How We Integrate CBT, DBT, Schema, and ACT Into the ShiftGrit Core Method



You’ve probably seen therapy models like CBT, DBT, ACT, or Schema Therapy listed on clinic websites.

At ShiftGrit, we do something different.

Surreal abstract illustration of a chocolate cupcake with icing and a cherry, used as a metaphor for integrated therapy modalities within the ShiftGrit Core Method.

We don’t swap between models.
We use a structured, identity-level method as our foundation — and integrate other therapeutic techniques when they serve the work.

Think of our method as the cake.
Other models? They’re the icing.

🧩 What This Looks Like in Practice:

  • CBT strategies may help a client reinforce thought reframes after we’ve reprocessed the belief beneath them.

  • DBT tools can offer emotional regulation between sessions where pattern activation is high.

  • Schema Therapy helps us name long-standing emotional loops that feed the client's internal “pressure cooker.”

  • ACT supports values-based action and defusion as clients step into new identity patterns.

📘 View the Full Framework:

Integrated Therapy Modalities →

📄 PDF Download (for therapists or clients who want deeper insight):

Download the Integrated Modalities PDF →

📊 SlideShare (for a visual overview):

View the SlideShare →

🎯 Final Thought:

Structure doesn’t mean rigidity.
And flexibility doesn’t mean chaos.
At ShiftGrit, we teach therapists how to work with both — so you can get to the root and still meet the moment.

📘 Explore Our Method
📍 Meet Our Therapists



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Trauma Reactions Explained by a Psychologist in Calgary: The Dog and the Work Boots Story

Image
The Dog and the Work Boots: Why You’re Still Triggered and What to Do About It Imagine a rescue dog. She’s been taken in from a bad situation. The shelter is safe, the people are kind, the food is regular. But every time someone wearing work boots comes near her, she growls. Her tail tucks. She backs into the corner. The people at the shelter know she’s safe. They know they’re not going to hurt her. But her nervous system doesn't believe it yet. This story might seem like it’s about animals. But it’s actually about us. At ShiftGrit Psychology & Counselling in Calgary, we often start therapy with a simple question: what’s your version of the work boots? Because just like the dog, our nervous systems carry forward experiences long after they’re over. That’s why no matter how much you tell yourself “It’s different now,” your body still reacts. You freeze. You over-explain. You pick a fight. You shut down. You say yes when you mean no. These responses are not about wha...
Read more

How the Brain Forms Limiting Beliefs – and How to Change Them

Image
The Neuroplasticity of the Brain and Its Impact on Beliefs In the context of psychologists in Calgary , understanding how neuroplasticity influences beliefs can be crucial for therapeutic outcomes. When approaching limiting beliefs, it is essential first to recognize that these beliefs are not static; they evolve based on our experiences and interactions with the environment. Through the lens of neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience, we see that these beliefs are malleable rather than fixed entities. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to create new neural pathways, which directly impacts how we perceive and interpret our surroundings and ourselves. Every time we learn something new or experience a significant event, the brain reorganizes itself by forming new connections between neurons. This process is particularly relevant when addressing limiting beliefs because it opens up possibilities for rewiring thought patterns that no longer se...
Read more

Why You Still Feel Anxious (Even After Therapy): A Psychologist in Calgary Explains the Spider Story

Image
Why You Still Feel Anxious (Even After Therapy): A Psychologist in Calgary Explains the Spider Story Have you ever told yourself all the right things — “I’m safe,” “I’m doing my best,” “It’s fine” — but still felt completely overwhelmed? If you're searching for a psychologist in Calgary , you're likely not just looking to talk. You're looking to feel real, lasting change. That is exactly what ShiftGrit Psychology & Counselling is designed to deliver. Let’s walk through one of the metaphors we use in our program to help clients understand why traditional therapy may not have worked, and why what we do actually leads to change. The Spider Story: Logic vs. Instinct Picture this. I’m your client, and I’m terrified of spiders. You’re explaining to me all the logical reasons not to be scared. Spiders in Alberta aren’t dangerous. I’m bigger than the spider. There’s no real threat. And then a tiny spider walks across the floor. Suddenly, I’m halfway across the ro...
Read more