3 JanUnderstanding Evidence-Based Therapy Approaches by Dr. Konstantin Lukin, Ph.D. You probably hear a lot about finding the right therapist. But you don’t often hear about finding the right type of therapy. Therefore, it is sometimes helpful to take a look at the different types of therapies (or the millions of abbreviations you’ll see floating around, to try and understand what you might benefit most from. To put it simply, there are generally (very generally) two theoretical orientations (aka approaches based on scientific theory) that most therapists operate from. These are psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Psychodynamic therapy generally focuses on creating a strong therapeutic alliance and generating insight about one’s issues by analyzing a number of things like early childhood relationships and defense mechanisms. Cognitive behavioral therapy (which is an umbrella term) focuses on examining the relationships between one’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions. CBT focuses on increasing one’s awareness for these facets of our lives, and learning skills, coping strategies and techniques to intervene in any of these areas. In general, there is more research to support the use of cognitive behavioral therapies, but this is by no means a guarantee that it will “work” for you. Both schools of thought focus on creating a warm, supportive relationship between client and therapist, but the work done in therapy can look very different. Using treatments that have been tried and tested gives patients the best shot at their best possible outcome. Here are three unique types of therapy that all fall under the umbrella term of cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT and/or evidence based treatments. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) ACT focuses on accepting emotional experiences at they are, as well as committing to making behavioral changes that can improve upon symptoms, and one’s life in general. This treatment focuses on psychological flexibility, being present in the moment, and behaving in a way that is consistent with your values. ACT focuses on the idea that difficult emotions are inevitable, but that action to improve our lives is also possible. Read the Full Article on Psychology Today Author Dr. Konstantin Lukin, Ph.D. Dr. Konstantin Lukin is a psychologist, author, speaker, and researcher specializing in men’s issues, couple’s counseling, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He is the Director and Co-Founder of the Lukin Center, northern New Jersey’s premiere evidence-based psychotherapy practice. The Lukin Center emphasizes evidence-based treatments such as emotion-focused therapy for couples, and cognitive and dialectical behavioral therapies for children, adolescents, and adults. Since its inception, the Lukin Center has grown to include testing and assessment as well as medication management services. As a therapist, Dr. Lukin focuses on providing support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. He integrates complementary modalities and techniques – including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), schema-focused therapy, and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) – to offer a personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, he works with his clients to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth to which they are committed. Dr. Lukin has extensive experience in private practice, conducting outpatient therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. He also has extensive clinical and research experience with people of all ages and their families, including those diagnosed as severely and persistently mentally ill, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He has co-led groups for children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with OCD in an outpatient setting. He is trained and experienced in administering a variety of psychological test batteries including neuropsychological, cognitive, and personality assessments, and he has conducted diagnostic and intake interviews and prepared evaluation reports. Dr. Lukin is a graduate of the Honors College at SUNY at Stony Brook, and earned his doctorate from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
