Richard Costa

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

I have been using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for 30 years. . We ALL engage in thought mistakes, distortions, minimizations, and exaggerations in our emotional thoughts. CBT can involve reviewing basic principles to the treatment and learning how we can adapt better and relearn new patterns of thinking and reacting. It often involves using a workbook or cell phone app to track and identify thoughts and applying proven methods for addressing triggers for anxiety and depression.

EMDR

I am trained in both levels of EMDR training for over 15 years. EMDR is a relatively new form of therapy that has been proven in multiple studies and endorsed by clinicians for successful treatment of various disorders. While it is most associated with major trauma and PTSD, it can also help with grief, anxiety, grief, and other conditions where people feel stuck. I have come think of it as an effective way of healing memories in very rapid manner. It's one of the most powerful things I do. While it's most often done in-person, it can easily be used in online therapy using special auditory tones, or software that guides the patient in specialized eye movements that tap into a similar process of what goes on during dreaming. I will brief you on the pros and cons of this and all treatment methods so that you can make the informed choice that is best for you!

Biofeedback

Biofeedback empowers patients to deal with stress, anxiety, and chronic pain. This can be done via in-person or training patients to utilize easily purchased inexpensive devices or moderately priced software. These devices and/or software sense various physical aspects of bodily function like skin temperature, sweat response, or heart rate variability. People can quickly learn how to gain rapid control of their arousal by employing breath control or other means to induce a more relaxed response. It is also possible to demonstrated how some simple and inexpensive devices or software programs can help one manage stress more effectively.

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Mindfulness-Based Therapy can be very helpful in dealing with chronic pain. The Mind Body Stress Reduction Program was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. It has been utilized and verified by multiple studies to either reduce pain levels or improve the quality of life in 80% of those who practice it. Mindfulness strategies are also applicable to other forms of treatment.

Neurofeedback

EEG Biofeedback is AKA "Neurofeedback." This is where a patient sits in a chair in my office. Using sensors, we can train the brain to produce more "alert and calm" or deep relaxation states. While doing so, the software trains the brain by generating tones that indicate that the brain is functioning in an optimal way. When it produces excessive slow wave such as found in depression and attention deficit disorders, it momentarily is quiet. If high frequency waves (24-38Hz) are excessive, then again the tones are not generated. Within several minutes, patients become relaxed. I often refer to Neurofeedback as, "trainer wheels " for the brain. It gives information to the brain like a thermostat tells an A/C unit when to turn on or off. This can be helpful for depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, PTSD, Alcoholism, and Epilepsy. Not all insurance companies cover this and I work with only a select number of patients in person using this method. Unfortunately, I cannot offer this to patients via teletherapy.