John Robison PhD, LCSW

Relationships are central to our happiness. I work with clients on all their relationships and how they are interconnected. We work on communication of all types, because relationship=communication. We look at childhood influences, identifying trauma, working through trauma, changing relationship dynamics and the many tools we have to initiate changes.

Depression is complex and different for every person. I work with clients on the interconnections between their ABCDS: A=Affect (emotions, feelings) B=Body (sensations, health) C=Cognitions (thoughts, beliefs, memories, words, imagination) D=Doing (actions, behaviors) S=Social (how what we are doing is connecting or disconnecting us with others) I find that most clients have suffered trauma so we work on that, often with EMDR.

Anxiety is complex and different for every person. Usually there are strong physiological components. Unresolved trauma that is somaticized is also common. There are many skills and tools that can be developed to lessen and heal anxiety. Work on relationships is key. Mindfulness is a very useful approach that I facilitate with clients.

I pull from many therapies based on what the client needs in each stage of our work together. Most issues in someone's life are interconnected and different approaches are helpful and effective and resonate with a client as they grow and progress. Therapies we might use include psychodynamic, family systems, communications, CBT, DBT, EMDR, mindfulness, energy psychology, relationship work and Internal Family Systems.

This is a rich and practical therapy that encourages small behavioral changes and practices that are holistic and integrated with one's sense of spirituality and connection to nature and the universe. It opens up the wisdom of thousands of years of thinkers, poets, philosophers and spiritual leaders, but well connected to modern Western psychological theory and therapies.

EMDR is a therapy for trauma that is integrated within the broader therapeutic relationship and other psychotherapies. It is integrated with body sensations, memories, thoughts, beliefs and emotions. Most clients find it very helpful, especially for more acute traumas. It is very effective in remote/telework.