Our Approach

Therapy at AHA! is where

challenges will be explored without judgment
—
inner pain can transform into insight
—
new patterns can take root

HOW THERAPY BEGINS

Your first contact will be with our Director, Karen DeHaven, who will listen closely to what concerns are present and will match you with the best clinician for your specific healing needs.  

1

During the intake appointment, your therapist will work collaboratively with you to get to know what is most important as you set goals and develop a plan together to assure safety on this therapeutic journey of discovery, growth, and healing.

2

“ and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin

〰️

“ and the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Anais Nin 〰️

Rather than simply treating symptoms,

we dive beneath
the surface with you

to understand the currents that have shaped your journey.

  • ACT is a mindfulness based therapy rooted in acceptance of thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment or resistance leading to increased psychological flexibility and emotional resilience. 

    ACT offers compassionate care when grief, loss, anxiety, depression, or shame are the root cause of personal suffering.

  • CBT is a goal-oriented therapy that helps individuals change negative thought patterns and behaviors by building awareness of trigger events and offering alternative choices to improve mood and shift response to triggering situations.

    CBT is often recommended for adults and children experiencing depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

  • TF-CBT is an evidence-based, trauma-sensitive therapy designed to help cope with traumatic life events.  Therapy focuses on the trauma and follows stages to address stabilization, trauma story reprocessing, and integration.

    TF-CBT is recommended for anxiety and depression related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in adults and children who have experienced neglect, violence, natural disaster, or any form of abuse.

THERAPIES WE OFFER

  • ERP is an advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy technique used to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. (OCD)  Treatment focuses on building healthy coping strategies to manage anxiety and intrusive thoughts to create emotional resilience when coping fears and urges.

    ERP is a recommended treatment for adults and children with OCD.

  • EMDR is a evidence-based psychotherapy approach that used bi-lateral techniques to stimulate access to the left and right sides of the brain during intentional safe recollection of traumatic memories.  This advanced therapy approach helps to reduce the negative reactions to traumatic memories in order to decrease stress reactivity in both adults and children.

    EMDR is often used to treat PTSD and anxiety-related disorders that involve flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and extreme emotional distress.

  • Family Systems Therapy focuses on the family as an essential unit and works to improve family functioning and communication by emphasizing how individuals’ thoughts and actions effect the whole family system.  This approach addresses patterns of behavior, interactions, and helps clarify boundaries to improve the emotional environment in the family.

    Often recommended for families with children experiencing conflict and distress.

  • Play Therapy is a child-centered psychotherapy that utilizes play to help children process difficult emotions, explore solutions to inner conflicts, build coping mechanisms, and develop relationships in a safe supportive therapeutic environment.

    Play Therapy is often recommended for children to process anxiety, trauma, behavior challenges, and developmental issues.

  • IFS is a health-focused, evidence-based psychotherapy approach focused on healing internalized protective and wounded parts in order to restore inner harmony and balance by empowering the emergence of a core true Self.  

    IFS helps individuals build the 8 Cs:

    • Confidence 

    • Calm

    • Compassion

    • Courage

    • Creativity

    • Clarity

    • Curiosity

    • Connectedness

  • SFBT is a short-term therapy approach that focuses on identifying strengths and resources to support specific goals to address challenges and find solutions.

    SFBT is often beneficial for event specific challenges i.e. transitions to a new school or college and mindset shifts following a non-traumatic setback.

  • CAT - including Art Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy, and Music Therapy - is an advanced counseling approach that utilizes creative processes to address mental health and physical challenges by helping individuals explore their inner experiences, process their emotions, and develop coping skills through both verbal and non-verbal expressive techniques.

    Creative Arts Therapies are beneficial for children and adults seeking mental & behavioral health alternatives to traditional talk therapy.



Through this process, we help you develop an inner sanctuary — a stable core that remains steadfast even as external storms surge.

We embrace the “Village Way” - where all members of our AHA! community are welcomed with a full commitment to safety and inclusion.

Once we begin working beside you, we are in this together and we will see you through whatever storm is getting in the way of living a happier, healthier, and kinder life.

We are committed to offering Good Medicine to everyone who chooses AHA! as a safe haven for Hope, Growth & Healing.