Why Gifted Kids Need Therapy

As parents, we worry. At times, our children are troubled, upset, or impulsive, and these tendencies make us consider seeking professional gifted therapy.

However, it is tough to find the right balance between praising a child for being different or when it’s time to worry when you have a gifted child.

In this article, we’ll look at the different reasons parents of gifted children might seek counseling and how to select the right professional.

When Should I Seek Therapy or Counseling for my Gifted Child?

Gifted children pose a particular challenge to parents because of their asynchronous development and intensity about different topics. Parents often struggle to figure out whether these signs are markers of giftedness or worrying signs.

There is no one time when you have to go get counseling for your gifted kid. It depends on what kind of help they need and what is going on. If there are some things happening that you think a therapist could help with, then it might be a good idea to go see one.

Professionals such as psychologists are an important part of every family. They help children with challenges that they face. Gifted children often enter different developmental phases earlier than other children. They may need help with social skills or staying confident in their goals.
Some parents of gifted children may use counseling to help their children handle a difficult experience, like losing a family member, being bullied, or moving to a new town. Gifted children can sometimes seem like they don’t have any problems because they are usually more mature and wise than other kids their age. But even though they seem okay on the outside, they may still be struggling on the inside.
If you’re questioning whether or not to seek therapy for your gifted child, ask yourself these questions:

-Does my child struggle in any academic areas?
-Do I worry about how my child will handle being different?
-Do I feel like my child is too intense about certain things

You know your child best, so if you think that they might need counseling for other reasons, you should talk to a counselor. Some reasons why parents of gifted children might need counseling are listed above.

If you are not sure if you should be worried, you can watch how often the problem happens, how intense it is, and how long it lasts. This will help you decide if you need to see a counselor.

Should there be considerations for the Gifted

Some students may experience having their diagnosis missed or misdiagnosed because they are gifted and have advanced abilities or thinking that may not be related to psychological distress.

gifted children can feel they dont relate to their peers in Sarasota and Venice

That being said, it’s probable they’re hiding behind these masks yet another vulnerability that a skilled therapist or gifted child psychologist can uncover.

Exceptionally gifted students can be difficult to work with. They often have high expectations for themselves. Trying to develop a good relationship with someone who may be using the process to satisfy themselves will be difficult because they may see it as another opportunity to be praised for excellence, which would end therapy prematurely.

On the other hand, these children have high expectations of others. So as kids, they may become disinterested in the learning process if they don’t feel that their intelligence is being valued.

If going to see a therapist was framed as a family adventure, the negatives would be negated. But since being gifted is often seen as different from everyone else, seeking professional help isn’t the same as saying there is something wrong with you.

How Do I Select a Gifted Child Counselor or Therapist?

Gifted therapists or gifted child counselors will be able to offer a means for handling the emotional needs of gifted students. Nevertheless, you may also be asking yourself how to choose the right one for your child.

You may explore for a therapist, which might take several tries, so that no one gives up until they locate someone who is compatible with their family beliefs and fits within their financial and scheduling constraints.

If you are looking for help with your gifted child, here are some things to think about and questions to ask.

How does your child feel about this person? The initial bonding process may reveal a lot! Psychotherapy requires your child’s trust, so it will be impossible to gain their full participation without it. They need to feel that they will be respected and listened to when they choose to share their problems.
You may have a feeling that you shouldn’t work with a certain counselor. This could be because of who they are, how much experience they have, or how they think they can best help your family. You’ll need to consider all of these factors when making your decision.
Is the therapist familiar with gifted children? If not, is he or she willing to learn more? Unfortunately, most professionals don’t receive any training on gifted children, so you might need to provide a brief overview of what being gifted means. Selecting a school can be challenging, and it helps to know when you don’t need to investigate

If they reply with answers like “All children are gifted,” they haven’t had the opportunity to study and research different types of intelligence and creativity, which means they may not be a good candidate for the position.

On the other hand, if a school is willing to learn about giftedness and meet the needs of gifted children, it is likely that they will also take the time to get to know your child’s individual strengths and needs.

Davenport Psychology is Here to Help

Davenport Psychology has a long history of helping gifted children. From conducting intelligence and aptitude testing to assisting with anxiety and behavioral issues.

Sarasota FL & Venice FL psychologists can help your gifted child through therapy and counseling. If you have questions about how we can help your gifted child, contact us today 941-702-2457 for more information.

