Lori Ebert, PhD
I received my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois in 1999, and am licensed to provide psychotherapy in the state of North Carolina. After completing my training, I worked at RTI International and Duke University Medical Center conducting research on the effects of trauma and working with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations to make effective interventions for trauma more widely available. More recently, my work has focused on using mindfulness informed therapies that are grounded in scientific research to help people learn to deal with painful thoughts and feelings more effectively and live in a way that is oriented to what they care about most deeply.
I have specialized training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and continue to read, attend trainings and seek consultation in these approaches. I also offer Insight Dialogue, an interpersonal meditation practice. My work with clients is informed by my own meditation and yoga practice. Values that I aspire to cultivate in my life and work include:
I have specialized training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and continue to read, attend trainings and seek consultation in these approaches. I also offer Insight Dialogue, an interpersonal meditation practice. My work with clients is informed by my own meditation and yoga practice. Values that I aspire to cultivate in my life and work include:
- Fostering Freedom – to apply my knowledge, skills and life energy to offer others greater freedom to live lives of meaning and value by helping them understand, accept and more effectively navigate the pain that comes with being human.
- Receptive Presence – to be fully present and available to others in a space of receptivity and willingness, including when things arise that are challenging or difficult to comprehend.
- Learning–Openness – to continually seek opportunities to learn and see beyond what I already know; to remain open and curious about how things actually are, prefacing understanding over being right or certain.
- Integrity – to be trustworthy, dedicated and conscientious in my work and strive for consistency between my values and what I say and do.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a cognitive behavioral therapy shown to be effective in addressing anxiety, depression and other common psychological concerns in numerous scientific studies. A basic assumption of ACT is that experiencing difficult thoughts and emotions is a normal and unavoidable part of being human and that our attempts to control or avoid these experiences can create unnecessary suffering. ACT helps people learn to let go of the struggle with pain, clarify what they value most deeply, and commit to living in a way that is aligned with those values. Learning to be more mindful—aware, open and curious about what is happening in each moment of our lives—is an integral aspect of this approach.
When we observe our internal experience with openness and receptiveness, even the most painful thoughts, feelings, sensations and memories can seem less threatening or unbearable. In this way mindfulness can help us to transform our relationship with painful thoughts and feelings, in a way that reduces their impact and influence over our life. – Russ Harris |