Treatment Approaches

Dr Cindy James is a trained modern psychoanalyst and uses a number of approaches in her Westport psychologist practice. For more information about her treatment approaches or to schedule treatment, please visit the contact page.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy examines the unconscious processes that can have a significant impact on an individual’s behavior. The therapist navigates as the patient explores how past emotional stresses and conflicts influence present behavior and relationships. These issues may manifest in eating disorders or substance abuse or other self-destructive behavior, and can be expressed in symptoms of anxiety and depression. The goal is to further insight and self-understanding in order to facilitate behavioral change.

Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is based on the theory that thoughts affect emotional states and feelings. Some disorders such as eating disorders, anxiety and depression may be the result of irrational beliefs and perceptions. Challenging these beliefs and creating new more positive cognitive pathways can be crucial in making behavioral changes and increasing self-esteem.

Exposure therapy is a powerful tool in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in which the patient is exposed incrementally to the feared stimulus. With eating disorders this may be food or weight gain.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is a comprehensive cognitive behavioral treatment specific to developing and utilizing emotional coping skills. Patients are taught a set of skills in four distinct modalities, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation. This structured approach is designed to help people change dysfunctional patterns of behavior such as self-harm and substance abuse. 

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy is an established and scientifically proven treatment for trauma related issues and post-traumatic stress disorder. It is now used in general populations to treat trauma and a variety of other issues, including anxiety and mood disorders. EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation (stimulate the right and the left sides of the brain) in the form of back and forth eye movements, alternate sounds or vibrations. This appears to stimulate an intrinsic capacity for the human brain to resolve emotional disturbance and gain adaptive insights.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is an emotionally corrective experience that facilitates access to feelings and the practice of new coping skills in the here and now. Visit the Group Therapy page to learn more about Dr Cindy James’ group therapy offerings at her Westport psychology practice.