Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy offers empowering tools, a supportive environment, and personalized guidance to enhance your ability to heal, grow, and live more fully.
With a focus on a collaborative approach, Dr. Shaw addresses a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, addiction, grief, stress management, life transitions, and creative blocks. Because Dr. Shaw emphasizes the importance of working as a team with her patients, she will work with you - wherever you are - in your path to improve your health with compassion, gentle guidance, and the best suited mind-body techniques.
A central role in psychotherapy is the ongoing therapeutic relationship between the clinician and the individual in alleviating symptoms, and fostering self-awareness, growth and the management of daily life stresses. Because Dr. Shaw believes that not one therapy approach works for all, she has studied and incorporates many forms of psychotherapy including Jungian, psychodynamic, Ericksonian hypnotherapy, humanistic, the GEMS Model, and Nonviolent Communication.
Dr. Shaw primarily incorporates the methodologies of Gerald Epstein, M.D, basing her approach on the Gerald Epstein Medical Model (GEMS) - that by harnessing the power of the mind, one can change the state of the body. The GEMS model and methodologies of Gerald Epstein, M.D have become a practice cornerstone. The underlying premise is that by harnessing the power of the mind, one can change the state of the body as well as relieve psychiatric symptoms. The GEMS Spiritual Healthcare Model addresses the complete human being in an integrative system that recognizes that we are unified beings who express ourselves simultaneously in physical, mental, emotional, social (including environmental) and moral spheres. Dr. Epstein's mental imagery practices along with the psychotherapeutic tenets derived from the GEMS model support health and self-healing, and emphasizes developing awareness of one's thoughts, choosing to be present instead of turning the mind to the past or future, changing habitual behaviors, and eradicating false beliefs. These imagery exercises are helpful in developing balance, reducing pain and anxiety, transforming anger, letting go of negative habits, and improving physical conditions.
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Additionally, Dr. Dana Shaw incorporates Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a methodology to help her patients connect with themselves and relate better to others. Paramount to Dr. Shaw's psychotherapeutic approach is her understanding that human behaviors, actions, and emotions reflect the drive to meet universal human needs. Feelings and even
judgements are indicators of these needs being met or unmet. When we connect our feelings to our needs, we develop self-understanding and the ability to become compassionate towards others. Among other things, this becomes a guide to compassionate communication. Dr. Shaw’s goal is to empower her patients, develop their sense of strength and self-awareness as they become the self-director of their own health and happiness.