Approach to therapy

Approach to Therapy

Dr. Rosenquist uses the cognitive-behavioral approach to psychotherapy. Research has shown that emotions come from thoughts. Cognitive-behavioral therapy targets automatic, habitual ways of thinking to change unhealthy emotions and undesirable behavioral patterns. Research has shown that nearly all of human behavior is learned. Cognitive-behavioral approaches are very effective in helping people unlearn behaviors that don’t serve them well anymore and to learn new skills that are more effective instead. The mind/body connection emerges when we realize that thoughts and feelings occur in the body as neurotransmitters, and neurotransmitters influence disease and health.

Research has also shown that positive, loving relationships are very important to health and wellbeing. Sociologists have recently developed new research methods that map relationships in such a way that they can show how people influence one another. This new research shows that things like happiness and health, even quitting smoking and losing weight are highly “contagious” in the sense that people pick up on the emotions and behaviors of others and without even realizing it are influenced in powerful ways. We all both elicit and react to others so understanding how thoughts and emotions contribute to what we give and receive from our most important relationships is another very important target in therapy. Each of various elements contributes to the whole and interacts with the others in determining emotions and choices--the targets of therapeutic intervention.