Watching Movies Can be What The Doctor Ordered

Movie therapy, often known as cinema therapy, is a therapy that involves watching a movie recommended by a doctor or therapist.

The mix of thematic elements—music, conversation, lighting, and images—can frequently elicit strong emotions in viewers, enabling both internal reflection and new perspectives on external events.

Movies can be used in individual therapy, group therapy, or family therapy, but they have been instrumental in couples counseling.

How Can Movie Therapy Help with Healing?

A film can elicit a wide range of emotions in its viewers. Who hasn’t left a movie theater crying, afraid, inspired, or otherwise moved? Movies can open a person’s eyes to new solutions to a variety of problems and give various therapeutic benefits in addition to amusement.

They may offer optimism, serve as role models, or reframe difficulties. Film characters can also be used to represent various challenges that individuals encounter. Viewing a movie in which a character achieves recovery from the same condition, for example, maybe both be inspirational and useful to a person confronting alcohol misuse in therapy.

Furthermore, movies can give a secure space for people to express their thoughts and feelings. Direct questioning from a therapist may be unsettling, particularly those who struggle with openly communicating their feelings.

Cinema in therapy can be a less intimidating way to discuss sentiments. It allows patients to explore worries indirectly by comparing them to those of the characters in the film. Some people may be more inclined to recognize the prevalence of specific issues in their relationships and personal lives when they first see them in a movie.

A person in an emotionally abusive relationship may be unaware that the relationship is abusive. Still, a fictional depiction of an abusive relationship may offer the person a better grasp of what constitutes abuse.

Benefits of Movie Therapy

Movies can help with a variety of mental health issues.

Improve your mood

If you suffer from an anxiety illness or depression or are anxious and bothered about work and family obligations, watching a movie could make you feel better.

According to a study, engaging in leisure activities such as viewing movies can improve mood and minimize symptoms of depression.

Relaxation

According to a study, pleasurable distractions and entertainment may give rest, relaxation, and renewing properties.

It may be more straightforward than it appears to find rest by watching a movie. It could be good to remove any needless distractions from the film.

If you have problems disconnecting from work or other daily pressures, consider keeping your phone and other devices in another room or setting them to “do not disturb” mode, so you’re only interrupted for essential concerns.

You may discover that you can engage your attention with the narrative you follow without distractions, making for a more relaxing experience.

A musical or romantic comedy, sometimes known as a rom-com, may be just what you need to unwind after a long day.

Motivation

Giving your mind a vacation from work to do something enjoyable may drive you to be more productive when you eventually return to work and help you avoid burnout symptoms.

If the film depicts someone successfully pursuing their dreams, it may inspire you to do the same. According to a study, it may also motivate you to start a new pastime or pursue a new goal.

Improve your relationships

If you’ve been feeling a disconnect with someone important to you, whether your love partner, closest friend or child, viewing movies together could be just what you need to rekindle your relationship.

It might be beneficial if you share similar tastes in movies and choose something new that you’re both excited to see.

Not only will you bond throughout the viewing experience, but you may also feel a renewed sense of closeness when you discuss what you saw afterward.

Reduce your tension

A good comedy can assist you in relieving stress. A 2016 study discovered that laughter could lower stress chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline in the body.

If you don’t want to laugh, watch a drama or a tearjerker. According to a 2020 study, crying may also lower cortisol levels in the blood.

Motivate social and cultural reflection

Watching films that deal with complex subjects could be a thought-provoking experience for you.

Whether you want to learn more about a current social topic or create a debate about an opposing viewpoint, watching films can help educate and enlighten you.

Conclusion

Engaging in activities that you enjoy can be helpful, such as viewing movies. It has the potential to improve your mental health, ease stress, and create relationships.

Nonetheless, movies are neither medication nor a cure for your mental health concerns. If you have symptoms such as anxiety, depression, burnout, among others interfering with your everyday life, a mental health expert may assist you.

They might be able to tell you whether movie therapy is a good fit for you and your lifestyle.

Career Stress and Burnout

People who cannot cope with working stress are at significant risk of burnout. Burnout may leave individuals exhausted and unable to cope with life’s obligations.

Burnout can result from a wide range of physical and mental issues. Burnout, if left untreated, can make it hard for a person to operate successfully in their everyday life.

What Exactly Is Burnout?

