Please note Dr. Bailey is not currently accepting new clients for either psychotherapy or therapeutic assessment.

Psychotherapy

Clinical Orientation

Dr. Tyson Bailey's approach to therapy focuses on helping individuals create a life that is effective, meaningful, and integrated. This is accomplished by creating a collaborative relationship, and gaining a better understanding of how problems have interfered with clients' ability to be present with important parts of their lives. He helps clients explore how social, cultural, and political labels shape their behavior, as well as beliefs about their ability to solve their own problems. It can also be helpful to discuss how past relationships and family interactions are currently affecting one's life. Dr. Bailey's approach also addresses the connection between mental health and the physical body. He uses methods from a variety of therapeutic theories including Narrative Therapy, Solution-Oriented Approaches, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which are chosen based on mutually agreed upon treatment goals.

Dr. Bailey firmly believes that the most effective and lasting solutions are reached by fostering healthy relationships. He feels it is important to explore a client's thoughts and experiences, their personal understanding of mental health, and solutions that have worked in the past. Throughout his career, clients have shared stories that have demonstrated how increased understanding of thoughts and emotions is an important element of building a more effective and healthy life. He understands that it can be difficult to begin the therapeutic process, and is willing to discuss any hesitations that may arise.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

In addition to other therapeutic techniques, Dr. Bailey utilizes EMDR, which is an integrative treatment approach that can help reduce the negative effects of life stressors on the body and mind. It is effective with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as other emotional disturbances that interrupt the mind's natural healing process.

When life stressors are significant enough to interrupt this process, the sights, sounds, feelings, and physical sensations can become stored in an incomplete or dysfunctional way. When memories are not stored properly, our body and mind may not understand the event was in the past and is now over. This can lead to experiencing aspects of the event repeatedly, which can interfere with an individual's ability to live a full life. As the memories become processed, the adaptive information becomes available and can be appropriately stored. In addition, the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are no longer useful are discarded. This process can free up space within the memory networks, increasing the individual's ability to develop more effective coping strategies.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dr. Bailey is trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which focus on helping individuals learn new skills in the following areas: mindfulness, regulating emotions, maintaining relationships, and tolerating distress situations.

Martial Arts and Therapy

Dr. Bailey's experience in the martial arts provides the foundation for many of his current clinical interests. He began training in 1997 and has served as an instructor for over a decade. In addition, his dissertation research, focused on trauma survivors in the martial arts, found that individuals often noticed connections between their martial arts practice and an willingness to engage in the healing process. Through these experiences, Dr. Bailey has learned about the connection between physical and mental health, especially how traumatic memories and other negative life events can become stored in the body. He has learned how the healing power of movement and human connection can provide a foundation for a more effective and satisfying life.

Insurance, Fees, and Cancellation Policy

Dr. Bailey can bill many insurance companies directly for his services, including Premera Blue Cross, Lifewise, Regence, and First Choice Health. However, you should check with your insurance company regarding what your benefits are for outpatient psychotherapy, including deductible, number of sessions per year, and whether or not the benefit is managed by the insurance company. If you have a managed benefit for outpatient mental health, you must obtain an authorization prior to seeing me.

Therapeutic Assessment

The assessment process is designed to answer questions about how cognitive abilities, behavior, and emotions may be interfering with school, work, or relationships to others. Dr. Bailey is committed to providing assessment services that highlight the strengths a person has in addition to offering concrete recommendations to assist in living a more healthy and effective life. Dr. Bailey offers assessment services that focus on the following issues:

• Posttraumatic Reactions
• Learning Disability & ADHD
• Treatment Planning & Diagnostic Clarification
• Cognitive Impairment - Brain Injury, Dementia

Approach to Assessment

Dr. Bailey views psychological assessment as a collaborative process that begins with an extensive interview to understand the particular needs of each person. In addition, he will discuss the basics of the assessment process during the first meeting and address any questions. Once the assessment is complete, Dr. Bailey will provide a feedback session to discuss results and recommendations for the future. In most cases, he will also provide a copy of the written report at the end of the evaluation.Dr. Bailey recognizes that psychological assessment can be a challenging experience, and is committed to completing the process in a way that reduces distress as much as possible.

Dr. Bailey believes that effective communication is an important factor in all therapeutic interventions. For this reason, he will remain in consistent contact with the evaluee. Because testing can take 2-8 hours to complete, Dr. Bailey will work with clients to schedule appointments that mostly closely match openings in their schedule. He is committed to completing this process as quickly as possible.

The Assessment Process for Children

After more than a decade of working with children in a non-clinical setting, Dr. Bailey has developed skills that help children understand how the assessment process can answer important questions about them. He provides a welcoming environment for children, with a focus on meeting the unique needs of each person. Whether this means shorter sessions, playing games before beginning, or explaining the process in terms they are able to understand, it is important that children have a positive experience. Generally, Dr. Bailey will meet with the parents for the first meeting, so he can have a chance to explore their understanding of the child's experiences and history. Once this is complete, he will work with the child to complete the remainder of the evaluation. Any medications that are taken on a regular basis should be given at their usual time, unless Dr. Bailey advises otherwise.