Therapy Modalities
Our Therapy Methods and Treatment Approaches
Learn about the different types of therapy our team use to help clients grow, heal, and thrive.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Person-Centered Therapy
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy
- Play Therapy
- Walk-and-Talk / Beach Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
- Narrative Therapy (Postmodern)
- Family Systems Approach
- Strengths-Based Therapy
- Grief Counseling
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
While these approaches are widely known and may be helpful for some, they are not currently part of our clinical offerings at Orange County Couples Counseling, either due to scope, specialization, or alignment with our treatment philosophy.
- EMDR
- Hypnotherapy
- Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
- Jungian / Depth Psychology
- Internal Family Systems (IFS)
- Art or Music Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Learn about our therapy modalities and approach
At Orange County Couples Counseling (OCCC), we believe that therapy should feel personal, purposeful, and grounded in approaches that truly fit your needs. That’s why our team is trained in a range of evidence-based modalities designed to support growth, healing, and meaningful change—whether you're navigating relationship issues, managing anxiety or depression, or seeking greater emotional clarity.
Each of our therapists brings their own style and focus, but we all share a commitment to helping you feel seen, supported, and empowered. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, we tailor the therapy experience based on your goals, your personality, and the challenges you’re facing—whether that means traditional talk therapy, cognitive techniques, or something more experiential like walk-and-talk sessions at the beach.
Modalities We Practice
This page introduces some of the core modalities we offer, along with a few we don’t practice but often get asked about. If you're curious about how therapy at OCCC might work for you, we encourage you to explore and reach out—we’re here to help you find the best fit for your journey.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT focuses on identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress. By helping you reframe negative thinking patterns and develop practical coping strategies, CBT empowers clients to feel more in control of their moods, behaviors, and everyday stressors.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT helps clients accept difficult emotions, focus on their values, and take action toward meaningful goals. It’s especially helpful for those feeling stuck or overwhelmed by anxiety or depression, and supports personal growth for clients across Orange County.
Person-Centered Therapy
This approach creates a warm, nonjudgmental environment where clients can explore their feelings with the support of a deeply empathic therapist. Person-Centered Therapy encourages self-acceptance and growth, making it a powerful tool for individuals and couples alike.
Existential Therapy
Existential Therapy helps clients explore themes like meaning, freedom, responsibility, and isolation. It’s ideal for those going through transitions, identity exploration, or seeking clarity around life’s big questions. It resonates with many Orange County clients seeking deeper self-understanding.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-based techniques help individuals manage anxiety, depression, and emotional reactivity by cultivating present-moment awareness. Whether you're juggling stress in Irvine or seeking peace in Laguna Beach, this approach promotes calm and clarity.
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Grounded in decades of research, the Gottman Method helps couples improve communication, resolve conflict, and build lasting intimacy. This approach is especially effective for couples in Orange County seeking long-term relationship stability.
Play Therapy
Play Therapy allows children to express emotions, build coping skills, and process difficult experiences through play. It provides a supportive outlet for kids dealing with anxiety, grief, or behavioral issues in a way that feels safe and developmentally appropriate.
Walk-and-Talk / Beach Therapy
Combining movement, nature, and conversation, this modality allows therapy to happen outside the traditional office setting. Beach therapy is especially popular in Orange County, offering a calming and engaging alternative to sitting indoors.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing helps clients explore ambivalence and strengthen motivation for change. It’s useful for those navigating addiction, lifestyle shifts, or new goals, offering a respectful and collaborative approach to growth.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
This approach centers on finding practical solutions rather than analyzing problems. It's ideal for clients seeking short-term support or needing quick, actionable tools to create positive change in their lives and relationships.
Narrative Therapy (Postmodern)
Narrative Therapy encourages clients to re-author the stories they tell about themselves. By separating the person from the problem, this method helps people in Orange County reframe challenges and regain a sense of agency.
Family Systems Approach
This model views individual struggles in the context of family dynamics. It helps clients understand patterns and improve communication within families, making it a foundational method for both couples and parent-child relationships.
Strengths-Based Therapy
Rather than focusing solely on problems, Strengths-Based Therapy highlights personal assets and resilience. It empowers clients by drawing on existing strengths to overcome challenges and build confidence.
Grief Counseling
While not a standalone modality, grief support is woven into our work with individuals and families experiencing loss. Whether due to death, divorce, or life transitions, we offer compassionate space to process and heal.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is a structured, skills-based approach designed to help individuals regulate emotions, tolerate distress, and improve interpersonal effectiveness. At OCCC, we offer DBT-informed therapy to support clients experiencing emotional intensity, self-harm tendencies, or difficulty navigating relationships.
Therapies We Don’t Practice (But You May Hear About)
While we offer a diverse range of approaches, there are some modalities we don’t currently practice at Orange County Couples Counseling. These methods may require specialized certifications or differ from our treatment philosophy. If you're curious about any of these approaches or want help determining whether one of our practiced modalities might meet your needs, we're happy to guide you.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Hypnotherapy
Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Jungian / Depth Psychology
Psychoanalysis / Long-Term Analytical Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Somatic Experiencing Therapy
Art Therapy
Music Therapy
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