Burnout is a phrase coined in 1974 by Herbert Freudenberger in his book. He initially described burnout as “the loss of motivation or drive, particularly when one’s dedication to a relationship or cause fails to achieve the intended outcomes.”

Burnout is a reaction to long-term or chronic job stress that is characterized by three major dimensions:

Weariness
Cynicism (lack of affiliation with the job)
Emotions of diminished professional abilities

Burnout occurs when you are fatigued; begin to dislike your job and start feeling less capable at work.

The stress or anxiety that leads to burnout can be attributed to your work, but your whole lifestyle can also contribute to this stress. Personality qualities and cognitive patterns like perfectionism and pessimism can also play a role.

The majority of individuals spend the majority of their time at work. And if you despise your job, dread coming to work, and get no joy from what you do, it may have a significant impact on your life.

Signs and Symptoms

While burnout is not a diagnosable psychological condition, it is a case that would be handled seriously.

Outlined are some of the most prevalent symptoms of career stress and burnout:

Apathy toward work-related activities: Individuals suffering from burnout regard their professions as increasingly stressful and irritating. They may become cynical about their working environment and coworkers. They can also become emotionally detached from their work and numb to it.

Physical symptoms: Chronic stress can cause physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and digestive problems.

Emotional exhaustion: People burn out, feel drained, unable to cope, and tired. They frequently lack the energy to complete their tasks.

Reduced performance: Burnout primarily impacts day-to-day responsibilities at work—or home if one’s primary job entails caring for family members. Individuals suffering from burnout have a terrible attitude about tasks. They will have trouble concentrating and are frequently lacking in inventiveness.

It exhibits some of the same symptoms as mental health problems such as depression. Individuals suffering from depression have terrible sensations and thoughts about many parts of their lives, not just work.

Depression symptoms might include a loss of interest in activities, feelings of hopelessness, cognitive and bodily problems, and suicidal ideation.

The Risk Factors

Burnout is not usually the result of a high-stress job. If stress is adequately controlled, there may be no adverse consequences.

However, some people (and those in specific jobs) are at an enormous risk than others. According to the National Physician Depression, Burnout, and Suicide Report, 44% of physicians suffer burnout.

Individuals with specific personality traits and lifestyle factors are more likely to burn out due to their hefty workloads.

It’s not just health workers who are suffering from burnout. Individuals in every industry and at every level are at risk. Work Employee burnout has five significant reasons, according to a Gallup survey.

Unreasonable time constraints: Employees who report having enough time to complete their tasks are 70% less likely to have high burnout. Individuals who cannot get more time, such as firefighters and paramedics, are more likely to experience burnout.

Communication gap and assistance: Manager assistance provides a psychological barrier against stress. Employees who feel warmly supported by their manager are 70% less likely to burn out regularly.

Uncertainty about one’s role: Only 60% of employees understand what is expected. Employees may grow fatigued simply attempting to figure out what they are expected to be doing when goals are like moving targets.

The workload is unmanageable: Even the most enthusiastic employees will feel despondent when their task becomes unbearable. Overwhelming feelings can rapidly lead to burnout.

Unjust treatment: Employees who believe they are being unfairly treated at work are 2.3 times more likely to get burned out. Favoritism, unfair compensation, and abuse by a coworker are all examples of unfair treatment.

Prevention and Treatment

Although the term “burnout” implies a permanent state, it is not. If a person is feeling burned out, they may need to modify their work environment.

Approaching the human resources department or speaking with a supervisor about workplace difficulties may be beneficial if they develop a healthy work environment.

A change in role or a new job may be required in some circumstances to curb burnout. It can also be beneficial to develop specific strategies for dealing with stress.

Self-care practices such as eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and practicing healthy sleeping habits may help mitigate some of the impacts of high-stress work.

A vacation may also provide some reprieve, but a few days away from the office will not be enough to help you overcome burnout. Regularly scheduled work breaks and daily renewal activities can be pretty beneficial in combating burnout.

Professional help is needed if you’re feeling burnout and can’t figure out how to get out of it or if you suspect you have a mental health issue like depression or an anxiety disorder.

Having therapy or consultation with a mental health professional may be what you haven’t tried of late and can help you curb burnout.

Languishing, Try Behavioral Activation

Stress anxiety treatment in Sarasota and Venice, FL at Davenport Psychology

Behavioral Activation and Anxiety

growth and anxiety can help you feel better.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health problems in the United States, with around one-third of people reporting some form of anxiety.

