Jenna J. Torres

Hi,

Thank you for your question. There are many forms of psychotherapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic Therapy, Humanistic/Existential Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFST), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness
Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavior Modification, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution Focused Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, Strategic Family Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Positive Parenting Program (PPP), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Play/Art Therapy.
I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Yes, psychotherapy can help with a breakup. Breakups are hard and can result in depression, loneliness, distress, anger, betrayal, detachment, trust issues, and loss of sense of self. If you are experiencing these symptoms, it might be helpful to talk to a therapist about it. A therapist will be able to help you identify and implement coping skills that will work for you to decrease emotional turbulence and improve your confidence, energy, happiness, wisdom and insight, and help you to feel empowered and optimistic.

Hi,

Thank you for your question. To help with social anxiety, it is important to understand what social anxiety is. Someone with social anxiety has fear about one or more social situations in which others will scrutinize them and fear that acting in a certain way or appearing anxious will lead to being negatively evaluated. Social situations almost always provoke anxiety or fear, which are avoided or endured with dread, and the anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the situation. A person with social anxiety will make negative predictions about what the experience will be like in a social situation and maintain core beliefs about themself that get in the way of successfully managing social situations. They will monitor their own
emotional, physical, and behavioral signs of anxiety to try to avoid showing anxiety, which actually makes their symptoms intensify. They assume other people notice, too, and judge them negatively without paying attention to those around them, so they can't collect data to disconfirm their assumptions such as positive or neutral facial expressions.

A short-term and highly effective treatment for social anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT explores and helps to resolve negative automatic thoughts and underlying core beliefs about the self, other people, and the world using structured activities and specific interventions. CBT also involves behavioral activation and development of new coping skills. CBT has been found to be one of the most effective treatments for social anxiety. CBT will help you to practice emotional acceptance of anxiety, restructure negative core beliefs by gathering
evidence to the contrary, train yourself to focus on external cues rather than internal sensations to interpret your performance more accurately, and develop more adaptive ways to evaluate your performance to reduce post-event processing. A CBT therapist will also likely develop an exposure hierarchy of feared situations and help you prevent social anxiety responses by starting with the lowest level and working up to the most feared social situation.
I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Yes, a person can definitely go to therapy for stress. There are a lot of stress management strategies that you can try with your therapist, including deep diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness and meditation, and other coping strategies such as journaling, reading, drawing or other forms of artistic expression, listening to music, exercise or going for a walk, petting your dog, reaching out for support from a trusted friend or family member, etc. I would also recommend seeking professional help through therapy to explore other ways of dealing with stress that you can try.

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. There are many different types of therapies to treat schizophrenia.

*Cognitive Behavior Therapy* (CBT) can help change thinking and behavior. A therapist will show you ways to deal with voices and hallucinations <https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/what-are-hallucinations>. With a combination of CBT sessions and medication, the client can eventually tell what triggers their psychotic episodes (times when hallucinations or delusions <https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/delusional-disorder> flare up) and how to reduce or stop them. CBT can help you feel less distressed about your psychotic experiences, feel less depressed and anxious, reduce alcohol and drug use, deal with suicidal thoughts, and overcome feelings of hopelessness.

*Cognitive Enhancement Therapy *(CET) is also called cognitive remediation. It teaches people how to better recognize social cues, or triggers, and improve their attention, memory, and ability to organize their thoughts. It combines computer-based brain training <https://www.webmd.com/news/breaking-news/brain-training/brain-training-promise> and group sessions.

*Psychoeducation* helps people with schizophrenia (and their partner or family) understand the illness. Psychoeducation programs explain about symptoms, treatment options, recovery, and services that can help. You can have psychoeducation individually or in groups. It can include written information, videos, websites, meetings, or discussions with your case manager or psychiatrist. Your family can help you understand your diagnosis and support you in your treatment. Family psychoeducation programs help the person with schizophrenia and their family communicate better and solve problems. Family psychoeducation is also good for family members. It can be very upsetting to see someone you love become unwell with schizophrenia.

*Medications* include newer antipsychotic drugs which are also called second-generation or atypical antipsychotics. They’re newer than the first-generation drugs. They generally cause fewer side effects, such as repetitive or involuntary movements like eye blinking, than older antipsychotics. Second-generation antipsychotics work about equally as well as older drugs. The one exception is clozapine, which is effective against schizophrenia that doesn’t respond to other treatments.

