Lacey Brunner Blog
Understanding Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
by: Lacey Brunner Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is one of the most researched and effective approaches to addressing mental health challenges. At its core, CBT is built on a straightforward but powerful concept: thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. When thought patterns shift, emotional responses and actions can change as well. This approach doesn’t focus…
Understanding the Different Types of Grief: A Guide for Teens and Parents
Grief shows up differently for everyone. When someone experiences loss, whether it’s a person or even a beloved pet, grief can manifest in various ways and timelines. Understanding the type of grief being experienced can help clarify what to expect and how to move forward. Recognizing these different forms of grief provides insight into the journey through loss. Acute…
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Explained
By: Lacey Brunner Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, was originally developed for people who experience intense emotions that feel overwhelming and difficult to control. For anyone who has felt emotions escalate from zero to one hundred in seconds, or struggled to manage feelings that seem impossible to contain, DBT offers practical strategies that can help. The word “dialectical”…
The Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Perspective in Therapy
By: Lacey Brunner When someone comes to therapy, they bring much more than just thoughts or feelings. They bring their whole self, which includes far more than what’s happening in the mind. Therapy grounded in a bio-psycho-social-spiritual perspective provides a framework which recognizes people as multidimensional, not simply a collection of symptoms to fix. The biological piece considers how the body affects…
Integrating Cognitive-Behavioral, Existential, and Person-Centered Theories in Therapy
Lacey L. Brunner, Dr. Kristy Ford Abstract This paper examines the combination of cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT), existential theory, and person-centered theory to form an integrated counseling framework. Each theory is analyzed regarding its core constructs and assumptions, the theoretical basis for efficacy, strengths and limitations, relevance to multicultural populations, and related ethical and legal considerations.…
Human Growth and Development Reflection
Lacey L. Brunner, Dr. Jake Porter In Human Growth and Development, we learned numerous theories we can use as a lens when counseling future clients. One approach that stood out for me is George Vaillant’s life task theory. Below, I will give a brief synopsis of Vaillant’s concept, I will use his idea as a…
Meaning and Identity in the Digital Age
Meaning and Identity in the Digital Age: A Logotherapy-Based Approach to Enhancing Digital Literacy Among Adolescent Girls Lacey L. Brunner, Dr. Kat Peoples Abstract Adolescent girls navigate an increasingly complex online environment that influences their mental health and identity development. Excessive social media use, cyberbullying, and digital comparison contribute to rising anxiety, depression, and social…