Treatment Approaches
Evidence-based, nuanced, effective intervention options
EMDR Therapy: Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences, anxiety, and emotional distress. Dr Christy Jones is an experienced trauma-informed clinical psychologist with advanced training in EMDR therapy, that can aid clients dealing with past trauma, PTSD, accident and injury, phobias, and negative beliefs that impact daily life. Through guided bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements), EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional charge and enabling healthier coping mechanisms, as a result. If you’re struggling with the lasting effects of trauma or emotional wounds, EMDR therapy can help you achieve lasting healing and regain control of your mental health. As of December, 2024, The Australian Psychological Society (APS) recognised EMDR as a Level 1 treatment (the highest level of evidence of treatment efficacy) for adults with depression, PTSD, complex PTSD, specific phobias and social anxiety disorder and children with PTSD. Get in contact to book an appointment and to learn how EMDR therapy in Sydney or online, can help you overcome emotional barriers and improve your well-being.
EMDR Therapy Intensive: EMDR intensive treatment models offer a potential accelerated approach for clients experiencing severe PTSD or anxiety by condensing treatment into a shorter time frame, which can allow for deeper, more rapid processing. Research findings supporting the efficacy of EMDR demonstrate significant improvements in clients' mental health in as little as a few days of concentrated sessions. These intensive models provide a unique opportunity for those seeking a faster resolution of long-standing trauma symptoms or severe PTSD, making them an excellent option for individuals looking to make substantial progress in a short period. Get in touch to explore whether this might be the right approach for you or read more about EMDR Therapy Intensives under 'Services'.
CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective, research-backed treatments; demonstrating the highest level of evidence-based treatment efficacy (Level 1 evidence, as of Dec 2024) for a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, bipolar disorder, generalised anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, specific phobia, PTSD, complex PTSD, adjustment disorder, OCD, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Eating Disorders, Substance-Use Disorders and Insomnia. Dr Christy uses CBT often, to help clients identify and challenge negative thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and unhelpful behaviours. By understanding the connection between thoughts, emotions, and actions, CBT empowers individuals to reframe their thinking, develop healthier coping strategies, and make lasting behavioural changes. Whether you’re struggling with persistent anxiety, low mood, or difficulties in managing stress, CBT offers practical tools to break free from unproductive cycles and improve mental well-being. With a focus on both the present and future, CBT equips individuals to develop greater self-awareness and detachment from unhelpful patterns, creating a more balanced and fulfilling life.
MBCT: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a highly effective therapeutic approach that combines traditional cognitive therapy with mindfulness practices to help individuals heal from PTSD and trauma. MBCT is often offered to assist clients in breaking free from the cycle of negative thought patterns often triggered by traumatic experiences. Through mindfulness techniques, clients learn to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment, which helps to reduce the emotional reactivity that can fuel PTSD symptoms. By cultivating a present-moment awareness, MBCT enables individuals to process traumatic memories effectively, and in a more controlled way, leading to reduced anxiety, emotional distress, and intrusive thoughts. Recent evidence also shows that interventions that specifically provide experiential-processing engaging mindfulness techniques result in neurobiological and structural changes in areas of the brain (such as the prefrontal cortex) that support self-regulation, cognitive control, attention, motivation and executive functioning and are related to better engagement in treatment and better long-term mental health outcomes [1]. The APS also recognises MBCT and mindfulness based stress reduction as having a high level of evidence of treatment efficacy for depression, generalised anxiety, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, binge eating disorder, insomnia, and ADHD in adults. If you’re struggling with the lasting effects of trauma or feel that your inner world is one full of judgement, MBCT may be the right path to healing for you.
DBT: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and develop healthier coping strategies. DBT is often requested to support individuals struggling with emotional dysregulation, self-harm, impulsivity, and symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT combines cognitive-behavioural techniques with mindfulness and acceptance strategies to teach clients how to tolerate distress, regulate their emotions, and strengthen interpersonal skills. Through structured individual therapy and group skills training, DBT helps individuals break free from patterns of emotional instability and impulsive behaviour, fostering a sense of balance and fulfilment. If you find yourself overwhelmed by emotions or struggling with relationship difficulties, DBT can offer practical tools and support for creating lasting change and improving mental well-being.
Attachment-Informed Therapy: Healing Through Understanding Early Relationships: Attachment-Informed Therapy focuses on the deep-rooted influence of early relationships and attachment experiences on emotional well-being and behaviour. Dr Christy uses attachment-informed interventions to help individuals explore how early attachments—particularly with caregivers—shape their current relationships, coping mechanisms, and belief patterns. This therapeutic approach is particularly effective for clients struggling with issues like anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, and lacking fulfilment in their current connections, as it helps identify and heal unhelpful attachment styles or patterns of relating and connecting with others formed during childhood. By gaining insight into attachment dynamics and with Dr Christy's specific focus on releasing and shifting unhelpful patterns of emotion and cognitive processing that contribute to unhealthy relationships, clients can learn to cultivate healthier, more secure relationships and develop a stronger sense of self. Whether you’re facing challenges in personal connections or experiencing difficulties with emotional regulation, attachment-informed therapy offers a compassionate path toward healing and self-awareness.
Trauma-Informed Approaches: Trauma-informed therapy recognises the profound impact trauma can have on an individual's mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Utilising a trauma-informed lens ensures that therapeutic goals include establishing safety, choice and empowerment - factors that are often infringed upon when trauma has occurred. Dr Christy seeks to not only establish an environment of safety and empathy, but to recognise how terrifying and exhausting life can be without feeling safe in your own body or in control of responses that are overwhelming to you. Understanding how trauma affects brain and behaviour if often the key to reducing the shame that many people carry as a result of triggered responses they may not like very much, and allows interventions to be more effective, making it more likely that clients can reclaim control and find a sense of peace within themselves again.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: working with the nature of the mind, to understand ourselves and others: Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a relatively new, transformative therapy that helps individuals heal from trauma (and other concerns) by exploring and integrating the different parts or “sub-personalities” within themselves. It is the nature of the mind to be somewhat sub-divided and you may notice this if you feel intense internal conflict, are indecisive and overthink, or notice at times you think or respond in ways toward yourself or others that don't really feel like your true 'self'. Dr Christy uses IFS to guide clients through understanding the inner conflicts that arise from past experiences. IFS recognises that some experiences can cause emotional fragmentation, where different parts of the self—such as the “protective” or “vulnerable” parts—hold onto painful memories, fears, or beliefs and act in ways we would rather they didn't. Through IFS therapy, clients learn to access their core self, which can help heal and integrate these fragmented parts. This approach not only helps to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, and emotional numbness, but also fosters deeper self-awareness and self-acceptance; clients often describe feeling 'centred' or 'grounded' as a result of moving through these strategies. If you’re having trouble connecting with your authentic self, have experienced situations in which parts of yourself needed to be shielded (such as chaotic and/or highly structured early childhood contexts) IFS therapy can provide a path to reclaiming you.
[1] A. Calderone, D. Latella, F. Impellizzeri, P. de Paasquale, F. Famà, A. Quartarone & R.S. Calabrò, "Neurobiological changes induced by mindfulness and meditation: A systematic review", Biomedicines 2024, vol 12, no. 11, pp. 2613, November, 2024. [Online serial]. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12112613 [Accessed Jan. 21, 2025].
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