Common Interventions
Anger Management — At their core, anger management techniques
help clients to recognize that anger is a normal emotion that we all
feel. Therapists use this intervention to help clients more easily
recognize when they’re becoming angry and develop strategies for
expressing this powerful emotion in an appropriate way that will
benefit them rather than create additional problems.
Behavior Reinforcement — A behavior that’s followed up with a
reinforcement will either increase or decrease the possibility of that
behavior being repeated in the future. A positive reinforcer will
encourage the likelihood of the behavior’s repetition, while a
negative reinforcer is likely to decrease the chances of that behavior
being repeated.
Cognitive Restructuring — One of the core components of
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT, cognitive restructuring
operates on the assumption that it’s not what happens to us that
makes us unhappy, anxious, or depressed — rather, it’s how we
think about what happens to us. Cognitive restructuring techniques
focus on increasing awareness, challenging the accuracy of
troublesome thoughts, and developing a more mindful awareness
with the goal of lessening the frequency and intensity of difficult
emotions.
Collaborative Problem-Solving — Originally designed for use with
children and adolescents exhibiting challenging behavior, CPS has
been applied successfully in a range of applications that involve
conflict. This technique involves three steps: gathering information
about the challenging situation from the opposing perspective,
sharing your own vantage point, and then working together to create
a realistic plan to resolve the difficulty through mutually agreeable
compromise.
Communication Training — The goal of communication training is to
provide individuals with tools to be more effective communicators in
a variety of work and interpersonal contexts. These may include
stressing positives over negatives and using validation to increase
the comfort level of the listener. Active listening and rephrasing or
questioning the speaker to ensure understanding are also
communication training skills.
Developing Coping Strategies — Positive coping skills help clients
to work through difficult circumstances in a healthy way. Therapists
assist clients in identifying coping skills that best fit their lifestyle and
individual needs. Common coping skills include meditation,
mindfulness, physical activity, spending time in nature. This process
often involves gradually replacing unhealthy coping skills with
healthy ones.
EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or
EMDR, is a technique used to assist clients in processing traumatic
life events. This type of therapy involves the therapist directing the
client’s lateral eye movements or providing other external stimulus
while the client revisits the traumatic experiences gradually over
time, in small increments.
Exploration of Feelings — Therapists can direct a client’s
examination of how feelings impact behaviors and the body’s
physiological responses.
Goal/Progress Review — Therapists and clients can collaborate on
goal-setting for desired therapy outcomes and periodically review
progress towards goals.
Identifying Triggers — An emotional trigger is any experience that
makes us feel uneasy. These triggers may invoke feelings of anger,
shame, or envy. Therapists work with clients to identify situations
that cause a significant reaction. Triggers often point to underlying
issues that may be addressed in therapy. Strategies to cope in a
triggering situation can also be developed.
Imagery/Relaxation Training — Guided imagery is a
stress-reduction technique that involves visualizing oneself in a
non-stressful, relaxed setting. When a client imagines being in a
favorite place, they engage their senses in noting specific sensory
details of the experience, such as what they’re seeing, the
temperature of the air, and the scents they’re likely to encounter.
Other commonly-used relaxation techniques include progressive
muscle relaxation, breathing exercises, or mindfulness practices.
These methods work by engaging the parasympathetic nervous
system to create a calmer, more relaxed state.
Labeling Feelings — Clients can benefit by purposefully naming
difficult feelings in order to decrease the emotional and
physiological response.
Mindfulness — Mindfulness is the practice of being fully engaged in
the present moment, aware of where they are, what they’re
experiencing, and the physical space they’re inhabiting. Specific
examples of mindfulness techniques include meditation, breathing
exercises, and gratitude or self-compassion practices.
Problem-Solving Skills Training — Problem-solving skills training is
a cognitive-behavior intervention that provides a framework for
addressing difficult life challenges. It’s a four-step process that
involves examining the current approach used when problem
solving, carefully defining the problem being addressed,
brainstorming and evaluating possible solutions, and
implementation and follow through.
Stress Management — Stress management encompasses a
diverse array of techniques and programs designed to help people
deal with life stressors in a more effective, proactive way. By
examining specific sources of stress and taking action to reduce
their effects, stress management practices can significantly improve
quality of life. Meditation, yoga, physical exercise, setting healthy
boundaries, and affirmations are examples of a few of the more
widely practiced stress management approaches.