When left untreated, anxiety can lead to many problems, including relationship issues, poor job performance, substance abuse, and more.

Luckily, some new research suggests that behavioral activation —a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)—may help people with anxiety find productive ways to manage their negative emotions and feel more in control of their lives.

Here’s what you need to know about behavioral activation and how it helps with anxiety.

What is Behavioral Activation?

Behavioral activation is a treatment for depression and anxiety that encourages patients to change their emotions. It is used as an alternative to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which often focuses on challenging negative or distorted thoughts through practice.

BA was developed by clinical psychologist Steven C. Hayes, who treats people with various conditions at his private practice. But, Hayes said, “we’re not just trying to think our way out of things; behavior matters.”

You have to act your way into new ways of thinking about yourself and feeling about yourself. This approach can be beneficial when someone has become trapped in destructive thought patterns and struggles with low self-esteem.

For example, one common scenario might involve someone avoiding interactions because they anticipate rejection. They aren’t able to get out of bed because they don’t want anyone judging them; they spend more time doing housework than engaging friends because it gives them something productive to do; and so on.

Behavioral Activation in Combating Anxiety

There are several theories on how to best approach anxiety. However, clinical treatment through counseling and medication may be required for those who suffer from a generalized, long-term anxiety disorder (like PTSD or GAD).

However, for people struggling with situational anxiety—that is, when they experience high levels of anxiety in a particular situation (for example, social situations, test-taking, flying)—it can be helpful to learn some effective coping strategies. This could include behavioral activation techniques to combat anxiety.

One strategy that can be helpful for those experiencing situational anxiety is behavioral activation. For example, many anxious people don’t want to leave their homes or interact with others because they think these situations will make them more anxious.

But in fact, there is some evidence to suggest that being around others and doing activities you enjoy may reduce your level of anxiety overall. There’s a lot of evidence that behavioral activation (BA) is an effective treatment for anxiety and depression therapy.

BA tries to help people identify activities that will make them feel happy and then suggests they do more of those things to combat their negative emotions. It seems like common sense: we all know that some activities can make us feel better when we’re down. So why not try to do more of those? That’s referred to as behavioral activation.

Creating an Anxiety Plan

How do you create an anxiety plan? First, start by figuring out what causes your anxiety. Is it a particular situation, place, or person? Once you’ve pinpointed what triggers your anxiety, you can start to create solutions.

While some people work more effectively under pressure, others have no choice but to prepare ahead of time. The key is to create a plan that works for you and gives you confidence.

The most important thing is to find something that helps reduce your fears and then stick with it! You should also seek support from family members or friends who love and care about you so they can encourage you along the way.

Changing Your Thoughts

Psychologists have recently discovered that one of the most powerful ways to overcome anxiety is simply changing your thoughts.

For example, if you constantly worry about an upcoming job interview, ask yourself: What’s the worst outcome for my interview? Perhaps not getting hired or getting hired and failing spectacularly? Most people realize that it’s far better to get hired and fail than not get hired at all.

Changing your thought patterns with the help of behavioral activation by using positive affirmations can help eliminate feelings of fear and anxiety—making it easier to face new situations and handle complex tasks.

Understanding Feelings

Psychologists typically divide feelings into two categories: emotions and moods. Emotions are intense feelings that can be defined, while moods are more subtle and longer-lasting. Feelings vary in intensity, frequency, and duration.

Feeling fearful one day does not necessarily mean you have clinical anxiety; most people will feel sad from time to time, but if these feelings don’t go away and start interfering with your work or relationships, it may be worth talking to a psychologist about treatment options.

In addition to medication, psychologists offer cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders—the gold standard of treatment—and other therapies such as hypnosis, counseling, and mindfulness.

Ending Bad Habits

get therapy for stress at davenport psychology

We all have bad habits we would be happy to break. And we all have ways we beat ourselves up when they start to creep back in. One approach that can help you stop negative habits or start positive ones is behavioral activation (BA).

It is an evidence-based treatment method that focuses on changing behaviors and situations linked to depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions.

It identifies what triggers your discomfort or symptoms turning those triggers into motivators for good behavior…instead of excuses for avoiding bad behavior. In other words, figuring out what makes you feel better and then doing more of it.

Wrap up

Anxiety isn’t something that can be cured, per se. But by identifying and targeting triggers, as well as practicing mindfulness and other skills (more on these in a bit), you can ease your stress levels and get back to enjoying life.

