Modalities
Amy Blake, LCSW has extensive training in multiple approaches to helping people heal, grow and transform. Explore below to see the breadth and depth of knowledge that can be integrated into your care.
Relationship Healing, Growth, and Transformation
Amy utilizes relationship/couples therapy modalities that span the spectrum from attachment to differentiation - how to communicate and connect in a healthy way without losing yourself or overpowering your partner.
Encounter-centered Transformation
Encounter-centered Transformation™ is a beautifully-integrative and interdisciplinary model for relationship building created by Hedy Schleifer, MA. It lies at the intersection of philosophy, clinical theory, organizational methodology, and relational neurobiology and based on four main pillars: the philosophy of Martin Buber, Imago Relationship Theory and Practice, Appreciative Inquiry and the new frontier of Relational Neurobiology and Memory Reconsolidation.
It is an approach that promotes transformational change, a visceral, cellular and internal shift, one that is dependable and sustainable. As new empirical studies have shown, good and strong relationships help the brain change and develop in a way that promotes even better relationships. Amy has had the immense pleasure of learning directly from Hedy since the mid-1990’s and as a part of her 3-year Master Class.
Imago Relationship Therapy
Imago Relationship Therapy was developed in 1980 by relationship experts and New York Times best-selling authors Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., and Helen LaKelly Hunt Ph.D. and is a form of relationship and couples therapy that focuses on transforming conflict into healing and growth through relational connection. Amy became certified as an Imago Relationship Therapist; Getting the Love You Want Workshop Presenter and Keeping the Love You Find Workshop Presenter with Master Trainer Maya Kollman, PhD starting in the mid-1990’s.
The Gottman Method
The research-based Gottman Method is designed to help couples to manage conflict, deepen friendship and intimacy, and share their life purpose and dreams. Amy learned the Level 1 of The Gottman Method in 2015 directly from Drs. John and Julie Gottman.
The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy
The Developmental Model is a revolutionary approach that is highly adaptable to the complex needs of two people growing, changing, and staying connected in a relationship. Developed by Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson, the Developmental Model incorporates attachment, differentiation and neuroscience to help people understand the growth that is required of them to create the relationship they desire. Amy has studied with Drs. Ellyn Bader and Peter Pearson since 2015 in learning this approach to helping couples build healthy relationships.
Individual Healing, Growth and Transformation
Amy utilizes approaches that foster profound changes beyond symptom alleviation, empowering individuals to break free from the constraints of emotional distress, past trauma and attachment wounds.
DNMS - The Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy
Excellent for healing attachment wounds, which develop due to unmet emotional needs from childhood. The more emotional needs go unmet, the more we are going to struggle in relationships and with reactivity. It is the unmet emotional needs that fuel our reactivity and drive unwanted behavior, beliefs and emotions. The DNMS is a very powerful ego-state healing modality that makes it possible to heal attachment wounds and resolve triggers from the past. This creates a greater foundational stability allowing you greater ability to grow to meet your full potential.
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Excellent for resolving traumatic memories. Because traumatic experiences get stored differently than regular memories, pieces of memory can get frozen and then get triggered in the present moment and we can experience the traumatic event as if it is happening right now. EMDR helps process those memories and disentangle any negative beliefs and painful emotions so you can remember and speak about the traumatic experience without reliving it all over again.
FLASH Technique
The FLASH Technique, developed by Dr. Phil Manfield works quickly to decrease the disturbance of painful, aversive memories. Unlike many conventional trauma therapy interventions, FT is a minimally intrusive option that does not require the client to consciously engage with the traumatic memory. This allows the client to process traumatic memories without feeling distress.
ART - Accelerated Resolution Therapy
ART sessions swiftly address an array of issues including Anxiety, Depression, Phobias, PTSD, Addictions, and more, ART offers a transformative and efficient path to healing and growth.
ART guides clients through a process of replacing negative images in the mind with positive ones, and effectively alleviates symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress. This unique modality utilizes eye movements and integrates established therapies like Gestalt, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Guided Imagery to expedite healing and promote lasting change. Clients undergoing this therapy do not need to divulge details to the therapist making ART a non-invasive, client driven process.
Clinical Hypnosis
Clinical Hypnosis can be used to help symptom reduction and to support the positive movement you want to make in your life.
Please Note: Many people want to "search for memories" with hypnosis and Amy does not do that kind of work, nor does she recommend it. She works from the understanding that the body, mind and psyche hold the wisdom to release the necessary information for healing and it can be detrimental to intentionally try to surface trauma memories.
Grove Metaphor Therapy
Grove Metaphor Therapy, created by David Grove is an ego-state therapy and is a beautiful way of addressing the uncomfortable body physiology and associated painful memories, emotions and negative beliefs. In Metaphor Therapy, we move the "ick" out of the body through the use of clean language with a focus on your internal experience to activate your body's innate wisdom and drive to heal.
Mindfulness
Sometimes being with what is can be the best approach. Most of us want to run from what is uncomfortable or deny that it is actually uncomfortable. Mindful approaches are a way of providing radical acceptance and open the lines of communication between body, mind and soul.
Contact Us
If you’re interested in learning more about Amy's services, please reach out to us via the Contact page. We’re here to help you take the next step in your healing journey.