Alcoholism and Addiction
A significant percentage of my practice is comprised of individuals struggling with alcoholism and addiction. For most of these individuals, shame and guilt are pervasive, chronic, and destructive. Many individuals struggling with alcoholism and addiction are blamed by others and/or themselves for their lack of motivation and willpower. Unfortunately, the addictive process is much more complex than willpower and motivation alone. An important part of the therapy I provide is increasing awareness and knowledge of the ways, in which, alcohol and drugs affect the brain. When working with individuals struggling with alcoholism and addiction, I provide a gross oversimplification of the ...
Santa Barbara Counseling: What to Expect
Santa Barbara Counseling: What to Expect It used to be, long ago, that counseling or therapy, was relegated only to those referred to, by others, as “crazy”. Despite coming leaps and bounds from this antiquated school of thought, many are still deterred from seeking therapy, a barrier, that is largely, borne out of a stigma from the past. Some fear being thought of as “messed up” or “weird”, while others fear being seen as “troubled” or “weak”. There are a myriad of different deterrents, which is unfortunate, as therapy can be beneficial to anyone willing to commit themselves to the process. ...
Santa Barbara Therapist
Individuals seek a Santa Barbara therapist for many different reasons. Often they are in distress, experiencing a crisis, or devoid of feeling altogether. Some just want to learn more about themselves and improve their well being, while other individuals find themselves sitting with a therapist at the urging of a loved one. The reasons may be the same or they may be different, but the constant that any therapist can expect is that each individual brings with them their own unique personalities and life circumstances. This is important to remember because not every therapist is right for every client. As a ...
Expectations
April 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Welcome to my Santa Barbara counseling website, servicing Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Montecito, Thousand Oaks, Ojai & San Luis Obispo. There is a wealth of information on this site, ranging from information on mental health issues, to how to find the right therapist for you, to my own personal bookstore. This store is located under the header “Therapy” and offers books that I feel to be particularly helpful, which can be purchased directly from that page.
Connect
April 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
If you would like to keep abreast of updates about different mental health issues (eating disorders, depression, defenses, etc) please join me on Facebook and Twitter.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/santabarbarapsychotherapy?ref=ts
Appointments & Forms
April 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Appointments are available in my Santa Barbara office on Mondays, Thursdays, and Friday afternoons. I schedule appointments in my Ventura office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. You may schedule an appointment by calling me directly at (818) 518-6775 or by using the form under Contact, which will be sent to my email.
Fees are due at the time of session, unless another arrangement has been previously made.
The only insurance companies that I am contracted with are Cottage Hospital, UCSB, and Blue Shield. If you have Blue Shield, please refer to the FAQ section located under Therapy to determine whether or not I am in your specific plan, if you have a deductible, and if you have a co-payment.
In order to maximize your initial session with me, please take the time to download and complete the forms below. They may either be emailed to me at amcgarrma@yahoo.com or brought to your intial session.
Authorization for Medical Records (Ventura office)
Patient-therapistagreement (Ventura office)
Authorization for Medical Records(SB) (Santa Barbara office)
Patient-therapistagreement (Santa Barbara office)
Press
April 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Local Mind Body Specialists will be featured here and on my blog.
Need to get in shape? Check out www.soladventure.com
Melanie Webb formed Sol Fitness Adventures as a way to unite her passions – nature, fitness, and adventure travel – into a comprehensive program that would inspire and motivate others to challenge the body, engage the spirit, and connect with the outdoors. Melanie’s expertise has been featured in Cosmo Girl, D.C. ’s Style, Real Simple, and Weight Watchers magazines, on FOX Local News, and Good Morning America with ABC news correspondent Jake Tapper.
Need a chiropracter? Check out www.drkaragochnour.com
Dr. Kara Gochnour is committed to bringing you better health and a better way of life by teaching and practicing the true principles of chiropractic wellness care.
