We all know how hard it is to change. We cling to the familiar, even when it is no longer working for us. Many of us know what we are supposed to do differently in order to feel better, but we struggle to take those action steps on our own. That’s why it is important to see a therapist who provides both co-regulation and tools for change.
What is co-regulation? Modern neuroscience has shown us that our nervous system contains mirror neurons that mirror the state of “the other.” This means that when we are feeling stressed, spending time with someone who is calm, present, and attentive can help us to feel grounded. This is called co-regulation, and achieving it in a therapeutic setting is a crucial first step to make us feel comfortable and safe, even in the face of anxiety or distress.
However, for many challenges, it takes much more than a kind, supportive ear to bring about action. Over the years, many clients have come to NJCCBT reporting that when they sought therapy in the past, their previous therapist was “nice to talk to, but nothing was different afterwards.” Often, they have felt understood, but did not learn how to make or sustain real behavior change. This is what makes us unique at NJCCBT: we only hire clinicians experienced in providing evidence-based treatments that work. Whether they are providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, or Interpersonal Psychotherapy, they will help you get “unstuck” from the patterns that aren’t working anymore and take those tentative, often scary, first steps towards growth. We tailor what we know works for the particular problem area (such as anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, eating issues) to your unique needs, taking into account what you have already tried, what progress you have made, and where you have gotten stuck.
This means that you will notice the difference between your very first session, when you are given some tools to try right away, and your last session, when you leave with not only reduced symptoms, but with more resilience and confidence to cope with whatever challenges come your way. Over the course of treatment, your clinician will empower you to essentially “become your own therapist,” taking the skills you learned and applying them in your daily life. To that end, we help create relapse prevention plans to map out how you will keep your symptoms from recurring long after therapy has ended.
We also utilize whatever supports are already in place, ensuring that loved ones and trusted treatment providers all collaborate effectively to best facilitate your work towards change. If further supports are required—such as a psychiatrist, nutritionist, integrative doctor, executive functioning coach, or intensive outpatient program—we can guide you in developing this coordinated care team, which will better help you achieve and maintain change over the long term.