coherence therapy

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Dr. Bonner also offers interventions drawn from a psychotherapeutic orientation called Coherence Therapy (formerly known as Depth Oriented Brief Therapy-- D.O.B.T., developed by Bruce Ecker, Ph.D. & Laurel Hulley, Ph.D.).  

Coherence Therapy is an experiential approach that draws upon the findings of neurobiology and constructivism to 1) elucidate the compelling purposes served by emotional symptoms and 2) provide experiential interventions designed to dissolve these symptoms at their roots. Dr. Bonner has found Coherence Therapy to be a valuable complement to Internal Family Systems-- that is, specific parts of our mind produce and maintain symptoms for reasons that are coherent and purposeful.  

The Coherence Therapy approach is also effective in working with teens, as it abstains from pushing them to make changes and is respectful of their need to "save face" by making changes when they are ready. This perspective is similar to the therapist and parenting guidelines described in the page on Parenting Teens.  

Coherence Therapy resources: www.coherencetherapy.org 

Webinars Integrating IFS, EMDR, & Coherence Therapy via the phenomenon of Memory Reconsolidation

Bonner, C. (2009) The Element of Surprise in Coherence Therapy with Teens Unpublished chapter (18 pages) -- focuses on the treatment of academic procrastination in a high school student. Download PDF here  

Bonner, C. (2013) Memory Reconsolidation: A Framework for Psychotherapy Integration? (Book Review of Unlocking the Emotional Brain).  In The GPPA Report (quarterly newsletter of the Greater Pittsburgh Psychological Association), Winter Issue.  Download here

Ecker, B. & Vaz, A. (2022) Memory reconsolidation and the crisis of mechanism in psychotherapy. New Ideas in Psychology, Volume 66.

Ecker, B., & Bridges, S. K. (2020). How the science of memory reconsolidation advances the effectiveness and unification of psychotherapy. Clinical Social Work Journal, 48 (3), 287–300. 

Ecker, B.,  Ticic, R., & Hulley, L. (2024) Unlocking the Emotional Brain: Memory Reconsolidation and the Psychotherapy of Transformational Change (Second Edition). New York: Taylor & Francis. (download Chapter 1 here)  

Kredler, V. (2023) How does Internal Family Systems therapy lead to  transformational change through memory reconsolidation? in Counselling Australia, Autumn Volume 24 (2), 26-36.