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Dr. Sutton's Background & PhilosophyI have been working with individuals and families since 1998 by helping them to make changes in their lives. I obtained my Master's and Doctoral degrees from Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology. Prior to my graduate studies, I had worked with children, teens and families in teen shelters, a residential treatment program, a wilderness program, and drug and alcohol inpatient program. During graduate school, I worked with individuals, couples, and families and provided psychological assessments in various settings such as community clinics, a day treatment program, and a school. I have worked with a variety of clients spanning all different races, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identification, religions, ability, and socioeconomic status.
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Individual Adult Therapy
I have worked with individuals since 1998 and specifically in clinical settings since 2004. I have worked with issues of depression, anxiety, suicidality, parenting, sexual problems, chronic pain/chronic disease (e.g., headaches, arm pain, fibromyalgia, diabetes, cancer), chronic mental health problems (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders), trauma (e.g., sexual abuse, physical abuse, rape, shooting, ritualized abuse, marital rape, domestic violence, attempted murder), substance abuse, foster care, adoption, finding support systems and/or romantic relationships, anger problems, school problems, legal problems, work problems, issues related to careers, and issues of discrimination. I have had a breadth of experience with people dealing with many different issues.
No matter what the problem is, I have found it easy to build a good relationship with clients and help them to examine their problems, learn skills to dealing with those problems, and make improvements in their life. I also help them to connect with others around them so that when they're done with therapy, they have a support system helping them to maintain the positive gains they have obtained through their work in therapy. In working with my clients, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and aspects of Positive Psychology, Acceptance Committment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Solution Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.
No matter what the problem is, I have found it easy to build a good relationship with clients and help them to examine their problems, learn skills to dealing with those problems, and make improvements in their life. I also help them to connect with others around them so that when they're done with therapy, they have a support system helping them to maintain the positive gains they have obtained through their work in therapy. In working with my clients, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and aspects of Positive Psychology, Acceptance Committment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Solution Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.
Adolescents and Families
I have always enjoyed working with teens and their families because despite the problems that they have, most teens want to be closer to their family and most families want to be closer to their teens. Adolescence is a period of time when children are reconsidering their values and beliefs and making them their own, which on one hand can lead to rebellion from their family's values, but on the other hand, it can be a time for openness to change. It can be a challenging time to work through, but it it's very rewarding to see positive changes and the happiness of a parent who sees a child's continued success.
When working with teenagers, I also work with their parents, siblings, grandparents, and other important people in their lives. Many times when a couple comes in due to problems with their teenager, it affects their marriage, which in turn, doesn't make things better in their relationship with their teen. We often work on multiple levels to help make everyone in the family happier, not just the child. In single parent families, the task may be to develop support for the parent or to help them to work through their own issues in order to have enough energy to deal with their teen's needs.
When working with teenagers, I also work with their parents, siblings, grandparents, and other important people in their lives. Many times when a couple comes in due to problems with their teenager, it affects their marriage, which in turn, doesn't make things better in their relationship with their teen. We often work on multiple levels to help make everyone in the family happier, not just the child. In single parent families, the task may be to develop support for the parent or to help them to work through their own issues in order to have enough energy to deal with their teen's needs.
Children and Families
I have worked with children since 1998 in various settlings such as an emergency children's shelter, a preschool, a community clinic, and in private practice. Initially, my focus was working with adolescents, but I now see more children in my practice after having my own children, and having numerous requests from parents for treatment due to my areas of specialty (especially oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD). Additionally, sometime couples I work with need help with parenting, and we may even add a course of child therapy in addition to our couples therapy.
With children, parents are especially integral in the treatment. I see the therapists' role as helping to access the child's thoughts, feelings, and help them communicate this to parents. We use play, drawing, or other activities to elicit thoughts and feelings, and I teach parents how to use these techniques to continue the treatment at home. When anxiety is an issue, I am using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to externalize the anxiety and help the kids to battle against it so it stops ruining their fun, as well as help them access their super powers to be able to sit with anxiety, and to go towards the things they're afraid of, rather than running away from them (exposure therapy). In situations with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, I teach parents techniques for helping with emotional escalations, and creating structures for success. The attachment based work helps kids turn to their parents during hard times (e.g., divorce, death, medical issues, trauma), so that they're not alone, leading to decreasing depression and anxiety. Together, I help children to overcome their difficulties, be more successful, and help families to be closer and happier. Early intervention is so important, and as a specialist in teenagers, let me tell you, addressing these issues early is a lot easier when the kids are little.
With children, parents are especially integral in the treatment. I see the therapists' role as helping to access the child's thoughts, feelings, and help them communicate this to parents. We use play, drawing, or other activities to elicit thoughts and feelings, and I teach parents how to use these techniques to continue the treatment at home. When anxiety is an issue, I am using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to externalize the anxiety and help the kids to battle against it so it stops ruining their fun, as well as help them access their super powers to be able to sit with anxiety, and to go towards the things they're afraid of, rather than running away from them (exposure therapy). In situations with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, I teach parents techniques for helping with emotional escalations, and creating structures for success. The attachment based work helps kids turn to their parents during hard times (e.g., divorce, death, medical issues, trauma), so that they're not alone, leading to decreasing depression and anxiety. Together, I help children to overcome their difficulties, be more successful, and help families to be closer and happier. Early intervention is so important, and as a specialist in teenagers, let me tell you, addressing these issues early is a lot easier when the kids are little.
