About
Treatment approaches
Sara Mathews Dixon, MSW, LCSW is an experienced psychotherapist providing treatment to young adults, individuals, couples and families. She has 20 years of experience in different sectors of the behavioral health field, giving her a rich and comprehensive understanding of the issues that people are faced with in today’s world.
Sara believes in helping people to find and capitalize on their own internal strengths as a way to assist them in dealing with all the challenges that come with living life. She places trust in her clients to create their own own goals and partner with her in making progress toward them.
Sara received her Bachelor’s degree at Central Connecticut State University and her Masters in Social Work from New York University. She is licensed in both Connecticut and New York and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Treatment approaches
Trained in several facets of psychotherapy and counseling, Sara's process draws from a variety of different treatment approaches. Depending on the issues being treated, the stated goals of her client, and the personal strengths and lifestyle he or she brings to the treatment process, Sara devises a treatment plan that's at once realistic and solution-focused. She doesn't stick to one pure model, but chooses a combination of the following modalities to treat each situation accordingly:
Evidence-based practice
A treatment approach that requires practitioners to follow psychological approaches and techniques based on the best available research. It includes the following methods:
- Person centered planning
- Motivational interviewing
- Stages of Change
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Psychodynamics
Psychodynamics is the study of the interaction between a person's conscious and unconscious motivation. It is based on the idea that inner conflict causes repressed behaviors and emotions, and the treatment is designed to surface into the patient’s consciousness.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
CBT is a psychotherapeutic approach that is used to treat dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes through goal-oriented, explicit systematic procedures. It is also effective in treating a variety of other conditions, including mood, anxiety, personality, eating, substance abuse, tic, and psychotic disorders.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy*
DBT combines standard cognitive-behavioral techniques with elements of distress tolerance, acceptance, and mindful awareness which stem from meditative practice. It is generally effective in treating bipolar disorder and symptoms and behaviors associated with spectrum mood disorders, as well as in working with patients who experience self-injury, chemical dependency and sexual abuse survivors.
*Sara only uses elements of DBT and CBT in her practice. In their official application these approaches require the individuals being treated to undergo both group and individual therapy, so Sara finds that implementing components of these, rather than the full treatment, is the most efficient means to recovery.