Hello, My name is Michael Berler, Ph.D., I'm a psychologist from San Antonio. I have a background in private practice and leadership roles at teaching hospitals in Houston and San Antonio. I define the process of therapy as a temporary, guided journey of healthy changes, in a judgement free zone. The other main element that specifically differentiates the process of therapy is confidentiality. Confidentiality can be thought of as a " steel vault" containing anything and everything you tell me in our sessions. It remains locked in your vault; and only you have the combination. There are exceptions to confidentiality that we'll discuss during out first session. I combine the two most effective treatment models that have been proven empirically that these models give a person a "system of change." Meaning these models of therapy have been studied or researched; and their effectiveness data, have been submitted and published in the professional literature over many decades. The first model that's referred to as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) examines the powerful domino effect between our thoughts, feelings and behavior choice patterns of the individual seeking therapy. The other model I practice examines the domains of the biological origins of feelings and behaviors, and how this domain interacts with the internal way we think of ourselves, that impacts the important relationships in our lives, inside and outside of our family. I look forward to and appreciate those who ask me to join them, as a temporary guide, on their therapeutic journey. As I remain a neutral "consultant" regarding one's efforts to become the best possible version of their internal sense of self. The process of therapy is more like a marathon versus a sprint. Although, also remember, that of both these metaphorical examples have their own time intervals as well.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then eventually dive into the specific "high priority" issues you're facing and want to change. I have found over many years that there isn't usually and urgent need to talk about 100% of every detail of every challenge you're facing, all in our very first "meeting"; which is not technically a therapy "session." There is no rush. That said, we of course will eventually define and intervene in every specific area that you feel is essential to make changes within that area. This will help me create a tailored treatment plan for you as we work through the process of health change in our follow-up sessions. I believe in a couple of important relationships that the process of therapy always reveals. The first is what I refer to as the "symptom-to cause-axis." The second is what I refer to as the "crisis-to-opportunity-axis." I think that these relationships can be best understood by speaking with each other in our sessions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
The answer to this question comes from my patients. Historically, they've told me I possess: 1. Empathy 2. Unconditional support 3. Knowledge of a broad scope 4. Accessible 5. Funny 6. Effective I have been so very fortunate to have had both the academic and clinical experiences that has characterized my career. I have been a licensed psychologist in The Great State Texas since 1983. I have had "boots on the ground" positions at a Veterans Medical Center and prestigious teaching hospitals such at Texas Children's Hospital as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in The Department of Pediatrics of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Followed by being appointed Chief Psychologist at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital in San Antonio. Concurrently while achieving a successful private practice where I, and my associates provided psychological services to adults, children and adolescents. Perhaps the origin of one of my most significant strengths as a provider; can be attributed to my life-long history of being in therapy myself. That started as a requirement of my doctoral program. Then I quickly gained the insight of how therapy was an increditably powerful change agent. Both in my personal and professional life's. So, I've continued my therapy to this very day. Finally, as we continue forward into this brave, yet not so new anymore, but nevertheless a one-of-a-kind frontier of remote-tele therapy, that has given such an awesome degree of access to so many other people who, perhaps wouldn't have chosen to engage in the in-person therapy format. Because of all the advantages that remote therapy brings to them. They too are now hopefully experiencing the potential for healthy changes that the process of therapy opens up to all adults, families, children and adolescents.
About Dr. Michael Berler
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I’ve been practicing Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for 4 decades. This treatment model has helped many of my patients to gain control of their "nagging" and reoccurring thoughts, particularly those that elements of irrational or illogical thought. This well studied and documented treatment model holds a significant potential for many individuals to improve their skill set of "managing down" their disturbing thoughts and feelings"; the very purpose that every person wants, who is seeking healthy changes in general, and specifically through one of the most effective treatment models like CBT. If practiced, in sessions and between sessions; most individuals find that they have a much improved sense of control and management of their ever decreasing levels of anxiety and mood related symptoms. As a direct results of leveraging the powerful domino effect that defines the CBT model of treatment. Please write down: T-F-B. I'll have many things to say about these 3 letters (domains) that will most likely represent the origin of many healthy changes you're likely to gain from this treatment model. If, CBT is determined to be an appropriate component of your treatment plan. When CBT is specifically defined and or perhaps decided to re-define your primary treatment plan. CBT is likely to be synced with other effective treatment models. That when your treatment plan is well thought through and developed around your specific, presenting high priority issues; it will likely serve as road map for your entire course of therapy.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) is a power model of treatment. TF-CBT specifically identifies the CAUSE of your disturbing thoughts and feelings. These should be thought of as your SYMPTOMS. That originated either from a single traumatic event, or a cluster of traumatic events that negatively impacted you psychologically, emotionally and socially. Trauma is defined by a deeply disturbing or distressing experience. "A personal trauma like the death of a child." Or perhaps the trauma stemmed from your childhood environment or your years as an adolescent, or even a current or recent events the was defined, and experienced by you as deeply disturbing and distressful. The therapeutic concept that Trauma Based-CBT defines as as treatment strategy that is referred to as the "symptom-to cause-axis." Meaning if we know for certain the cause of your symptoms; we will target this cause. First by deconstructing or reframing the current and disturbing way you're "thinking" about the cause. Then we will reconstruct or reframe a less disturbing "mindset." The cause will be processed further and your symptoms will be significantly less disturbing and less intrusive. Impacting your feelings less negatively, and finally, impacting your behavior choice pattern in a productive manner.