Couples Therapy
I have worked with couples who are in various stages of their relationship whether dating, engaged, married, separated, or divorcing. Clients I've worked with have dealt with issues of communication problems, infidelity, supporting an ill loved one, dealing with in-laws, dealing with sexual problems, domestic violence, questioning sexual orientation, dealing with a history of abuse and trauma, parenting issues, learning how to get their needs met, dealing with issues of substance abuse, parenting problems, starting new relationships, and preparing for and adjusting to having children.
I am certified in a particular approach called Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and have also gone on to become a certified EFT Supervisor in order to supervise others learning the approach. EFT is an effective, evidence based treatment that is short term, and based on an adult theory of love related to attachment. When a couple has a secure attachment, they feel their partner is responsive, which means they can talk about anything, easy or hard, and they will come out of the conversation closer, rather than farther away. The other element for a secure attachment is feeling that our partner loves, accepts, and respects us. When those two elements are there, then things are going well, but when they're not couples tend to get into what's called a "cycle", where they keep missing each other and sometimes arguments go around and around. Through EFT, we are able to first identify and catch the cycle, and then do the rebounding work, and strengthening the relationship to regain that sense of love and admiration for and from our partner.
While working with children, teens and families, I often end up working with the couple when the parents are together. A happy, more satisfied couple allows them to be happier, more satisfied parents. When parents are having trouble with their children, it can get in the way of their relationship with each other, and the relationship may get put on the backburner while they focus on their children. A partner is more than just another person to help with the parenting. They are there to help support their partner when they're down, to have someone to listen to them when they are having difficulties, help them de-stress and have fun, and work together so they don't get burnt out on parenting.
Sometimes couples come into therapy when they've already decided that they are going to end the marriage or relationship. In these cases, I help them manage the transition from being married, to separated/divorced and, if there are children involved, I help the parents to develop a way of interacting that can best support their children during the difficult times. The therapy can extend to issues of coparenting, dealing with loss, disappointment, and anger, and eventually to building a new life, developing new relationships, and possibly a new family.
In addition to EFT, I have also been trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1 Training & Consultation), Fighting for Your Marriage approach, and education in infidelity (Not Just Friends - Shirley Glass, Mating in Captivity - Ester Perel, After the Affair - Janis Spring). I have additional training in working with couples in the kink community and polyamory (The Ethical Slut - Dossie Easton, Cultural Competency with BDSM Couples). Many times, couples come to me due to specialties I have, such as using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ADHD, Exposure with Response Prevention for OCD, and/or EMDR for trauma/PTSD.
I am certified in a particular approach called Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) and have also gone on to become a certified EFT Supervisor in order to supervise others learning the approach. EFT is an effective, evidence based treatment that is short term, and based on an adult theory of love related to attachment. When a couple has a secure attachment, they feel their partner is responsive, which means they can talk about anything, easy or hard, and they will come out of the conversation closer, rather than farther away. The other element for a secure attachment is feeling that our partner loves, accepts, and respects us. When those two elements are there, then things are going well, but when they're not couples tend to get into what's called a "cycle", where they keep missing each other and sometimes arguments go around and around. Through EFT, we are able to first identify and catch the cycle, and then do the rebounding work, and strengthening the relationship to regain that sense of love and admiration for and from our partner.
While working with children, teens and families, I often end up working with the couple when the parents are together. A happy, more satisfied couple allows them to be happier, more satisfied parents. When parents are having trouble with their children, it can get in the way of their relationship with each other, and the relationship may get put on the backburner while they focus on their children. A partner is more than just another person to help with the parenting. They are there to help support their partner when they're down, to have someone to listen to them when they are having difficulties, help them de-stress and have fun, and work together so they don't get burnt out on parenting.
Sometimes couples come into therapy when they've already decided that they are going to end the marriage or relationship. In these cases, I help them manage the transition from being married, to separated/divorced and, if there are children involved, I help the parents to develop a way of interacting that can best support their children during the difficult times. The therapy can extend to issues of coparenting, dealing with loss, disappointment, and anger, and eventually to building a new life, developing new relationships, and possibly a new family.
In addition to EFT, I have also been trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level 1 Training & Consultation), Fighting for Your Marriage approach, and education in infidelity (Not Just Friends - Shirley Glass, Mating in Captivity - Ester Perel, After the Affair - Janis Spring). I have additional training in working with couples in the kink community and polyamory (The Ethical Slut - Dossie Easton, Cultural Competency with BDSM Couples). Many times, couples come to me due to specialties I have, such as using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ADHD, Exposure with Response Prevention for OCD, and/or EMDR for trauma/PTSD.
Psychological Assessment
Since 2005, I have been providing psychological assessments for children, teens, and adults who are struggling with education-related problems. I assisted in teaching intellectual assessment, psychodiagnostic assessment, and have taken courses in neuropsychological assessment. I have provided testing services for a variety of children and adults dealing with problems related to learning disabilities, ADHD, bipolar disorder, developmental disability,, schizophrenia, and the effects of trauma. I have found that my skills in psychological assessment also prove useful in my therapeutic treatment of clients as it sharpens my ability to assess symptoms and formulate treatment.
Theoretical Orientation
My training has been in family systems theories such as Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, Strategic Family Therapy, Brief Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Behavioral Family Therapy, Gottman Coupes Therapy, Multidimensional Family Therapy and Brief Strategic Family Therapy. I have also trained in cognitive behavioral models such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure with Response Prevention, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and Schema Therapy and general psychodynamic theory.
For more information about my training and experience, see my curriculum vitae