I n addition to cognitive therapy, I use a variety of specialized treatment methods, according to the needs of clients. Debriefing traumatic incidents Practical problem solving Cultivating serenity about problems unlikely to change Reviewing painful childhood experience Anxiety management training Systematic desensitization of phobias Pain management and habit control with self-hypnosis T here are a few treatment methods I DON'T use. I generally avoid psychoanalytic methods involving detailed recollection of early childhood events. I do not emphasize treatment methods that require many months or years, in order to produce ill-defined benefits. M ost health insurance companies require me to keep treatment as brief as possible, and they limit benefits accordingly.
Most clients prefer to solve their problems as quickly as possible.
Accordingly, I try to use treatment time efficiently, and I favor brief treatment methods when possible. However, not all people can be helped by brief methods, and some insurance companies have unrealistically limited treatment benefits. I always keep in mind that my primary duty is to the client, not to the insurance company.