Janet Yager

Compassion Focused

This provider specializes in delivering compassionate, patient-centered care through a direct approach that prioritizes the individual over the diagnosis. By integrating mental and physical health, they create personalized solutions designed around the unique needs of each patient. They are committed to fostering open communication and mutual decision-making, ensuring every step of care is a true collaboration.

Mind-body approach

The mind-body approach therapy is a holistic form of treatment that emphasizes the connection between the mind and body in achieving overall health and well-being. This therapeutic approach recognizes that mental, emotional, and physical health are deeply interconnected, and it aims to address both psychological and physiological aspects of a person's condition. Key principles of mind-body therapy include: Mind-Body Connection: The belief that thoughts, emotions, and behaviors can directly influence physical health and vice versa. Holistic Healing: Treating the whole person rather than focusing solely on symptoms or isolated issues. Self-Awareness: Encouraging individuals to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations to promote healing and self-regulation. Common techniques used in mind-body therapy include: Meditation and Mindfulness: Practices that help individuals focus on the present moment and reduce stress. Yoga and Tai Chi: Physical activities that combine movement, breathing, and mindfulness. Biofeedback: A technique that teaches individuals to control physiological functions like heart rate or muscle tension. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Addressing negative thought patterns that may contribute to physical symptoms. Relaxation Techniques: Such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation to reduce stress and tension. Mind-body therapy is often used to manage stress, anxiety, chronic pain, depression, and other conditions where emotional and physical health are intertwined. It empowers individuals to take an active role in their healing process and fosters a sense of balance and harmony between the mind and body.

Eclectic

Eclectic therapy is a flexible and integrative approach to psychotherapy that combines techniques and principles from various therapeutic modalities to best address a client's unique needs, preferences, and challenges. Instead of adhering strictly to one specific school of thought (like cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, or humanistic therapy), eclectic therapists draw from multiple frameworks to create a personalized treatment plan. The goal of eclectic therapy is to provide the most effective interventions for each individual by tailoring the therapeutic process. For example, a therapist might use cognitive-behavioral techniques to address negative thought patterns, while also incorporating mindfulness practices or exploring past experiences through psychodynamic methods. This approach is often client-centered, meaning the therapist collaborates with the client to determine which methods resonate most and are likely to yield the best outcomes. It is particularly useful for individuals with complex or multifaceted issues that may not be fully addressed by a single therapeutic approach.

EMDR

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a psychotherapy approach designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences or distressing memories. EMDR therapy involves the patient recalling traumatic events while simultaneously focusing on external stimuli, such as guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones. This process is believed to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity and impact. EMDR is commonly used to treat conditions like PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, depression, and phobias. It is an evidence-based therapy that has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in helping individuals recover from trauma. The EMDR technique I discuss with my patients involves extraocular eye movements (EOMs), specifically engaging cranial nerves III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), and VI (abducens). During the exercise, patients follow a rhythmic pattern of eye movements—looking up, down, and side to side—repeated 10 times. They are encouraged to practice this both with their eyes open and closed, incorporating deep breathing. The goal is to help them manage panic attacks, calm a racing mind, or fall asleep. With consistent practice, patients become proficient and can use this technique discreetly whenever needed. Here’s how the cranial nerves contribute to these movements: Cranial Nerve III (Oculomotor): Controls most eye movements, including looking up and down, and regulates pupil constriction. Cranial Nerve IV (Trochlear): Manages the superior oblique muscle, aiding in downward and inward eye movement. Cranial Nerve VI (Abducens): Controls the lateral rectus muscle, enabling outward (side-to-side) eye movement. These cranial nerves work in harmony to coordinate precise eye movements, which is why this technique is referred to as EOM-focused.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback therapy is a technique that helps individuals gain control over certain physiological functions that are typically involuntary, such as heart rate, muscle tension, blood pressure, and skin temperature. The goal of biofeedback is to improve physical, emotional, and mental health by teaching people how to regulate these functions through real-time feedback. How It Works: During a biofeedback session, sensors are attached to the body to monitor specific physiological signals. These signals are displayed on a screen or through auditory cues, allowing the individual to observe their body's responses in real time. With the guidance of a therapist, individuals learn techniques like deep breathing, relaxation, or visualization to influence these responses. Types of Devices Used in Biofeedback Therapy: Electromyography (EMG): Measures muscle activity and tension. Electroencephalography (EEG): Monitors brainwave activity, often used for stress, anxiety, or ADHD. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Monitors: Tracks heart rate and its variability to manage stress and improve cardiovascular health. Thermal Biofeedback Devices: Measure skin temperature to help with conditions like migraines or stress. Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) Sensors: Detect changes in sweat gland activity, which is linked to emotional arousal. Respiratory Biofeedback Devices: Monitor breathing patterns to improve relaxation and manage conditions like asthma. Biofeedback therapy is commonly used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety, migraines, high blood pressure, and even some digestive disorders. It’s a non-invasive and drug-free approach that empowers individuals to take an active role in their health management.