*Electroconvulsive Therapy* (ECT) which attaches electrodes to the person's scalp. While they’re under general anesthesia, doctors send a small electric shock to the brain. A course of ECT therapy usually involves 2-3 treatments per week for several weeks. Each shock treatment causes a controlled seizure. A series of treatments over time leads to improvement in mood and thinking. Scientists don’t fully understand exactly how ECT and the controlled seizures it causes help, although some researchers think that ECT-induced seizures may affect the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. It can help when medications no longer work or if severe depression or catatonia makes treating the illness difficult.

Living With Schizophrenia

Most people with this condition do get better with treatment and support. Exercise, eat healthy foods, manage your stress, and stay connected with your loved ones. Staying mentally and physically strong can help you feel more in charge of your illness and your life. People with schizophrenia do best if they have:

- medication and psychological treatment together – not just one or the
other
- medications to manage depression or anxiety, if needed
- education about their illness (individual psychoeducation)
- a supportive partner, family member or friends involved in their care
- access to 24-hour crisis support
- a mental health professional who takes care of planning and coordinating their individual care (case management)
- support to find and keep a job or continue education
- somewhere safe and affordable to live
- support to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a short-term and highly effective treatment for many common issues, including depression and anxiety. CBT explores and helps to resolve negative automatic thoughts and underlying core beliefs about the self, other people, and the world using structured activities and specific interventions. CBT also involves behavioral activation and development of new coping skills. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of CBT:

Advantages of CBT

- Can be as effective as medication in treating some mental health disorders and may be helpful in cases where medication alone has not worked.
- Can be completed in a relatively short period of time compared to other talking therapies.
- Focuses on re-training your thoughts and altering your behaviors, in order to make changes to how you feel.
- The highly structured nature of CBT means it can be provided in different formats, including in groups, self-help books and computer programs.
- Skills you learn in CBT are useful, practical and helpful strategies that can be incorporated into everyday life to help you cope better with future stresses and difficulties, even after the treatment has finished.

Disadvantages of CBT

- To benefit from CBT, you need to commit yourself to the process. A therapist can help and advise you, but cannot make your problems go away without your cooperation.
- Attending regular CBT sessions and carrying out any extra work between sessions can take up a lot of your time.
- Due to the structured nature of CBT, it may not be suitable for people with more complex mental health needs or learning difficulties.
- As CBT can involve confronting your emotions and anxieties, you may experience initial periods where you are more anxious or emotionally uncomfortable.
- Some critics argue that because CBT only addresses current problems and focuses on specific issues, it does not address the possible underlying causes of mental health conditions, such as an unhappy childhood.
- CBT focuses on the individual’s capacity to change themselves (their thoughts, feelings and behaviors), and does not address wider problems in systems or families that often have a significant impact on an individual’s health and wellbeing.

I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. It can take a varied amount of time for panic disorder to go away, however a treatment period lasting at least 6 to 9 months is usually recommended. Some people taking medicine for *panic disorder* are able to stop treatment after only a short time. What works for one person may not be effective at all for another. But even though there is not a magic bullet to wipe out every case, through treatment, patience, and persistence, you can find the methods that help you cope with panic disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A mental health professional can assist you in developing ways to change your thinking and behaviors that allow for lasting relief. Different types of psychotherapy have been shown to be helpful in panic disorder. One of these is CBT, a method that includes learning ways to relax, change unhelpful thinking patterns, manage stress, and increase self confidence. Progressive or gradual exposure is a CBT technique in which therapists slowly introduce a patient to their fears and then teach them to relax while they experience anxiety. For example, if your panic is induced by driving cars on the freeway, your therapist may have you begin by simply imagining cars driving on a freeway. You will then be instructed to keep this image in mind as they guide you into noticing your tension. This focus on uneasy feelings is followed by guided attention to relaxing the body and mind. Over a number of sessions, the therapist will progressively increase your exposure to your fear, from visualizing yourself driving on the freeway, to being a passenger in a car on the freeway, to driving the car yourself. While moving through these phases, you will continue to learn how to remain calm and manage feelings of panic. There are numerous self-help resources that address issues related to anxiety and panic disorder. These are intended to help you manage panic on your own. Common self-help strategies include: Relaxation techniques, such as stretching and deep breathing, positive affirmations and self-talk, peaceful and reassuring visualizations, journaling and other writing exercises, expressing feelings through art, transforming a negative belief system to more constructive and optimistic views, lifestyle changes, such as getting enough sleep, limiting the use of caffeine, eating a nutritious diet, and exercising, medication. Treating panic disorder with medication is often recommended when symptoms persist despite efforts to control them through therapy and self-help strategies. Medication may also be suggested when panic disorder has become so extreme that it affects daily functioning. Antidepressants Medical professionals typically prescribe an antidepressant for panic disorder, usually from the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These drugs can relieve feelings of anxiety and reduce depression symptoms, which often coexist with panic disorder. Tranquilizers Benzodiazepine tranquilizers are another class of drugs that can ease anxiety and alleviate panic. There is some potential for abuse with these medications. They may also lead to physical dependence if they are taken over a long enough period of time. Overall, there is not one approach that works for everyone. Give different
methods a try to determine what works for you. Even though there is not a cure for panic disorder, you can still experience long-term improvements by finding the combination of treatments that is effective for you.
I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that helps people identify and develop skills to change negative thoughts and behaviors. CBT says that individuals -- not outside situations and events.

