Max Stager, Licensed Professional Counselor, Colorado Springs

Treatment Methods

Behavioral Therapy -- Helping clients change
behaviors by changing what happens before unwanted
actions as well as the rewards and consequences after
certain actions, which make unwanted behaviors less
likely to happen and desired behaviors more likely

Client-Centered Therapy -- Listening and validating,
using unconditional positive acceptance and regard for
the person (not always for behaviors), genuineness
(congruency, being "real"), and accurate empathic
understanding. Studies have indicated that these
characteristics account for 2/3 of the change a client
experiences after 6 months, and 1/3 of their change after
18 months. (*Primary method)

Cognitive Therapy -- Helping a client change unhelpful
thoughts so that they can experience more positive
feelings and behaviors

Education and Skill Building -- Helping the client learn
about their particular concerns and providing skills (for
example, anger management, communication, stress
management, or relaxation skills) that can help the
client feel or relate better

EMDR -- A highly effective method in resolving traumas
and other stressful experiences through eye movement,
auditory stimulation (sounds or tones), and/or kinesthetic
stimulation (like tapping the back of the hand). It helps
alleviate the symptoms of traumatic events that have
plagued individuals for days, weeks, months, or years.
All without reliving entire traumatic episodes. You can
view Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR.

Experiential Play Therapy -- Because of their stage of
development, children communicate much more
effectively through play than words. In this form of play
therapy, the counselor interacts with the child through
play and words to help them resolve internal conflicts that
contribute or create external problems.

Motivational Enhancement Therapy -- An effective
method designed to help individuals with their natural
ambivalence that keeps them from making the desired
change and by helping them build their commitment to
change. Includes such techniques as reflective listening,
questions about pros and cons, and reframing.

Psychodynamic Therapy -- Helping clients gain
insight into their problems and patterns of behavior,
which increases their ability to make changes

Special Deep Relaxation Technique -- A powerful,
client-led and client-controlled form of hypnosis (unlike
stage hypnosis). Clients deal with deep, unwanted
childhood memories that interfere with their current
relationships and other issues of daily life. By going to
subconscious levels of thought, deeper and more-lasting
change can occur. Check out the products section to
learn how to deal more effectively with other problems
using self-hypnosis.