Dr. Cheryl Yanuck takes the time to assess many different facets of a person’s situation: symptoms, personal history, environmental stressors, support network, and medical status. Each psychotherapy appointment is 45 minutes long, occasionally longer. Dr. Yanuck communicates with other providers that are involved in the patient’s care as necessary and reviews their records and laboratory results. Once psychotherapy and/or medication treatment is under way, Dr. Yanuck doesn’t give up on getting the best outcome possible. She believes in forming a partnership with her patients to overcome even the most challenging symptoms.

Dr. Cheryl Yanuck uses a variety of psychotherapy techniques as indicated for each individual patient. She has received years of advanced training in the treatment of trauma and dissociation. She uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a technique designed specifically to overcome the effects of trauma. She is a Somatic Experiencing (SE) Practitioner, a body technique which teaches clients to regulate their autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) nervous systems, in order to overcome the effects of traumas on the body. She integrates EMDR and SE together, as well as with ego state therapies such as Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS) and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS). These techniques focus on finding and freeing up compassionate parts of self that can help wounded child parts to heal. In addition, Dr. Yanuck uses elements of supportive psychotherapy, insight-oriented psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, art therapy, and guided imagery.

On the biological side, Dr. Yanuck is skilled at prescribing psychiatric medications, and she can incorporate nutritional supplements into the regimens she prescribes. Relaxation techniques and other mind-body techniques are also recommended when appropriate.

Dr. Yanuck keeps up with the literature in psychopharmacology and complementary medicine approaches to treating mental illness. She regularly attends psychotherapy trainings as well to increase the therapeutic modalities she has to offer patients. Dr. Yanuck doesn’t allow big drug companies to tell her what is “scientific.” She uses a variety of educational resources in her own education.

By its very nature, a psychotherapy relationship is a committed partnership. Patients need to bring a willingness to open up, learn to trust, work on their own issues, develop insight, and work on changing maladaptive habits of mind and behavior. Dr. Yanuck promises to provide a respectful, safe place where patients can feel comfortable revealing their inner selves. She helps patients understand themselves better so they can change old patterns and overcome burdensome emotions such as shame, grief, anxiety, and anger. She teaches patients to take better care of themselves, emotionally and physically.