Treatment Approaches
& Clinical Specialties

  • Expert Psychotherapy uses evidence-based “Behavioral Treatments.” The aim is changing an individual’s Behaviors and Mindset to improve one’s functioning and quality of life. Dr. Ed matches specific treatment interventions to your unique life circumstances. He draws on his deep clinical experience in a wide range of evidence-based treatments.

    • CBT—Cognitive Behavior Therapy

    • Behavioral Activation

    • Mindfulness-based Interventions

    • ACT—Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

  • Behavior change is the foundation for successful treatment. Any major life transformation requires behavior change. Instead of waiting to feel better to do things, the approach is DO SOMETHING TO FEEL BETTER. The guiding principle is:

    • Action precedes motivation

  • Serious mental health conditions hit people hard with disruptions in daily routines and challenges with motivation. Priority issues to address:

    • Sleep disturbance

    • Lack of daily structure

    • Challenges maintaining a healthy lifestyle

    • Distraction and Avoidance

    • Low productivity at work or school

  • Values guide your life priorities and are often forgotten or put to the side as you struggle with serious mental health issues. We work to get you back in touch with your values, reminding you of what’s important and meaningful in your daily life. You will be more motivated to change behaviors and habits when they are consistent with your values.

  • You cannot change everything all at once as much as you wish you could. The treatment is focused on enduring behavior change and resilience.

    • Start by building your foundation

    • Take small steps to maximize your likelihood of success

    • Gain confidence and greater sense of control

    • Live by your values day to day

Clinical Specialties

Expert Psychotherapy helps you change your behavior and mindset to improve your mental health and resilience

Treatment-Resistant Depression
-TRD-

If you have TRD, you are suffering. Maybe some good days or weeks, but few and far between. Sleep problems. Not feeling motivated. Life enjoyment is minimal. Even when you have energy and some motivation, things feel flat and unsatisfying.

Treatment hasn’t been effective
TRD is technically defined as having multiple medication trials and not feeling the positive therapeutic effect: a lack of mood lift from the meds. Psychotherapy has been mixed at best. One, two, or three+ therapists without the desired results. It’s time to get more creative with treatment.

Expert Psychotherapy helps you make a fresh start to live life on your terms. It’s about taking action to feel better and function better. Behavior change is your North Star for effective treatment and meaningful life change.

Anxiety
Severe & Debilitating

On edge, constant worry. Panic attacks, possibly. Avoidance to manage your anxiety. It’s a vicious cycle. Stuck in place. It’s hard to feel safe enough to get mobilized.

Avoidance and not living a meaningful life
When living with severe anxiety, it’s important to emphasize how avoidance can play a central role in life—whether you realize it or not. You make decisions to avoid anxiety-provoking situations so you can feel in control. Unfortunately, this results in making your world smaller and more isolated.

Anxiety & Depression
Often, the anxiety is in combination with depression, compounding your distress.

Expert Psychotherapy helps you find ways to feel safe enough to hit the reset button and start on a new path toward a meaningful life.

Young Adults with
Serious Mental Health Problems

First Break Bipolar Disorder and/or a psychotic disorder are devastating for young adults. They are faced with monumental challenges to get their lives on track.

Resistance to treatment
One of the hardest steps is getting the client to actually show up and engage in treatment. It’s often the case that parents are seeking treatment for their young adult son or daughter, and there is tension and resistance to medication and/or therapy.

Expert Psychotherapy involves creating a safe-enough space for clients that they can engage in therapy to to build their life, step by step. Each requires supporting and helping clients manage their fear, anxiety, and grief associated with their condition.

Family Support. Treatment often involves parents who also need support, education, and guidance through this difficult and painful process.

Care Coordination. Expert psychotherapy includes care coordination with the psychiatrist or medical provider prescribing medication.

Additional
Clinical Specialities

  • Dual Diagnosis: Mood/Anxiety & Alcohol/Drug Problems

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Chronic Conditions: Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety

  • Managing Major Life Crises and Life Transitions

  • Family Education and Support

  • Behavioral Treatments for Medical Conditions:

    • Migraine and Cancer

The origins of Dr. Ed’s Expert Psychotherapy

We served over 10,000 patients under my leadership in the nationally recognized Behavioral Health Partial Hospital / Intensive Outpatient Program (for Mood & Anxiety Disorders and Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders) at McLean Hospital, the US News top-rated psychiatric hospital in the Harvard Medical School system.

Our specialty was treating patients with complex, hard-to-treat conditions who needed something different than what they were getting in conventional psychotherapy. I led the effort to develop Flexible CBT, which adapts evidence-based behavioral treatments to match the needs of individuals in their unique life circumstances. It requires being true to the principles of evidence-based behavioral treatment approaches, AND being creative with empathy to meet patients where they are—this jump-starts their journey toward a more meaningful and productive life.