Attachment-based
The Attachment-based model of treatment is defined by the way you manage attachments in several type of relationships. From those relationships in the "1st orbit" within your family of origin; or the family that you've started and these relationships. Or the family that you're no longer have relationships in. The "2nd orbit" relationships are those similar to the important "best-like" friends; or simply just one freind. Or especially if your experiencing the lack of friends currently. Which, when asessed by a person trained like I am, who is neutral and professionally trained, might shed some light on; that the lack of friends, has and is a perfectly normal development given the multiple variables that are active but not resolved, in whatever develomental phases of life you're currently navigating. Attchment-based therapy will help you assess the friend-making process through the many developmental phases we all experience though out our lives. And if needed help you to aquire new relationship skills, both within and outside of your family relationships, and non family relationships.
Couples Counseling
This modality of treatment, makes the initial phase of this particular modality, to be the singular treatment modality of your treatment plan. Meaning whether or not you relationship with your life's partner is even, from the outset of therapy, a form of treatment you should or should not be engaged in. Because of the concept known as "the stage of readiness". That couple's treatment modality if it has been identified as, excluding all other modalities, prior to the first couples session. That the couple has clearly arrived at the optimum "stage of readiness" prior to the first ever couples session to have been completed. This critical assessment, must be made by a provider with a great deal of experience, with all the variables that couples therapy exposes and requires a high level of experience to manage down. It's a make or break and complex baseline that is essential or the couple's treatment course is "torpedoed" from the outset. And couples therapy has the potential to amplify pre-existing, unresolved conflicts in the history of the relationship that can be irrevocable; if this risk is not considered. Couples thasrapy is more complex than individuasl therapy. If couples therapy is engaged in with a couiple that doesn't posses an existing conflict resolution method that both can copmprimise and scarifice;this treatment modality often amplifies the pre-existing fault lines in the couples relationship. Making this oversight, at the very least, can cause a loss of time due to not acquiring a pre-couples session appropriate to the "degree of readiness" necessary for this treatment modality. And creates a net plus to this particular treatment course, that perhaps because of an avoidable delay, unless the above defined asessment is completed by a provider, an appropriate professional to assure that this is a pre-couple's therapy 1st session in completed in an appropriate manner. Bottom line: "It's not as simple as it might seem." What seems to be an obvious proceedure to be taken immediately. That is there seems to be or perhaps there are obvious severe marital or couple's attachment conflicts of an obvious nature, then automatically an assumption is made by the the couple and often by a well meaning provider that couples therapy is without a complete assessment of this aforementiontioned and essential to determination of this couple's degree of its "stage of readiness"; done by well meaning couples and providers; must be thoroughly assesssed is crtical to a best effort at this couple's therapy being a successful modality, done at the appropriate time.
Child Parent Psychotherapy
This treatment modality stems from systemic family therapy. This type of therapy was developed in the 1960's and 1970's. A notable American author and psychotherapist, Virginia Satir is considered the mother of family therapy for her pioneering work in developing this new approach to therapy. This treatment modality is unique in that the psychologist assumes that the family is "the patient." Or in Child-Parent Psychotherapy the parent-child attachment is the patient. And all interventions are targeted at the relationship versus one family member or the other. However, one family member might be the "messenger" reflected in the mood or behavior that help is needed. Often children and adolescents will act-out behaviorally, which is symbolic of "waving the red flag" that he or she is "messaging" to the parents that something in the family needs to change.