Modalities

Mindfulness-Based

Many times people struggle with accessing their emotions, or even the awareness of their thoughts, due to a lack of mindfulness. Mindfulness involves being aware of one’s experiences in the present moment. Dakota incorporates several mindfulness exercises into sessions, especially at the beginning, in order to lay the groundwork for further processing that we believe requires an initial level of awareness for deeper access and insights to be obtained.

Somatic

Somatic therapy involves connecting with sensations in the body and utilizing the nervous system to evoke healing and change. We will utilize several techniques to reset your nervous system and promote a calm resting state.

Trauma-Informed

Dakota strives to be compassionate in working with those who have experienced life-altering stressful experiences. It is her priority to ensure client safety, establish tools to cope, and promote hope where clients may eventually feel empowered to tell their stories and recreate their beliefs based on past experiences.

Internal Family Systems/IFS

As a family therapist, Dakota was taught in graduate school to look at the world through a systems lens. This proposes that all members are part of a system, rather than separate members pathologizing one specific individual in a group. In systems, all parts play a role for overall healthy functioning. It was during post-graduate experience working more heavily with individual clients that she realized how impactful the role of Schwartz’s theory has been for not only herself, but for her clients. When working from an IFS lens, we understand that each emotion, each repetitive behavior, each critical thought plays a role in the overall functioning of the internal system.

Instead of pathologizing one as depressed or angry, anxious or sensitive, let’s take a dive deeper into each of those parts in order to get to know their story better. Let’s give them a chance to speak rather than shame them more and continue to perpetuate the problem that has been ongoing for years, months, or even decades. We promise your system will soften when acknowledging its unique parts instead of attacking or exiling them.

Dakota is IFS trained and informed. She finds that utilizing this theory often helps those struggling to name or identify their emotions, thoughts or experiences. She will occasionally utilize inner active parts cards to further illuminate and illustrate the IFS experience.

Attachment Theory

Dakota wrote her undergraduate honors thesis on attachment theory and relationship satisfaction. She enjoys educating others on attachment theory and how one’s attachment impacts their relationship with themselves and others.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/ACT

ACT is a third wave modality of cognitive behavioral therapy. Dakota finds this approach highly useful in working with clients who struggle with anxiety or depression and just feel stuck. Through taking a life domains inventory, Dakota helps guide clients to a more preferred future according to their values, empowering them in taking actions that are in alignment with said values.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy/DBT

DBT is another third wave modality of cognitive behavioral therapy. Dakota finds that weaving DBT skills into sessions has been helpful for some clients experiencing suicidal/self harm tendencies and/or strong jolts of emotional pain.

Person Centered Therapy

A person-centered space occurs where the therapist honors the client’s story, concerns, wants and needs. Dakota enjoys seeing the client as the expert on their own life, rather than the other way around. This stance creates a safe space for clients to explore their experiences and come to their own conclusions.

Solution Focused Therapy

Dakota takes a solution-focused approach when she chooses to focus on the exceptions to a problem, rather than on the problem itself. This may come in the form of asking a client what would be different in their life if their problems no longer existed.

Faith-Based

This approach best suits clients who identify as Christian and wish to incorporate their faith into their work done in therapy.

Gottman Method (Couples)

In addition to the modalities mentioned above, Dakota will at times pull in Gottman language to her couples sessions. Dakota has taken the art and science of love couples workshop provided by the Gottman Institute to help aid her own marriage. Her personal experience, in conjunction with decades of research completed by Julie and John Gottman, testify to the usefulness of this method. Dakota considers this method as one of the main approaches she pulls from when working with couples.