At our center in Ridgefield, CT, we support children and adults experiencing a behavioral, social, or emotional issue every day. As part of these interactions, we use short-term, intensive psychotherapy and brain-based therapies. For many reasons families seek out short-term, intensive therapy but ultimately they are looking for effective treatment for clinical issues.
Meta-analysis research demonstrates that intensive, short-term psychotherapy is effective for a variety of conditions, including ADHD, OCD, PTSD, Autism, anxiety, social anxiety, and depression. When clinical issues are addressed with intensity, the brain allows for a greater level of behavioral learning.
In other words, practicing and intensely reinforcing healthy behaviors and thoughts daily make it easier to break habits – at the conscious or subconscious level. The brain is another muscle in the body. Just like athletes train their bodies with intensity, to respond automatically without conscious awareness, so we can train the brain. It takes a lot of reinforcement and practice to perform athletically at that level. The same learning can occur with thinking, beliefs, and behaviors when intensive therapies are applied.
In a 2018 twelve-month follow-up study, individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) received intensive Exposure and Response Therapy (ERP) over four days, and it was found to be highly effective. The study found that the concentrated exposure treatment (cET), called the Bergen Method, led to a 6-month remission rate for 70% of the 65 participants The follow-up study found that 83.1% responded to treatment at 12-month follow-up, and 67.7% of patients were classified as recovered. Our center uses the highly research-based and effective ERP therapy for OCD because it has been shown to reduce obsessions and compulsions over other treatments and therapies.
There are several research studies that support the efficacy of intensive, short-term psychotherapy for anxiety and depression,and many locations throughout the US use a model of intensive outpatient therapy in a group format for anxiety and depression. Typically, intensive programming for anxiety or depression is used when there is a high level of distress and someone needs more support than individual therapy.
Almost since its inception, Neurofeedback has been used intensively over a short amount of time to treat addiction and PTSD. Research indicates that intensive neurofeedback helps break a drug addict’s cycle of drive drug-seeking behaviors. Replicated research has demonstrated that cravings and relapses reduced significantly when using the Peniston Protocol, which requires two neurofeedback sessions a day over 10 days Of note, many of these addiction research studies included participants also diagnosed with PTSD and found a reduction in PTSD symptoms as well as drug cravings. Additional research has demonstrated that Neurofeedback treatment for those with PTSD produces a calming effect on brain and behavior. When Neurofeedback is used in conjunction with psychotherapy, the CNS is calmer and the subconscious brain is more open to change. Thus, making the therapeutic process more effective. Because the brain is regulated, individuals are more capable of changing behaviors, thoughts, and negative beliefs.
Neuromodulation uses technology that acts directly upon nerves. By delivering electrical or pharmaceutical agents directly to a target area, nerve activity is altered or modulated.
Neuromodulation changes how neurons act in the context of neuronal circuits, allowing for the reconfiguration of networks into different functional circuits. Many hospitals have neuromodulation clinics for those whose neural activity has been disrupted due to some kind of issue (genetic, chemical or physical trauma) with the nervous system that causes cognitive, motor, and sensory impairments.
These clinics typically use a short-term, intensive treatment approach. While neurofeedback is a form of neuromodulation and frequently used at these type of clinics, it is distinct from neuromodulation because it works by reinforcing the subconscious to change itself, which produces electrical activity. Since it is used to address a variety of clinical issues, including TBI and stroke, Neurofeedback is often used in neuromodulation clinics to support patients who haven’t responded to traditional treatments, including medication. Research supports that neurofeedback has long been used as a neuromodulation treatment for those with ADHD along with other clinical conditions.
There are many reasons why families choose intensive, short-term therapy. Some experience an urgent need or crisis that makes it the best option either before or after a higher level of care. They also are making an informed decision to follow the research and use intensive therapies to address a clinical issue.
Others prefer the convenience of a short-term program and feel that the commitment is easier. Moreover, since finding clinicians can be difficult, many families from other states or countries are only able to access our services through short-term, intensive programming. They see the value in an intensive approach housed in one location with expert-level care and psychoeducation.
Our center is unique in that we provide expert-level integrative care. Not only do we support children and individuals with intensive, short-term psychotherapy, we also have a trademarked program, 360° Reboot® , that incorporates clinically valid holistic therapies that support the brain and body. We use specific types of psychotherapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Somatic Experiencing Therapy, EFT/Tapping, Hypnosis, ERP, play and art therapy, social skills and executive functioning training, parent coaching, etc., that is the best fit for each individual and combine it with neurofeedback and biofeedback.
We named our program 360° Reboot® because it reflects an intensive, short-term approach that “reboots” the system to promote brain, body, and emotional wellness. Our program incorporates QEEG Brain Mapping that gives us clear diagnostic information about how the brain is functioning, guides the best course of treatment, allows us to quantify treatment responsiveness.
To make an appointment with Dr. Roseann to discuss our short-term, intensive 360° Reboot® Program or how one of our clinically effective and natural therapies for ODD, OCD, anxiety, depression, Dyslexia, LD, ADHD, or ASD such as Neurofeedback, Biofeedback, Executive Functioning coaching, parent coaching or behavioral support can help you or your child, or to meet with one of our psychotherapists call 203.438.4848 or email us at info@drroseann.com. Live out of state? We work with children, individuals, and families at our clinic through our intensive therapies 360° Reboot® Program.
Dr. Roseann is a Psychologist and Therapist and our center provides expert-level care for children, adults, and families from all over the US, supporting them with research-based and holistic therapies that are bridged with neuroscience. She is a Dr. Roseann is a Board Certified Neurofeedback (BCN) Practitioner, a Board Member of the Northeast Region Biofeedback Society (NRBS) and Epidemic Answers, Certified Integrative Medicine Mental Health Provider (CMHIMP) and an Amen Clinic Certified Brain Health Coach. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), Connecticut Counseling Association (CCA), International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR) and The Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (AAPB).
©Roseann-Capanna-Hodge, LLC 2019
