Services

Our Services

Personalized counseling services, ensuring each individual receives evidence-based treatment designed to support their unique journey towards well-being.

Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy

Experience the transformative potential of psychedelic therapy, a cutting-edge treatment at our practice, proven to enhance neuroplasticity and elevate treatment outcomes.

Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy offers a holistic approach to mental health treatment, enhancing traditional psychotherapy with the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. By combining therapy with a carefully guided psychedelic experience, clients can achieve breakthroughs in addressing treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Our sessions focus on preparing for and integrating the psychedelic experience, leveraging the “window of neuroplasticity” for enhanced therapeutic outcomes. Experience a transformative journey towards lasting mental wellness with our compassionate support and integrative approach.

We are proud to partner with Journey Clinical, a trusted team of prescribing professionals specializing in evaluating patients for legal psychedelic medications. Journey Clinical conducts assessments and prescriptions, while we facilitate preparation, dosing, and integration sessions, ensuring a safe and legal approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Read more about the medication and the psychotherapeutic process here

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

What is EMDR?

EMDR( Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of psychotherapy to address trauma and other unprocessed memories that may be having an impact on a person’s present day functioning. This impact may be in the form of PTSD, anxiety, depression, or generally in the way that a person views themselves. These memories can implicitly and explicitly impact present day emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and overall functioning.

EMDR uses lateral eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation (BLS – stimuli that alternates between the left and right sides of the body) to assist in reprocessing and integrating information with the disturbing memories so that they no longer are upsetting and emotionally charged. EMDR is using a similar mechanism that the body naturally uses during sleep to process information – the REM cycle or Rapid Eye Movement cycle of sleep.

EMDR Can Help Treat…

  • Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
  • Chronic Illness and medical issues
  • Depression and bipolar disorders
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Grief and loss
  • Pain
  • Performance Personality disorders
  • PTSD and other trauma and stress-related issues
  • Sexual assault
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Substance abuse and addiction
  • Violence and abuse

8 PHASES of EMDR

EVIDENCED BASED TREATMENT

EMDR is well researched and identified by several organizations as a recommended treatment protocol; including, but not limited to The American Psychology Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs & Department of Defense.

WHAT MAKES EMDR DIFFERENT?

  • EMDR does not involve talking extensively about the traumatic or upsetting memory
  • EMDR does not involve homework
  • EMDR does not focus on changing emotions, thoughts or behaviors, but rather allows the brain to resume it’s natural healing process

 

 

“The goal of EMDR therapy is to leave you with the emotions, understanding, and perspectives
that will lead to healthy and useful behaviors and interactions.”

– taken from EMDRIA.org

 

Anxiety and OCD

Unlock freedom from anxiety and OCD with our expertise in exposure-based CBT, dedicated to accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, ensuring your journey towards lasting relief.

Perinatal Mental Health

Cultivating support and understanding for perinatal mental health, our services embrace all individuals, providing compassionate care during this pivotal life stage.

1 in 5 women experience perinatal mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and postpartum depression (PPD). But men also experience perinatal mental health challenges, with 1 in 10 fathers struggling with anxiety and depression during their partner’s pregnancy or after birth.

These are significant numbers, but they don’t have to define your experience. Perinatal mental health conditions are highly treatable, and seeking help can make a world of difference for you and your family.

Here’s why seeking support is crucial: Early intervention leads to better outcomes: The sooner you get help, the faster you can start feeling better and build a strong foundation for your family.

Untreated perinatal mental health conditions can have lasting consequences: They can impact your relationship with your child, your partner, and your overall well-being.

You deserve to feel supported and empowered: You are not alone in this journey, and there are resources available to help you thrive. Our counseling services specialize in perinatal mental health. We offer a safe and supportive space to:

  • Explore your emotions and challenges in a judgment-free environment.
  • Develop coping mechanisms for managing anxiety, depression, and other perinatal mental health concerns.
  • Strengthen your relationships with your partner and child.
  • Learn how to advocate for yourself and access the resources you need.
  • Remember, you are not alone. Let us help you navigate this journey and build a brighter future for yourself and your family

Anxiety and OCD in Kids

Anxiety and obsessive compulsive related disorders often start or are seen in children and adolescents. According the CDC, between 2016 and 2019 there were 5.8 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. There are a variety of anxiety disorders that impact children and teens including social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety, specific phobias, panic disorder, and more. Many children and teens also meet the criteria for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). According the IOCDF, at least 1 in 200 children have OCD.

Just like for adults, there is a normal range of anxiety that can be experienced by children and adolescents. Experiencing occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. Individuals might feel anxious when faced with a situation at work, making an important decision or before taking a test. This feeling is usually temporary and resolves once the situation is resolved. For individuals with anxiety disorders the anxiety persists and interferes with important areas of their daily functioning, for example, their relationships, their academics, and their work performance. Experiencing anxiety is a lot like experiencing fear but with anxiety there is no real danger. Anxiety disorders can lead to individuals avoiding situations that make them anxious and while this works temporarily, the anxiety tends to get worse over time.

