Alissa Holmes (she/her)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

I have undergone multiple trainings in ACT, which incorporates many principles of CBT as well as mindfulness-based techniques. In ACT, we use acceptance and mindfulness techniques in combination with behavioral changes to help you live a meaningful life based on your personal values. ACT skills are designed to increase your psychological flexibility - meaning you become better able to deal with change while living fully in the present moment.

Mindfulness-based

Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention to your experiences with openness and curiosity. Both formal and informal mindfulness practices help you hone this ability of shifting your attention and awareness to the here-and-now. Practicing mindfulness helps us access our wisest, inner selves, even when life is full of difficulties.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative approach where we work together to explore your motivations for change. It is normal to feel ambivalent and uncertain about making a change in your life, even if you think it will ultimately benefit you. Together, we can develop an action plan for change that works for you and builds on your existing strengths.

Drug Dependence / Abuse / Addiction

I have worked extensively with people struggling with addiction in both outpatient and inpatient settings. I take a harm reduction approach and use motivational interviewing to help cultivate a change mindset, whether the goal is to reduce/modify one's use or to obtain total abstinence. Both goals are valid, and I offer a non-judgemental space to explore how substances may be impacting your life.

Anxiety

Anxiety and anxiety disorders can easily overwhelm us and steal our joy from our day-to-day lives. While we can rarely make our anxiety disappear entirely, there are effective ways to quiet and calm our minds and our hearts so we can focus on the things that matter most.

Depression

Depression can present itself in many ways, and often hand-in-hand with anxiety. Depression can make it difficult to connect with your values and your sense of who you are. In therapy we can learn to manage symptoms of depression, identify and deal with our triggers, and regain a sense of balance and purpose in life.