Take The Quiz
April 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Please feel free to copy and paste the quiz below, circle the appropriate response, and send it to amcgarrma@yahoo.com
If you answer yes to any of the questions below, therapy may be right for you
Do you suffer from feeling “blue” or “down in the dumps”? yes no
Do you experience mood swings? yes no
Do you experience lasting periods of significantly elevated moods? yes no
Does your concern over your weight interfere with your life? yes no
Are you experiencing conflict with someone or something in your life? yes no
Are you under a lot of stress? yes no
Is your anxiety difficult to manage? yes no
Does your fear of being judged interfere with your life? yes no
Are there obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors that you cannot control? yes no
Are you frustrated with your place in life? yes no
Are you unhappy with your body image? yes no
Do you cause harm to yourself? (e.g cutting, burning, etc) yes no
Is your life ruled by fear? yes no
Do you let what others think determine your actions? yes no
Have you been betrayed/hurt by someone and are having trouble moving on? yes no
Have you ever been abused? yes no
Have you experienced trauma? yes no
Do you have a problem with drugs or alcohol? yes no
The list above is not exhaustive, but offers common problems/issues that people face, which therapy may help.
Emotions
April 26, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Emotions cannot be permanent. That’s why they are called “emotions”–the word comes from “motion,” movement. They move; hence, they are “emotions”. From one to another you continually change.
-Osho
Intense emotions have been likened to an ocean wave. They crash over you and may knock you off your feet, however, just like a wave, they always recede. Learning to ride these waves of emotion without “acting out” is a necessary life skill.
Eating Disorders
The Laxative Myth
Many individuals abuse laxatives in the hopes of controlling or losing weight. ...
Metabolism and Your Eating Disorder
What is Metabolism and How Does it Affect My Eating Disorder? Metabolism, in its...
Why do we need fat in our diets? What’s wrong with eliminating carbohydrates?
WHY WE NEED FAT TO SURVIVE Fat, often erroneously, is mistaken as the “enemy”...
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Addiction
Alcoholism and Addiction – Santa Barbara Counseling Resources
Alcoholism and addiction are tricky diseases. They are very complicated to understand,...
Alcohol Addiction Drug Therapy – Santa Barbara Therapy Resources
Santa Barbara has plenty of resources for alcohol addiction, drug therapy, and other...
Santa Barbara Therapist – How to Choose the Best Resources
When you decide to see a Santa Barbara therapist, you will have to make sure that...
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Self-Harm
Self-harm
Self-injury (self-inflicted violence, self-injurious behavior or self-mutilation) can be defined as deliberate, intentional injury to one’s own body that causes damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue. This behavior is usually engaged in to cope with overwhelming and distressing feelings and situations, where the physical pain acts to release... [Read more of this review]
Cutting
Cutting is the most common form of self-injury. It involves making cuts or scratches on one’s body with any sharp object, such as knives, needles, blades, scissors, etc. If no such object is available, individuals will often resort to using their own fingernails. Common places on the body to cut include the arms, legs, and front of the torso. Read More →
Burning
Burning can occur via an actual flame to the skin or by heating something metal and pressing it to the skin (branding). Burning can also be done with a cigarette or other similar object. A friction burn occurs by rubbing something, such as a pencil eraser, on one’s skin. Read More →
Read more posts from Self-Harm
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Testimonials
I feel compelled to express my gratitude to Dr Adina McGarr Knabke. She is not only a fantastic therapist but someone who genuinely cares about me and my well being. I would recommend Dr Knabke as i have to many of my peers.
Anonymous
“I know myself to be very stubborn and initially I believe this worked against me as I was reluctant to be open to you and the many valuable ideas you had. When I decided to give in a little I realised that what I needed was exactly what I had been unwilling to accept. I appreciate greatly that you didn’t get in on my games and helped me to see that being a survivor is better than being the victim forever. Thanks.” Robert MCCarthy
Robert McCarthy
Robert MCCarthy
