Scott Boscoe-Huffman, Psy.D.| Clinical Psychologist​

 

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I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University in 1990. I received my Masters of Arts in Psychology from the Colorado School of Professional Psychology in August of 2006. My Doctorate in Clinical Psychology was completed in July of 2010 from the University of the Rockies in Colorado Springs, CO. 

 

My training is in clinical work with clients in outpatient and inpatient services (including hospital settings). Additionally, my areas of research include religion, race, gender and sexual orientation. After being a counselor for years, I spent time in program development, supervision, training, fund development and management in non-profit organizations as a counselor, program director and executive director. The populations I have served include the acutely mentally ill, persons infected with HIV/AIDS, and foster children. I then returned to earn my clinical psychology doctorate. Although my concentration is clinical practice, I continue my research practice in my professional career.

 

I had the fortune of working as a therapist at a The Switzer Community Mental Health Center in Colorado Springs for three years (seeing clients of all ages and backgrounds), I then spent a year as an extern at the Children's Hospital in Denver and had my Internship/Residency at a large mental health facility in Florida, Park Place Behavioral Health. At Park Place I worked with children, adolescents, and severely mentally ill adults. This included rotations in the emergency department of the hospital, as well, as outpatient and long-term care. During this period, I was also certified in Cognitive Behaviorally Based Trauma Therapy and learned Dialectical Behavior Therapy for mood problems, such as, Borderline personality Disorder. I have received advance training in hypnotherapy and have been certified as an EMDR practitioner.

 

It is limiting to confine oneself to a particular theory. I am basically a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. I focus on client strengths and encourage a positive reframing of their cognitions while addressing automatic thoughts and irrational beliefs in treatment. Treatment, however, must follow assessment. I conceptualize my assessments using a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Psychodynamic concepts such as, determinism, genetics, defense mechanisms, dynamics, and the pleasure principal. In addition, I often assess using Systems Theory. We all function within a systemic framework of friends, family, and other social interactions. Understanding a client’s responses to other people is central to understanding how they function in their environment.

 

These three theories provide the foundation of my orientation. In addition, I incorporate some Existential Theory in my practice. This allows me to try to understand how clients perceive their world and to work from that understanding. Their reality is not necessarily mine. This also helped me understand that it is possible for clients to change their perception of reality. I assist them in reorienting their worldview to one that is more positive and optimistic. Many clients’ beliefs are tinged with the negative effects of bad experiences. They feel freed when they realize that they can overcome this negative world view. I use this understanding to tie back into both a Psychodynamic viewpoint of individual function and the positive psychology of Cognitive Behavioral Theory.

 

This framework influences my behavior with clients in ethical and practical ways. My work with clients changes as my knowledge grows. I now work with each client as an individual and start from where each client is at in their life. I may do breathing and yoga with one, while using hypnosis with another, and examination of irrational beliefs with yet a third.

 

 I will, however, use any technique that helps a client in need. I think in a holistic, systemic, and flexible manner and use focused interventions in a measurable framework. As in Multi-modal Theory, I believe in the ability of individual aspects of human psychology to work in sub-sets of interactions. Thinking in this way allows me to accurately evaluate a person by systematically assessing their areas of function and the interaction of each of these areas. This comprehensive approach to treatment involves specific correction of significant problems across differing modalities utilizing techniques from any school of psychology that will be effective. I, therefore, use assessment and evaluation to decide which techniques may be most effective for certain clients. This allows me to be pluralistic, but not overwhelmed with all of the many factors involved in human psychology.

 

All of these theories blend the interrelation of cognitive, biological, and social functions in affecting individual behavior. These theories share the underlying goal of changing a person’s outlook on life. This in turn affects my intervention style. It consists of self-help, restructuring negative thought processes, understanding the effects of past experiences, and provision of skill learning that leads to long term self-assistance.