EMDR Therapy
I am a Level II trained EMDR therapist.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
EMDR is considered the leading treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. EMDR therapy has been thoroughly researched and validated. This therapy incorporates the mind and body and allows them to heal together. EMDR tends to be the top choice for reprocessing difficult memories and experiences. It has also been shown to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, fears, and phobias.
How does it work?
When we go through something painful or traumatic, sometimes our brain stores these memories in unhealthy ways. These memories can become "stuck" and can start to influence various things in our lives. Have you ever been doing or talking about something and an unrelated feeling invades? This can be why.
EMDR incorporates bilateral stimulation via buzzers, sounds, or eye movements to help your brain reprocess these memories. Our goal is not to get rid of these memories, but to change your relationship to them. For example, someone who witnessed something horrific may go from holding onto self-hatred and responsibility to believing and understanding that they are a survivor and not responsible for what they witnessed.
I have worked with people who report changes in their world view, self-esteem, and a freedom from their past experiences.
I offer 1.5 hour sessions for EMDR reprocessing sessions so that you may stay with your memories and therefore heal faster.
I received my training via an EMDRIA approved trainer. The style I was trained in is SAFE EMDR, Somatic and Attachment-Focused EMDR.
For more information, please visit www.emdr.com
Brainspotting
"Where you look affects how you feel"
What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting is a trauma therapy that works deep within the brain to access the limbic and autonomic systems within the body's nervous system. Formed from EMDR therapy, it is a therapy that is considered to have quick, profound results.
Using a "brainspot", we are able to access feelings and memories that talk therapy would otherwise be unable to access. Do you have feelings or memories that you have a hard time putting words or thoughts to? Brainspotting can help with that.
Like EMDR, brainspotting incorporates the mind and the body to heal past events. By paying attention to how we feel physically, we are able to bypass our "thinking brain" and process at a deeper level. Our "thinking brain" or neocortex is incredibly dense with neurons making it difficult to reprocess quickly.
Together, we will find a "brainspot" and I will help guide you through the process. Brainspotting has shown to be effective with issues such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and many others.
Watch the video below for a deeper explanation:
Click here to see a video for a deeper explanation.
Internal Family Systems/Parts Work
We are a sum of all of our parts
Internal Family Systems (IFS), or parts work, is a type of therapy that allows us to look at the different parts of ourselves. IFS allows us to conceptualize our issues as parts of ourselves rather than being all-consuming features. I am not anxious, but I do have a highly anxious part, for example. Together, we can identify and work with your wounded parts. These parts may include your sad, angry, or shame parts, just to name a few. Our parts may be in constant conflict with each other causing struggles such as anxiety and/or depression. Parts also hold onto our stories. Sometimes, those stories hold trauma. Through guided IFS, together we can help your parts release the burdens they hold from those stories. In other words, through this exciting method of therapy, we can let go of unhelpful behaviors, beliefs, and stories that have been ruling our lives or hurting us.
I've had client's refer to this therapy as "Dungeons and Dragons but in my head" and I think that's such a fun way of looking at it! In IFS, you get to be in the driver's seat. I will help guide you, but this is your world we're working in. IFS is also amazing in the fact that it teaches us how to do this work even outside of therapy!
I received my training directly through a 6 month program provided by the IFS Institute.
Click here to watch a video explaining parts.
