it has a solid theory guiding it. There are many guiding theories of mental health treatment out there, and they all have something to offer - but when researched comparatively, none of them were found to be superior to the others. In fact, each approach seemed to help some people and fall flat for others. The idea that relief from mental health symptoms requires a type of change that can be tracked through recognizable stages, and that each of those stages is best matched to a specific type of therapy, is called "the Transtheoretical Model." In search of a way to reconcile the many different theoretical approaches in modern psychology, Prochaska and Diclemente (1982) created this framework. Under the Transtheoretical Model, approaches to therapy include many of the standard industry acronyms: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gestalt, Solution-Focused - but all of these approaches are matched to each client's specific location in their own change process. What is novel in this approach, is that it does not treat all clients as though they are the same, or drive them toward a uniform catharsis or behavioral outcome. Without losing rigor, the TTM allows for flexibility and responsiveness in the counseling process. Where are you in your own change process? And what is the nature of the change that you are undergoing? The stages of the Transtheoretical Model of Change are illustrated in the graphics below and to the left (note that the stages have slightly different names in the Ecospychology graphics: Precontemplation/Equilibrium; Action/Trasformation; Maintenance/Sustainability). The techniques emphasized in your therapy sessions will match your current stage and your goals. Recommendations for supplemental activities will also be based on your progress through these stages. |
EquilibriumYou are not seeking change, nor actively aware of a need.
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ContemplationYou are actively weighing the pros and cons of change.
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PreparationYou have decided to pursue change, and are seeking support.
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TransformationYour life is in flux; you are actively in the process of changing.
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SustainabilityYou have achieved change and are working to sustain it.
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Keely Owens, LCPC
Keely Owens, LCPC is licensed as a clinical mental health counselor in the state of Maryland, and has an MA in Ecopsychology as well as an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Keely also has fifteen years' experience creating and facilitating outdoor workshops. Keely is a Certified Trauma Professional, has completed a specialized study in the transtheoretical model of change, and is enrolled in Integrative Psychiatry Institute's fifth cohort for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy certification. |
The In Vivo Ecopsychology 10-month treatment program, including the individual sessions, classes and groups, and opportunities for "bottom-up" experiential workshops, sessions, and retreats, is outlined based on the stages of the TTM. There are several opportunities for immersive "rite of passage" experiences in the middle of the 10 months, with time set aside beforehand for preparation and afterward for reintegration. Learn more about the Treatment-Supported Rite of Passage program.