My goal as a clinical psychologist is to help you choose meaningful directions in your life,
leading to your engagement in valued actions. While treatment will help you in learning new
strategies for managing problems, the main focus will be on making workable choices that
result in your being able to say, "I am living a better life."
leading to your engagement in valued actions. While treatment will help you in learning new
strategies for managing problems, the main focus will be on making workable choices that
result in your being able to say, "I am living a better life."
| Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies |
Clinical Psychologist
Sandra J Kearns, PhD
CA License: PSY20202
Sandra J Kearns, PhD
CA License: PSY20202
| 20101 SW Birch St, 130B, Newport Beach, CA 92660 949-910-8213 |
| All rights reserved. 2009 |
Clinical Psychologist
Sandra J Kearns, PhD
CA License: PSY20202
Sandra J Kearns, PhD
CA License: PSY20202
 |  |  |  |  |
The therapeutic approaches I use are encompassed within the broad framework of
behavioral and cognitive therapies (see ABCT). I begin with the assumption that an
individual's history and current situation (i.e., one's unique context) influence personal
choices. Generally when a problem arises, an individual can utilize past experiences or
current knowledge to deal with it effectively. However, there are times when troublesome
feelings, thoughts, and/or behaviors are so overwhelming that professional services are
needed in order to alter the context and effect personal change.
What does the process of personal change look like? Although all treatment is individualized
for each person, a few general examples can be given. Behavioral change might entail
increasing the number of activities that you engage in on a daily basis as a way of
decreasing depressive feelings. When experiencing anxiety, relief is often realized by
choosing to adopt new responses when facing fears. Cognitive change can involve learning
more flexible ways of thinking, so when faced with a stressful situation, you will be more
adept at evaluating it and choosing among alternatives.
Many models of behavioral and cognitive change have been proposed and examined in
research studies. Below are three research-based approaches that I generally use during
treatment. Go to Therapies for detailed descriptions.
ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
IBCT: Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy
behavioral and cognitive therapies (see ABCT). I begin with the assumption that an
individual's history and current situation (i.e., one's unique context) influence personal
choices. Generally when a problem arises, an individual can utilize past experiences or
current knowledge to deal with it effectively. However, there are times when troublesome
feelings, thoughts, and/or behaviors are so overwhelming that professional services are
needed in order to alter the context and effect personal change.
What does the process of personal change look like? Although all treatment is individualized
for each person, a few general examples can be given. Behavioral change might entail
increasing the number of activities that you engage in on a daily basis as a way of
decreasing depressive feelings. When experiencing anxiety, relief is often realized by
choosing to adopt new responses when facing fears. Cognitive change can involve learning
more flexible ways of thinking, so when faced with a stressful situation, you will be more
adept at evaluating it and choosing among alternatives.
Many models of behavioral and cognitive change have been proposed and examined in
research studies. Below are three research-based approaches that I generally use during
treatment. Go to Therapies for detailed descriptions.
ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy
IBCT: Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy
| Psychological Treatment to Reclaim Your Life Serving Adults and Couples in Orange County California |
| The What and How of My Psychological Treatment |
Please go to my other website for information on my services for older adults: www.PsychAfter50.com