Daniel Ferland
I'm a clinical psychologist with over 16 years of experience working within the Department of Veterans Affairs providing individual outpatient psychotherapy to those from a variety of backgrounds who have different identities, orientations, and spiritual beliefs. I specialize in working with individuals who have exposure to trauma, general anxiety or depression, obsessive-compulsive difficulties, problems with relating to others, and those who have struggled with severe and persistent mental illness. My approach tends to be integrative, combining elements of standard Cognitive-Behavioral, Psychoanalytic (insight-oriented), Interpersonal, and Experiential strategies., and I also incorporate clinical hypnosis to enhance the effectiveness of the work we do together.
First session
Coming to the therapy for the first time can be an anxiety-inducing experience. In the first 2-3 sessions, I endeavor to create an atmosphere that fosters warmth, emotional safety, trust, and collaboration. In these first few sessions we are simply trying to get to know each other. I tend to ask questions in the beginning about the problems you are experiencing, how I might be able to help with those problems, and take a history, including both events from the past and current life disposition, which helps me organize my thought processes around what may be contributing to your problems and how I can best be of service to you.
Strengths
I take a collaborative, curious, and reflective approach to therapy with an interpersonal stance that has been described as warm, inviting, and gentle. I view my role as one to help you discover your own answers in order for you to develop the confidence you need so that you can move in the direction you most value for your life.
Ideal clients
The type of client that would be a good fit for my approach and style is one that generally prefers unstructured, reflective dialogue, as opposed to one wanting structured homework assignments, as well as those who have a focus on addressing problems with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and/or trauma. Ideally, but certainly not required, is someone who has a fair idea about what they would like to pursue in therapy and is generally open to back-and-forth discussion.
Treatment methods
Psychodynamic
The primary approach I use is Schema Therapy, which integrates strategies across cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and experiential modalities. What this means is that I help clients examine how they perceive themselves and their relationships and how they respond to these perceptions to reinforce unwanted patterns in their thinking and/or relationships. Sometimes these patterns arise from unmet emotional and psychological needs in childhood or other sources of trauma. This approach works to identify what needs were not met and assist the client in healing from the wounds that were created as a result, as well as how to meet these needs more effectively in their current life.
Location
In-person sessions2024 Cherry Hill Dr, Columbia, MO 65203, Suite 201-L
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- MissouriLicense 2011006690