specialty
TREATMENT AREAS
Anger Management
Anxiety or Worry
Borderline Personality Disorder
Communication Issues
Cultural/Ethnic Identity
Depression
Emotion Dysregulation
Family Issues
Grief & Loss
Life or Role Transitions
Low Self-Esteem
Maternal Mental Health
Military Mental Health
Mood Disorders
Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder
Pet Bereavement
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Relationship Concerns
Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders
Social Anxiety
Stress Management
Trauma
Vocational Issues
Young Adult Issues
THERAPY METHODS
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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ACT is a mindfulness-based therapy that encourages individuals to embrace their current thoughts and feelings while acting according to their value-driven goals.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
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CBT focuses on the interplay between thoughts, moods, and behaviors. It encourages individuals to practice new behaviors by changing unhelpful patterns of thinking (cognition).
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CBT for Psychosis (CBTp)
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CBTp focuses on fostering recovery by enhancing function and quality of life despite difficult experiences related to hallucinations, delusions, negative symptoms, or thought disturbances.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
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CPT is a short-term therapy for PTSD (typically delivered over 12 sessions) that aims at reducing distress, emotional numbing, and avoidance of trauma reminders.
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Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training
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Skills training helps individuals learn specific strategies for regulating intense emotions, tolerating distress, and building more successful relationships. To learn more about skills training vs. DBT, please read below.
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WHAT IS BPD?
Most people who have BPD suffer from problems with regulating emotions and thoughts, impulsive decision-making or behavior, and unstable relationships with other people. Though not necessary for the diagnosis, most people with BPD have a history of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. People diagnosed with BPD may also have a history of self-injury.
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DBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral treatment developed by Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., who first introduced DBT in 1991 as a treatment for suicidal and self-injurious individuals diagnosed with BPD. DBT has also been modified to address other psychological problems such as eating disorders, substance use, and anger management.
BPD TREATMENT
DBT is the gold standard of treatment for BPD. DBT is considered "standard" or "comprehensive" when it includes four components to treatment: weekly therapy, group skills training, in-between session coaching, and a weekly consultation team for the therapists. As such, Dr. Bemis only offers skills training as a stand-alone or an adjunct to treatment.
For clients with BPD requiring a higher level of care, Dr. Bemis recommends standard DBT treatment. Please visit DBT California or call 1-800-624-1475 for information about comprehensive DBT.
