Christopher Schadt (he/him)

I have extensive experience providing both structured (i.e., cognitive-behavioral) and unstructured treatments for insomnia as well as insomnia's frequent co-morbid conditions, such as PTSD, anxiety, chronic pain, etc. Treatment of insomnia can focus specifically on sleep-related symptoms, or can take a more comprehensive approach, including addressing underlying factors and related issues.

I have broad and extensive history of working with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder across a variety of setting, patient populations and treatment approaches. Traumatic events which I have helped patients address include: military combat trauma, sexual trauma, childhood abuse and moral injury, among others. My approach is integrative, drawing from psychodynamic, behavioral/exposure-based and mindfulness based interventions with a strong focus on interpersonal aspects of trauma.

I have significant experience treating depression and do so with an understanding of depressed mood as a response to an underlying problem. Together, we will work to understand how self-image, important relationship, situational circumstances, psychosocial stressors and/or formative life events can result in feeling depressed. Treatment includes a collaborative approach of addressing underlying events and targeting day-to-day symptoms for both immediate and long-term relief.

Throughout my graduate training and across many different clinical settings I have practiced and gained experience in providing psychodynamic psychotherapy. Commonly misunderstood as a treatment approach that only focuses on the past and early life-experiences, psychodynamic therapy seeks to work through the past in order to more fully understand and live more fully within the present.

Rooted in nearly a century of research, Attachment Theory provides one of the most robust, comprehensive and well-validated frameworks for understanding our relationships as children and as adults. Also housed within the family of psychodynamic psychotherapies, I have spent years practicing from an attachment focus and have completed research in this area. Therapy involving a focus on attachment can help a client understand improve many interpersonally related problems and symptoms.

Within the family of psychodynamic psychotherapies, another main area of focus of my training and career has been in AEDP, a relatively more targeted, time-sensitive and interpersonally focused treatment. AEDP addresses one of the main concerns of traditional psychoanalytic/psychodynamic therapies, which is that of time and overall length of treatment, while providing a depth-oriented approach to a specific area of distress, interpersonal problems or set of symptoms.

I have a diverse and extensive history of helping clients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, including those who have experienced childhood abuse and neglect, sexual trauma, domestic violence and military combat trauma. Psychotherapy provides a safe place to work through one's history of trauma, develop the capacity to face and feel painful emotions and learn to cope with everyday symptoms.

Through my experience in working with insomnia, I have gained experience with both structured (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) and unstructured approaches, as well as treating insomnia's many co-morbid problems, such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain/chronic illness and PTSD.

Through my experience of helping clients with depression over the years I have developed a depth-oriented approach with seeks to understand depression as a reaction to an underlying stressor or problem. Together, we will work to understand relevant contributing factor(s), such as societal/systemic pressures, trauma, relationship problems, self-esteem, etc. to understand the root of depression, in addition to improving coping and setting concrete, measurable goals.