Experiential Psychotherapy at Riverside

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At Riverside Counseling, I provide evidence-based psychotherapy that goes beyond traditional talk therapy. My specialty is experiential psychotherapy, an immersive approach that integrates mind, body, and nervous system interventions to support emotional processing, regulation, and lasting behavioral change.

This approach combines clinically supported techniques—including Somatic Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), and Brainspotting—with structured exercises designed to address trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, and self-worth challenges. Sessions are goal-directed in alignment with clinical standards.

Your session at Riverside Counseling may also include:

• Somatic Breathwork & Guided Hypnosis and/or Visualization – to support emotional regulation, reduce anxiety, and facilitate cognitive processing 
• Auditory Integration & Brain Entrainment Techniques – clinically applied to enhance attention, focus, and nervous system stabilization 
• Narrative and Storytelling Exercises – to promote cognitive restructuring, insight, and processing of past experiences 

Each element is implemented within a psychotherapeutic framework, focused on measurable mental health outcomes such as symptom reduction, improved self-worth, and enhanced coping skills.

• Somatic Experiencing (SE) – addressing trauma stored in the body to release tension and restore nervous system regulation 
• Body Awareness & Movement Therapy – gentle movement, posture, and breath exercises to support emotional processing 
• Sensorimotor Psychotherapy – combines body awareness with cognitive processing to work through trauma 

• Deep, controlled breathing to reduce anxiety and stress 
• Progressive muscle relaxation for calming the nervous system 
• Mindful breath practices integrated with cognitive processing 

• Guided Storytelling / Life Narrative Work – reconstructing experiences to build insight and self-understanding 
• Journaling exercises integrated into therapy sessions 
• Narrative Exposure Therapy for trauma processing 

• Brainspotting – focusing on eye positions linked to unresolved emotional experiences 
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) – structured trauma therapy using bilateral stimulation 
• Visual or auditory cues to facilitate processing of traumatic memories 

• Clinical hypnosis for relaxation, cognitive reframing, and emotional regulation 
• Imagery exercises to access deeper emotional experiences or promote self-compassion 
• Visualization exercises integrated with talk therapy goals 

• Therapeutic soundscapes to support focus, relaxation, and emotional regulation 
• Binaural and/or rhythmic auditory stimulation used as a tool within psychotherapy for nervous system regulation - used in EMDR and Brain Spotting
• Music-assisted cognitive processing (e.g., using music to cue memory, reflection, or relaxation) 

• Drawing, painting, or sculpting to externalize emotions safely 
• Integration of visual arts into talk therapy to process trauma, grief, or self-worth issues 
• Creative projects used as metaphors for personal growth 

• Mindfulness exercises to increase awareness of body sensations, emotions, and thought patterns 
• Mindful movement or yoga-based techniques integrated into therapy 
• Meditation with guided reflection 

• Structured group exercises for practicing interpersonal skills, social regulation, or emotional awareness 
• Role-playing and simulations in safe therapeutic settings 

Experiential psychotherapy at Riverside Counseling is particularly effective for:

• Trauma processing and post-traumatic stress 
• Anxiety and chronic stress management 
• Depression and mood regulation 
• Grief, guilt, and shame processing 
• Emotional regulation and nervous system balance 

By engaging both cognitive and somatic processes, this approach enhances traditional psychotherapy, helping clients achieve emotional insight, behavioral change, and improved mental health.

All interventions are medically necessary psychotherapy and are documented according to clinical standards. Sessions focus on treatment goals, interventions used, client response, and progress toward objectives, making them fully reimbursable by most insurance providers. I contract with Soul Work Counseling in Champlin, MN and they provide admin, billing, insurance, and portal management services on my behalf. 

If you’re seeking a therapist in Brainerd, MN or online therapy in Minnesota who provides structured, evidence-based experiential psychotherapy, Riverside Counseling is here to support your journey.

Contact me today to schedule a session and begin a focused, clinically guided approach to lasting emotional and behavioral change.