Kamia Harris boasts an extensive background, having held positions with the Department of Defence, private practice, Australian Psychological Society and Australian Centre for Post Traumatic Mental Health. Her areas of specialization are counselling, assessment, mental health intervention and critical incident response.
Kamia Harris has a special interest in neuroscience research and mindfulness-based techniques. Together with her clients, she strives to help them reach their objectives and enhance their quality of life.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT (Comprehensive Behavior Therapy) is the most widely utilized talking therapy to treat various mental health conditions. It emphasizes how your thoughts and feelings influence your behaviors, with the goal of helping you alter those patterns.
CBT has the greatest potential for those suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. Additionally, it may be used as a treatment option when medications aren’t working well for someone.
Treatment usually lasts up to 20 sessions, during which you and your therapist will work together to identify negative thoughts and feelings that are causing you distress.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is founded on the cognitive model of psychology, which states that thoughts and emotions are inextricably connected. CBT helps you change your perspective by challenging unhelpful ways of thinking or seeing things like catastrophizing or personalisation.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is an effective treatment for many mental health conditions. It teaches patients how to accept their negative thoughts and feelings without suppressing or rejecting them.
It also encourages them to embrace life’s difficulties and learn how to cope with them more optimistically. This can be accomplished by mastering mindfulness techniques, recognizing values, and making a commitment to action.
ACT emphasizes six core processes: cognitive defusion, acceptance, flexible attention to the present moment, self-as-context, values, and committed action. These help people increase their psychological flexibility and make lasting changes.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy that teaches patients how to regulate their emotions. Initially designed for borderline personality disorder patients, DBT has since spread to treat other mental health disorders like anxiety and depression as well.
DBT is designed to assist patients in accepting their reality and creating healthy interpersonal connections. Additionally, it teaches them techniques for controlling emotions and practicing mindfulness.
DBT can take different forms, such as individual therapy sessions or group ones. In the latter, therapists guide patients through role-playing scenarios and assignments that help them navigate difficult circumstances.
Studies have demonstrated that DBT can significantly reduce parasuicide rates and hospitalization days among those with borderline personality disorder. Furthermore, its cost-effectiveness has been established.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is an effective tool to relax the mind and stay present. It focuses on breathing deeply, as well as how your body feels, rather than worrying about the past or future.
Mindful practice also encourages you to take things slowly and think logically instead of reacting immediately. This is a valuable skill that can be employed both in daily life and during stressful moments.
Mindfulness not only improves your ability to observe and regulate emotions, but it can also have positive effects on your health. In fact, studies have demonstrated that those who regularly meditate are less likely to smoke or drink, have healthier weights, and experience fewer headaches and sleep problems (Loucks, Britton, Howe, Eaton & Buka, 2015).
Meditation practices can be a beneficial start, but it’s always wise to consult a mental health professional before trying them. This especially applies for those with health conditions such as diabetes or who are dealing with addiction issues.