It won’t happen overnight, but it can—and will—happen. Behavioral activation can help especially combined with treatment through talking therapies or alternative treatments like acupuncture or yoga, which can help people with anxiety feel calmer and happier in their daily lives.

Stress and Your Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic may have caused numerous changes in your life, including uncertainty, disrupted daily routines, financial stress, and social isolation.

You may be concerned about being ill, how long the pandemic will endure, whether your career will be impacted, and what the future holds. Unfortunately, rumors and disinformation can make your life feel out of control and leave you unsure of what to do.

You may suffer tension, worry, fear, despair, and loneliness during the COVID-19 epidemic. And mental health conditions, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, can deteriorate.

Surveys show a significant rise in the number of U.S. people reporting stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia during the epidemic compared to surveys before the pandemic.

Some people have increased their usage of alcohol or drugs to believe that it will help them cope with their pandemic anxieties. But, these substances can exacerbate anxiety and despair.

People with drug use problems, particularly those addicted to nicotine or opioids, are more likely to have negative consequences if given COVID-19.

These addictions can impair lung function and weaken the immune system, resulting in chronic illnesses such as heart disease and lung disease, which raise the chance of catastrophic COVID-19 consequences.

For all of these reasons, it’s critical to learn self-care techniques and get the care you need to cope with stress, depression, and anxiety.

Stress Self-care Techniques

Self-care practices are beneficial to both your emotional and physical health, and they can assist you in taking control of your life. Take care of your body and mind and connect with people to improve your mental health.

1. Take Good Care Of Your Physique

Take care of your physical health:

Get plenty of rest. Every day, go to bed and get up at the same time. Even if you’re staying at home, stick to your regular sleep-wake routine.
Engage in regular physical activity. Physical activity and exercise regularly can help reduce anxiety and enhance mood. Find a movement-based activity, such as dance or fitness applications. Take a walk outside, such as on a nature trail or in your backyard.
Maintain a well-balanced diet and limit your intake of junk food and refined sugar. Caffeine should be consumed in moderation to exacerbate tension, anxiety, and sleep problems.
Unwind and recharge. Make time for yourself. Even a few minutes of quiet time can be rejuvenating and beneficial in calming your thoughts and reducing stress. Deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, mindfulness, and meditation are beneficial practices for many people.

2. Take Good Care Of Your Mind

Concentrate on pleasant thoughts: Instead of obsessing on how horrible you feel, choose to focus on the good things in your life. Also, consider beginning each day by making a list of things you are grateful for overcoming. You should also keep a positive attitude, work to accept changes as they come, and keep concerns in perspective.

Limit your exposure to the news media: Constant coverage of COVID-19, in all forms of media, can make us more anxious. You can decrease your exposure to rumors and misleading information by limiting your use of social media. Limiting your reading, hearing, and seeing news, while staying up to date on national and local suggestions.

Seek help from your moral compass or spiritual life: When you draw strength from your belief system, it can provide you with comfort during complex and uncertain circumstances.

Establish priorities: Don’t get overwhelmed by making a life-changing list of things to accomplish while you’re at home. Instead, each day, set acceptable goals for yourself and detail the activities you will take to achieve those goals. Give yourself credit for every modest move in the right direction. Also, accept that some days will be better than others.

3. Make Good Relationship with People

Avoid social isolation if you work from home or need to distance yourself from others for a long time owing to COVID-19. Instead, make time to communicate virtually via email, SMS, phone, or video chat each day.

Ask your coworkers how they’re doing and offer coping strategies if you work from home. Finally, enjoy virtual mingling and communicating with individuals in your own house.

Recognize What Is Normal and What Is Not

Stress is a normal psychological and physiological response to life’s challenges. Everyone reacts differently to adversity, and it’s natural to feel stressed and worried during a crisis. However, various problems, such as the consequences of the COVID-19 epidemic, can overwhelm you.

Many people may experience mental health issues during this time, including anxiety and depression symptoms. And emotions might shift over time.

Regardless of your efforts, you may feel helpless, unhappy, angry, impatient, despairing, nervous, or terrified. You may experience difficulties concentrating on ordinary tasks, changes in appetite, bodily aches, and pains, or difficulty sleeping, or you may struggle to complete routine duties.