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Some of the psychological causes of drug abuse include the following: experiencing an abnormality or "psychopathology" that manifests itself as mental illness, learning unhealthy behavior in response to the environment, having unrealistic or dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs that create uncomfortable feelings which in turn determines
negative behavior to cope with the stress, being developmentally immature, and lacking problem solving skills and motivation.
I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Research has shown that medication and therapy are similarly effective and that every person's individual response depends.

Hi,

Thank you for your question. The two principal empirically-based psychotherapeutic interventions for mood disorders are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). Both are diagnosis-targeted, time-limited, present-focused treatments that encourage the client to regain control of mood and functioning. IPT is based on the so-called common factors of psychotherapy: a treatment alliance in which the therapist empathically engages the patient, helps the patient to feel understood, arouses effect, presents a clear rationale and treatment ritual, and yields success experiences. On this foundation, IPT builds two major principles:

-Depression is a medical illness, rather than the patient's fault or personal defect; moreover, it is a treatable condition. This definition has the effect of defining the problem and excusing the patient from symptomatic self-blame.

-Mood and life situation are related. Building on interpersonal theory and psychosocial research on depression, IPT makes a practical link between the patient's mood and disturbing life events that either trigger or follow from the onset of the mood disorder.

I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a short-term and highly effective treatment for many common issues, including depression and anxiety. CBT explores and helps to resolve negative automatic thoughts and underlying core beliefs about the self, other people, and the world using structured activities and specific interventions. CBT also involves behavioral activation and development of new coping skills.
I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Counseling may help a person who experiences anxiety by focusing on anxiety reduction and relaxation techniques, including deep diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, grounding exercises, mindfulness meditation, practicing positive mantras or positive self-talk, guided imagery and visualization, journaling or stream of consciousness writing, drawing or other forms of artistic expression, listening to music, exercise or going for a walk, petting your dog, and reaching out for support from a trusted friend or family member.

I would also recommend seeking services from a mental health professional through therapy to explore other ways of dealing with anxiety that you can try. There are many forms of therapy to treat anxiety, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Talk therapy should not worsen symptoms as therapists are ethically bound to do no harm to clients. There are many forms of talk therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Yes, group counseling can be helpful for people looking for support from the community from others who have similar issues and to be able to process in a safe environment.
I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Yes, psychotherapy really works for depression! Exploring how a person thinks and feels, examining avoidances, discussing past experiences, and focusing on relationships helps them notice patterns that can be helpful to become aware of so they can change anything unhelpful or maladaptive. There are lots of different kinds of psychotherapy including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT), family systems, psychodynamic or psychoanalytic, humanistic-existential therapy, group therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, play and art therapy, interpersonal therapy, mindfulness-based therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and motivational interviewing.

