Trauma Therapy
Trauma Therapy and EMDR for PTSD and CPTSD
Surviving a trauma such as an accident, a crime, or abuse can leave you feeling a wide range of emotions. