TEAM Therapy
At Acacia Clinics, we have therapists trained to provide a specific process-based therapy called TEAM.
TEAM is uniquely suited to our Accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) protocols as a priming and follow-up treatment for our patients.
The goal of TEAM therapy is two-fold:
To optimize brain health for TMS
Address the context of the struggles facing the individual as they seek to feel better and help them achieve it.
About TEAM Therapy
TEAM therapy is a top-down approach that focuses on how and why the patient has been stuck, and then how to get the individual out.
As TMS can effectively pull one out of the “hole”, TEAM deals with the problem of the hole. The specific, participatory nature of TEAM therapy is timed to the window of increased plasticity in brain function following TMS treatment.
The patient is engaged in reducing their own suffering, leading to a sense of self-efficacy that is wholly different from the helplessness they may have been living with for so long.
TEAM Therapy
Duration of Therapy
TEAM is a shorter term psychotherapy. The duration of therapy depends largely on the individual, the willingness to invest in the work and the complexity of the issue. Typically, individuals can achieve some resolution in 16-20 hours of therapy.
Weekly Sessions
Weekly sessions range in length from 45 - 110 minutes. More work can be accomplished in a longer single session, but we also understand that availability can limit the duration of a session.
Following TMS
Following TMS, patients would start with their individual therapist. Currently at Acacia, we have three clinicians providing on-site and/or teletherapy. Each therapist is practiced in TEAM therapy but also offers their individual specialties.
BELIEVE Program
The therapy has an optional bottoms-up component as well. This is our BELIEVE program in which we address four major life areas that affect brain health. Ideally, therapy begins with BELIEVE at least two weeks before the start of the scheduled accelerated TMS.
MEET OUR TEAM
Two of our clinicians, Leigh Harrington, MD, and Karen Yeh, Psy.D., are Level 5 trainers in this therapeutic approach. They each have at least five years of teaching experience in TEAM-related areas. Valentina del Olmo, LCSW, has been a TEAM practitioner since 2016.
Patient preferences will be taken into consideration as much as possible and may be based on cultural familiarity, professional disciplines and experience, and areas of specialization. An introduction to each therapist is included below.
Leigh Harrington, MD
Clinical Psychiatrist , Physician, Therapist
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Dr. Leigh Harrington is a Level 5 Certified TEAM-CBT Master Therapist and Trainer. She completed her Adult Psychiatry Residency at Stanford where she met Dr. David Burns who has shaped her thinking about psychotherapy, personal growth, and empowerment. She served as Chief Resident her final year at Stanford. She has worked for Yolo County providing mental health services and administrative leadership for much of the past decade, working as the medical director for mental health services for 5 years.
Karen Yeh, Ed.M, PsyD
Clinical Psychiatrist , Acacia Partner
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Dr. Yeh is a Level 5 Master Clinician of TEAM-CBT, a model of therapy developed by David Burns, M.D., of the Stanford University School of Medicine and author of bestselling books, including Feeling Great (2020). Karen is a clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety, mood disorders, parent-child issues, couples therapy, relationship issues, adolescent & child therapy, stress & behavior issues, life changes, and spiritual/Christian counseling.
She is currently based at the Feeling Good Therapy and Training Center in Fremont. Prior to therapy, Karen studied Biology at MIT.
Valentina del Olmo, LCSW
Therapist
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