My Philosophy for Therapy

My goal is to be a real human who is devoted to helping you create a life that you can easily describe as worth living, worth getting up for each morning, and worth fighting for! I strive to deliver consistently excellent and clinically appropriate treatment to my clients using methods that have been shown by research to be effective. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is the approach that I believe in and have received high quality, extensive training in.  DBT is evidence-based to be helpful for addressing mood/emotion-driven behaviors such as anger outbursts or shutting down, over use of substances, high risk behaviors, suicidal thoughts, and self harm. DBT is skills-based which can help us increase effective behaviors and decrease ineffective ones. A DBT framework is nonjudgmental and validating, which can help us determine why certain behaviors keep showing up, and why those behaviors make sense to us when they are clearly not making life better.

I offer the individual therapy component of DBT which is what most people are looking for and see improvement from. For those with more severe symptoms and problem behaviors, I add the second DBT component, which is group skills training in the RTP area.  In the first few therapy sessions, we will assess together if we think the full program of DBT (both individual and group skills training) is right for you, or if we can achieve your goals with individual therapy only. DBT has been heavily researched for 30 years, and has been shown to help with a variety of concerns that are common for many of us. In the first few sessions, I will help you sort out the concerns that you have and if I am not the specialist for you, I will happily make a referral to a better fit.

The therapy relationship, as far as I am concerned, is a genuine relationship and I work to honor it in the same way as any other relationship. My goal is to provide authenticity, compassion, and a fresh new behavioral framework that I, personally, have experienced as liberating. Could this be what you are seeking? Liberation from problem behaviors that keep you lonely and stuck? Freedom from suffering with emotional pain? Emotional pain is part of life, but not suffering!

Call today to see if DBT is right for you.  I can offer a 15-minute free consultation by phone.  Cheers!  Christina Unruh, LCSW  Contact Me

Statement About Diversity

“I appreciate various identities and their intersection with one another to include race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, spirituality, family, and many other aspects. Our idendities make us unique and one of a kind. In my work, I am aware that we are impacted by not only our personal environment but the broader social and economic environment and these impacts are felt acutely, either helpfully or harmfully. Identity in all of its forms can be devalued by our social environment, and this can affect how we feel about ourselves and others. I support human dignity and equality and I am committed to challenging discrimination and prejudice. I want all people to feel safe and respected when they work with me and I will continue to foster my own awareness of the ways in which this goal may be impacted by my own personal bias. This is my commitment to you.”  Christina