My Approach to Helping
I use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy to help people overcome the negative effects of all types of trauma, including emotional, physical, sexual, and narcissistic abuse, domestic violence, and psychological manipulation.
Understanding Trauma: Trauma is pervasive; it does not discriminate. Terrible events or repeated daily stresses can affect anyone and everyone, making life more difficult. It is also important to understand that trauma is not determined by the event itself, but rather by the experience of the individual.
What is EMDR Therapy? It is a form of therapy that helps people heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. EMDR consists of 8 phases: (1) History and Treatment Planning; (2) Preparation; (3) Assessment; (4) Desensitization; (5) Installation; (6) Body Scan; (7) Closure; (8) Revaluation.
Attention will be given to a negative image, belief, and body feeling related to specific events that cause trauma in the individual. While the client focuses on the upsetting event, the therapist will begin sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps. The client will be guided to notice what comes to mind after each set. The sets of eye movements, sounds, or taps are repeated until the event becomes less disturbing.
How EMDR Resolves Trauma: EMDR therapy helps the brain process traumatic memories by disconnecting the brain’s “fight, flight, and freeze” response from the original event(s). The process of bilateral stimulation described above helps resolve the negative memories and “rewire” the brain, installing more positive, resilient imagery.
What Conditions Can EMDR Treat? EMDR therapy helps children and adults of all ages. The following challenges have been treated with EMDR: Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias, Chronic Illness and medical issues, Depression and bipolar disorders, Dissociative disorders, Eating disorders, Grief and loss, Pain, Performance anxiety, Personality disorders, PTSD and other trauma and stress related issues, Sexual assault, Sleep disturbance, Substance abuse and addiction, Violence and abuse