Individuals, couples, and families seek help for a variety of reasons. Some examples include:
- Anxiety/worry
- Excessive stress
- Depression, sadness, or loss of motivation
- Feeling “numb” or disconnected
- Mood swings or difficulty regulating emotions
- Loneliness or isolation
- Divorce, separation, or relationship changes
- Career stress, job loss, or workplace burnout
- Moving, retirement, or adjusting to new roles
- Academic or performance-related pressures
- Major life decisions or feeling “stuck”
- Conflict with a partner, family, or friends
- Difficulty setting healthy boundaries
- Struggles with communication
- Codependency or patterns of unhealthy relationships
- Death of a loved one
- Miscarriage, infertility, or postpartum depression
- Loss of health, mobility, or independence
- Anticipatory grief (coping with illness of self or others)
- Childhood neglect or abuse
- Sexual assault or harassment
- Domestic violence or toxic relationships
- PTSD or traumatic stress after an event (accident, disaster, etc.)
- Low self-esteem or self-confidence
- Spirituality/Faith exploration/issues
- Identity exploration (cultural, gender, sexual, spiritual, etc.)
- Feeling “lost” or searching for meaning
- Personal growth and self-improvement
- Stress management techniques
- Anger management skills
- Improving communication and assertiveness
- Developing resilience and emotional balance
- Building stronger coping skills
- Chronic illness or pain management
- Sleep problems
- Substance use concerns or unhealthy coping habits
- Eating and body image concerns
Primary treatment modalities used in therapy through Appalachian Integrative Psychology include:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a structured, evidence-based approach that combines acceptance
and change strategies to help individuals manage overwhelming emotions, build healthy
relationships, and reduce impulsive or self-destructive behaviors. Originally developed for
borderline personality disorder, DBT has since been adapted for a wide range of mental health
concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotion dysregulation.
DBT incorporates mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal
effectiveness skills into treatment. In therapy, clients learn to understand their emotional
experiences and develop tools to cope more effectively. DBT can be provided individually or in
combination with skills groups and is particularly helpful for individuals who experience intense
emotional responses or difficulties with self-control.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a goal-oriented, strengths-based approach that focuses on
what is going well and how to build more of it. Instead of analyzing problems in depth, SFBT
helps clients identify practical steps and small changes that lead to their desired outcomes. It is
especially useful for clients seeking efficient, results-focused support and works well in both
short-term and long-term treatment settings.
SFBT assumes that clients already have the inner resources to create change. Through purposeful
conversations, the therapist helps clients clarify their goals, identify past successes, and build on
what's already working. This modality can be particularly effective for life transitions,
relationship issues, or when time-limited support is needed.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most widely used and researched therapeutic
approaches. It focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. CBT helps
individuals recognize unhelpful thinking patterns and develop more balanced, realistic
perspectives—leading to healthier emotional responses and behaviors.
CBT is a structured, skills-based treatment that is effective for a variety of concerns including
anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and more. It emphasizes practical strategies like thought-
challenging, behavioral activation, and coping skills that clients can use both during and after
therapy. With its clear structure and goal-oriented focus, CBT offers clients the tools they need to
make lasting, meaningful change in their daily lives.
Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, client-centered approach designed to help
individuals strengthen their own motivation for change. Rather than directing or persuading, the
therapist guides clients to explore their personal values, resolve ambivalence, and build
confidence in their ability to make meaningful life changes. This gentle yet effective method is
especially helpful for those feeling stuck or uncertain about making changes related to health,
behavior, or lifestyle.
At its core, MI honors each person's autonomy and expertise in their own life. The process
supports clients in discovering their own reasons for change and moving at a pace that feels right
for them. It is commonly used to address concerns like substance use, health behaviors, and
treatment engagement, and it can be adapted for use with individuals and families.