The staff at The Artemis Center for Guidance, and as a part of the Apollo Center for Exposure Therapy, often utilize exposure based interventions to address anxiety and obsessive compulsive patterns and disorders in children and teens. By exposing an individual repeatedly to situations that make them anxious, they learn that what they fear does not happen and that they are able to tolerate their anxiety. Some individuals report that following exposure therapy they are also able to gain a sense of control and mastery over these situations, which also helps to decrease their anxiety. As a part of the training the Artemis staff underwent in November 2020 with the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania, we learned how to appropriately and effectively apply these exposure based protocols to children and teens in a manner that that they understand and can easily engage with.

School Refusal and Anxiety

School refusal can be a frustrating and disruptive problem for a child or teen as well as their family. There can be several reasons a child or teen may refuse to go to school and one of these reasons can be based in anxiety the child or teen may have about school or specific circumstances at school. When anxiety is at the core of why a child or teen is avoiding school, similar exposure based principals of care and interventions can be used just as they are used for many other triggers for anxiety and obsessive compulsive related disorders.

If you feel the The Apollo Center for Exposure Therapy may benefit your child call and inquire about an assessment with our dedicated team or sign up here…

Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders

At The Artemis Center for Guidance, we recognize the immense challenges that first responders face in their professional lives. These challenges result in unique strains placed on their marriages and personal lives. In many cases, we will see a reliance on substances or other unhealthy coping skills, and in the most severe cases, there is a heightened risk of suicide. That’s why we offer specialized counseling services designed specifically for the needs of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders, as well as their families. Our approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, including prolonged exposure therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy, all of which have shown effectiveness in treating trauma and its related symptoms.

We understand that seeking help can be a difficult decision, which is why we provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their feelings and experiences. Whether you’re self-referring or being referred by your department, our experienced therapists are here to offer expert guidance and compassionate care. Our goal is to provide first responders with the tools they need to navigate the unique challenges they face and to support their mental health and well-being, both on and off duty.

Exposure-based CBT

Break free from anxiety and OCD with exposure-based CBT. This powerful therapy method, backed by extensive research, helps you gradually face your fears in a safe and supportive environment. By learning to tolerate anxiety without engaging in safety behaviors or compulsions, you can regain control of your thoughts and actions, leading to a more fulfilling life.

Our Expertise Makes the Difference: Our therapists have received specialized training from The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA), a prestigious institution known for its groundbreaking work in anxiety disorders. This training, combined with our designation as a CTSA Center of Excellence, ensures you receive the most effective and up-to-date treatment available.

Don’t let anxiety or OCD hold you back any longer. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and explore how exposure-based CBT can help you achieve lasting freedom from these debilitating conditions.

OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) impacts 2-3% of the population. That’s 1 in 40 US Adults and 1 in 100 US children. OCD is characterized by intrusive, obsessive thoughts or images which are highly distressing to the individual and by compulsive rituals, which are conducted by the individual to reduce their distress. These rituals can be observable behaviors (like hand washing, or checking behaviors) or unobservable mental rituals (counting or praying).

The obsessive thoughts give rise to negative feelings like anxiety, disgust and fear. The negative emotions increase the urge to participate in ritualistic behaviors. The ritualistic behavior offers TEMPORARY relief from the negative feelings, this relief is not long lasting before the obsessive thought returns and starts the cycle all over again. The below image outlines this cycle.

The recommended treatment for OCD is referred to as Exposure and Response Prevention (ExRP). This intervention can be used in conjunction with medications or alone. It involves exposing the individual to situations which would normally precipitate the need to ritualize or act on compulsive behaviors and then encouraging them not to engage in their rituals/compulsions. Anxiety and distress increase when we do this but then they fall naturally, after a short period of time, allowing the individual to learn that the situation is not harmful or dangerous. We start by creating a hierarchy of distressing situations or scenarios and gradually, working from low intensity to high intensity work through the scenarios in a supportive environment. Treatment sessions are typically twice a week for 90-120 minutes and support for homework is provided via phone calls in between sessions. The duration of treatment is typical 17-20 sessions total (or 8-10 weeks).

If you feel the OCD Clinic at Artemis may benefit you or a loved one call and inquire about an assessment with our dedicated team or sign up here…

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD impacts 7-8% of the U.S. population. It can develop after an individual has lived through or witnessed a traumatic event that is shocking, scary or dangerous.

PTSD impacts 7-8% of the U.S. population. It can develop after an individual has lived through or witnessed a traumatic event that is shocking, scary or dangerous. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. A traumatic event is one that causes feelings of helplessness, terror and intense fear. Individuals with PTSD can feel stressed or frightened even when they are no longer in danger. Symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks (unwanted thoughts or images about the traumatic event), nightmares, difficulty sleeping, angry outbursts and feeling easily startled, tense or on edge. Individuals may feel depressed, anxious or guilty and may lose interest in activities they used to enjoy. They may feel emotionally numb or detached from others and may have difficulty remembering some parts of the traumatic event. Individuals with PTSD will usually try to avoid thoughts, feelings or certain situations that remind them of the trauma.

Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) is a specific type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy used to treat PTSD. Numerous studies have shown that PE can significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and anger in survivors of trauma. During PE individuals learn how to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings and situations that they have been avoiding. Facing these feelings and situations helps to reduce the symptoms of PTSD and teaches individuals that trauma-related memories and cues are not dangerous and do not need to be avoided. PE typically takes place over 8-15 sessions. The therapists at The Artemis Center for Guidance are trained in PE and are ready to assist you.

Anxiety Disorders

Evidenced-based Exposure Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. They impact 19.1 % of the US population, that is nearly 1 in 5 US adults and 7.1 % of children ages 3-17, or nearly 1 in 13 children. Anxiety can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships. There are several different types of anxiety disorders including, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). All anxiety disorders have one thing in common, which is persistent, excessive fear or worry in situations that are not threatening.

Experiencing occasional anxiety is an expected part of life. Individuals might feel anxious when faced with a situation at work, making an important decision or before taking a test. This feeling is usually temporary and resolves once the situation is resolved. For individuals with anxiety disorders the anxiety persists and interferes with important areas of their daily functioning, for example, their relationships, their academics, and their work performance. . Experiencing anxiety is a lot like experiencing fear but with anxiety there is no real danger. Anxiety disorders can lead to individuals avoiding situations that make them anxious and while this works temporarily, the anxiety tends to get worse over time.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective treatment for Anxiety Disorders. CBT helps to identify unhelpful thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety and teaches effective ways to respond to situations. CBT also uses exposure therapy where an individual works with a therapist to create a plan to gradually face situations that trigger their anxiety. By exposing an individual repeatedly to situations that make them anxious, they learn that what they fear does not happen and that they are able to tolerate their anxiety. Some individuals report that following exposure therapy they are also able to gain a sense of control and mastery over these situations, which also helps to decrease their anxiety.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the most common mental disorders. It impacts approximately 3% of the US population and 1 in 4 children between the ages of 13-18. GAD is characterized by persistent and excessive anxiety or worry about everyday activities or events where the anxiety or worry is out of proportion to the situation.

Individuals with GAD tend to have difficulty controlling their worry. They can feel nervous, anxious, irritable or on edge and have difficulty concentrating. Physical symptoms of anxiety can include fatigue, difficulty sleeping, headaches, sweating, racing heart, difficulty breathing, muscle tension and upset stomach. Children and teenagers may have similar worries to adults, but also may have excessive worries about their performance in school or in sports, catastrophes, such as earthquakes or war, safety of family members and being on time (punctuality).

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder impacts 6.8% of the U.S. population. It is characterized by an intense fear about being embarrassed or humiliated in social situations. Individuals with social anxiety disorder tend to avoid situations where they fear they may be judged negatively by others. They may avoid going out in public, engaging in conversations or participating in discussions at work or school.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder impacts 2.7% of the U.S. population It is characterized by unexpected and repeated panic attacks without an apparent cause or reason. Panic attacks can occur without a noticeable trigger and individuals with Panic Disorder may constantly worry about when the next panic attack may occur, which can lead them to avoid situations and isolate themselves. Symptoms of a panic attack include heart palpitations or increased heart rate, shortness of breath, shaking or trembling, sweating, dizziness, nausea, and /or feeling detached from reality. Individuals also experience a sense of terror and feel like they are “going crazy,” dying or losing control. Some individuals will go to the Emergency Room believing they are having a heart attack or a medical emergency, especially if they have never experienced a panic attack before.

Phobias

Phobias impact 8.7% of the U.S. population. They are characterized by a persistent and excessive fear of a specific object or situation. Some individuals may be fearful of specific situations, like flying on an airplane, being in enclosed spaces or going to school. Others may be fearful of the natural environment, such as thunderstorms or heights, or fear animals or insects. Other common phobias include fear of blood, needles or medical procedure and fear of choking, vomiting or loud noises. Individuals with Phobias will try to avoid the objects or situations that they fear and phobias can lead to panic attacks for some individuals.

Additional Offerings

We also offer empirically based treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To learn more click the corresponding link.

Our Services

We offer treatment to individuals, couples, families and groups experiencing a wide variety of issues and challenges including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma and life transitions.

At The Artemis Center for Guidance, we specialize in Maternal Mental Health and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). We also offer a full range of psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, children and teenagers. We offer treatment to individuals experiencing a wide variety of issues and challenges including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma and life transitions.

Services are available at one of our office locations, via our secure video platform, or through our on-site counseling service contracts with one’s facility, wherein our therapists commute to the facility location to provide ongoing treatment for students, clients or patients.

Our therapists honor individual differences and draw on each client’s family and cultural strengths. Utilizing the most current and effective interventions, our goal is to assist our clients to strive toward and reach their highest potential.

Exposure and Response Prevention
CBT for Anxiety Disorders
CBT-I (CBT for Insomnia)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
Play Therapy (for children)
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Short Term Solution Focused Therapy
Emotion Focused Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Our therapists honor individual differences and draw on each client’s family and cultural strengths. Utilizing the most current and effective interventions, our goal is to assist our clients to strive toward and reach their highest potential.