Almost anyone can benefit from psychotherapy, as it is designed to help a person deal with a variety of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, eating disorders, substance abuse, personality disorders, relationship problems, stress management, anger and irritability, ADHD, behavioral issues, adjustment issues, etc.
I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Psychosis can be brought on by mental health issues such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, but severe anxiety can trigger it as well. Some people who suffer from severe anxiety and have panic attacks or anxiety attacks as a result experience symptoms of psychosis. Although some people with schizophrenia suffer anxiety, it is impossible for people with anxiety disorders to develop schizophrenia as a result of their anxiety disorder. Anxiety sufferers should be reassured that they cannot develop schizophrenia as part of their anxiety state, no matter how bad the anxiety becomes. The symptoms of schizophrenia and the deteriorating course can be linked to changes in brain structure and
functioning, which are entirely different from those associated with anxiety. True psychotic disorders include schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, brief psychotic disorder, and delusional disorder. Like anxiety, major depression can also provoke psychotic features. Certain substances, such as meth and cannabis, can induce psychotic symptoms. And medical conditions—a brain tumor, for example—can sometimes lead to psychosis as well.

Whereas true psychotic disorders are treated with antipsychotic medications, this type of treatment is not appropriate for psychosis induced by an anxiety disorder. Because, in this case, the symptoms of psychosis were triggered by an overwhelming episode of anxiety, the appropriate treatments, including medications, target the anxiety itself. For psychotic disorders and for anxiety disorders with psychotic features, individual psychotherapy is very important to help individuals manage stress and develop healthy coping strategies. Because treatment approaches differ depending on the causes and triggers of psychosis, an accurate diagnosis is absolutely critical.
I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Short-term forms of marriage counseling including Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, The Gottman Method, and Solution Focused Relationship Coaching generally require 12-16 sessions to complete. Some couples get what they need in as little as 4-8 sessions. These are often situations in which couples need help with improving communication, or solving day to day problems around responsibilities, parenting, finances, or common goals.

Sometimes, couples face more complicated challenges or there are underlying issues that require longer-term work. Their goals in these situations may involve changing long-standing patterns in the relationship, or healing trust after an affair. Sometimes goals may involve changing patterns that were in the partners long before the relationship even began, which can
take longer to resolve. When it is discovered that part of the problem affecting the relationship is that one or both partners may be struggling with more serious issues, it is often necessary to have longer-term support for the relationship as well as individual therapy for the partner who is struggling.

Some other variables that impact the amount of time marriage counseling takes to work can include learning style, commitment to the process, and ambivalence about the relationship. Here are 7 tips to help deal with differences between you and your partner:

1. Create a relaxed atmosphere and spend time with your partner on a regular basis so you can communicate about your desires and objectives.
2. Don’t give up personal goals and the things you love to do such as hobbies or interests. This will only breed resentment.
3. Support one another’s passions. Accept that you won’t always share the same interests. Respect your partner’s need for space if they want to go on a vacation without you, etc.
4. Learn to resolve conflicts <http://movingpastdivorce.com/2012/04/resolving-conflicts-in-relationships-getting-the-love-you-want/> skillfully. Don’t put aside resentments that can destroy a relationship. Couples who try to avoid conflict are at risk of developing stagnant relationships, which can put them at high risk for divorce.
5. Establish an open-ended dialogue. Listen to your partner’s requests and ask for clarification on points that are unclear. Avoid threats and saying things you’ll regret later.
6. Avoid the “blame game.” Take responsibility for your part in the problems and accept that all human beings are flawed in some way. The next time you feel upset with your partner, check out what’s going on inside yourself and pause and reflect before you place the blame on them.
7. Be realistic about a time-line for change. It takes more than a few sessions to shed light on the dynamics and to begin the process of change

I hope this information has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD

Hi,

Thank you for your question. Psychosis duration and recovery time will depend on how the person experiences psychosis and what induces the psychotic episode. Psychosis can be brought on by mental health issues such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, but it can also be the result of drug use. Take for example a brief psychotic disorder vs. schizophrenia. A brief psychotic disorder lasts for one month or less.

Hi,

Thank you for your question. There are many ways to help with fear and anxiety. Anxiety reduction and relaxation techniques include deep diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, grounding exercises, mindfulness meditation, practicing positive mantras or positive self-talk, guided imagery and visualization, journaling or stream of consciousness writing, drawing or other forms of artistic expression, listening to music, exercise or going for a walk, petting your dog, and reaching out for support from a trusted friend or family member.

I would also recommend seeking services from a mental health professional through therapy to explore other ways of dealing with anxiety that you can try. There are many forms of therapy to treat anxiety, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
I hope this has been helpful!

Best,

Jenna Torres, PsyD