Carmen Ardoin

Solution Focused Brief Treatment

I use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) in my practice by maintaining a consistent focus on clients’ strengths, goals, and existing resources rather than engaging in extensive problem analysis. I begin by helping clients clearly identify what they want to be different as a result of therapy, which allows me to establish a goal-directed and hopeful tone from the outset. I guide clients in describing their preferred future through techniques such as the miracle question, encouraging them to imagine how their lives would look if their presenting concerns were resolved. This process helps clients identify concrete, observable changes and increases motivation for progress. I also use scaling questions throughout treatment to assess progress, confidence, and readiness for change, which allows me and the client to recognize even small improvements and identify what is already helping. I place strong emphasis on identifying exceptions times when the problem was less intense or absent and explore what the client did differently during those moments. By highlighting these exceptions, I help clients build on strategies that are already effective in their lives. I intentionally provide strength-based feedback and clinical compliments to reinforce resilience, effort, and problem-solving skills, which supports self-efficacy and engagement in therapy. I typically conclude sessions by collaborating with clients to identify small, achievable tasks that encourage them to notice and repeat helpful behaviors between sessions. In my documentation and treatment planning, I emphasize measurable goals, brief and targeted interventions, and observable progress, making this approach well-suited for my work with children, families, and court-involved populations.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in my practice to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how these patterns impact daily functioning. I work collaboratively with clients to identify unhelpful or distorted thinking patterns and explore how these thoughts influence emotional responses and behavioral choices. Through structured interventions, I support clients in developing more balanced, realistic ways of thinking and in practicing new coping and problem-solving skills. I incorporate psychoeducation, guided discovery, and skills-based exercises to help clients gain insight and increase emotional regulation. I also emphasize the use of practical strategies that clients can apply between sessions, allowing them to build confidence, reduce symptoms, and make meaningful changes over time.