When these signs and symptoms linger for several days in a row, make you unhappy, and cause problems in your everyday life to the point where you find it challenging to carry out usual responsibilities, it’s time to seek medical attention.

Seek Psychological Help

Hoping that mental health issues like stress or depression would go away on their own might worsen it. If you have concerns or your mental health symptoms worsen, seek help when you need it and be honest about how you’re feeling.

We’re here to help. Davenport Psychology has one of the finest Licensed Psychologist Florida & Marriage Counselors in Sarasota, Florida.

Our doctors, Dr. Charles R. Davenport and Dr. Swapnil Gohil have helped many patients from all walks of life beat mental stress and depression – and they would love to help you do the same. You can visit our office today if you reside in Florida for the best psychological services.

Christian Counseling

The word counsel appears a hundred and thirty-three times throughout the Bible. One Bible verse than rings true in my heart comes from Proverbs 13:10,

“By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.”

Psychologist- Swapnil Gohil, Psy.D. Provisional Psychologist Licensee

By: Swapnil Gohil, Psy.D., Provisional Psychologist Licensee- Both the word of God and counseling try to meet individuals where they are spiritually, biologically, psychologically, and sociologically. Before one engages with Christian Integration therapy, one must understand that it is not a competition of thought between these two domains. God has provided science and the knowledge of this world as a tool for us to utilize. The relationship between spiritual integration and psychology is more of dance. During certain moments science will take a lead in explaining our cognitive schemas. However, at other times Christian foundational truths will take the lead in justifying these scientifical resources to apply them to our individual lives. This can be seen in such evidenced based practices as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT educates us to challenge negative thoughts to create a new understanding or appraisal of a current event. Christian Integration uses this same process. In Christian Integration the individual utilizes the word of God to challenge a negative thought to create a new understanding of the event or oneself.

Cross for Christian counseling in Sarasota and Venice FL.

More and more clients are seeking counselors who can honor their faith. This dynamic is not about religious preference and more about respect for what the client considers to be sacred. Interesting enough there are clients who enter therapy and are apprehensive about Christian Integration. It is interesting we take medical advice or direction from a doctor, but question this same process in the therapeutic room. If a medical professional advised us to take medication to address a certain illness we do not think twice to adhere to this sound counsel. Yet we are apprehensive or we may even consider it taboo to see a counselor when we are suffering from depression or anxiety. The important relationship one must attempt to understand is that medicinal services are given as tool to utilize in the presence of sickness. We see in Isaiah 38:21,

“Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”

Similarly, psychological services are of the same nature. The individual diagnosed with an illness and the individual diagnosed with depression both require prayer and professional support. Just as medical provider and or mental health provider take in cultural understandings to disseminate treatment, Christian Integration assimilates scientific date into spiritual understandings. It is a relationship that can be classified as a dance of love, forgiveness, understanding, and hope to provide healing.

Christian integration psychotherapy has been proven to be as effective or even more effective than secular formats of psychotherapy for certain populations (Pearce et al.; 2015).

Cross of hope for Christian counseling with Psychologists.

The goal of religious or spiritual psychotherapy is to build upon the current foundational understanding of the patient’s Christian perspective. Thus, allowing the individual to identify and replace their negative thought cycle. Furthermore, Christian integration allows the individual to challenge their negative beliefs based on their current spiritual understanding. This approach facilitates an environment that emphasizes religious beliefs and practices that can be used to reduce depressive or negative symptoms and facilitate positive emotions.

Some of the major tools of Christian Integration Counseling include scripture memorization to renew one’s mind, contemplative prayer, challenging thoughts using religious teachings, engaging in religious practices (e.g., gratitude, altruism, forgiveness), and involvement in a religious community.

At Davenport Psychology, Dr. Swapnil Gohil has received his doctoral training from the private Christian university known as Regent University. He has received several years of training in Christian Integration and utilized this evidenced based practice in marriage counseling, substance use disorders, and mood disorders. At Davenport Psychology it is the utmost important to us to provide care to our patients taking into consideration their biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual perspectives. Please do contact us to hear more about Christian Integration Counseling and helping us help you for a better tomorrow.

Pearce, M. J., Koenig, H. G., Robins, C. J., Nelson, B., Shaw, S. F., Cohen, H. J., & King, M. B. (2015). Religiously integrated cognitive behavioral therapy: a new method of treatment for major depression in patients with chronic medical illness. Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.), 52(1), 56–66.

Category: Stress management therapy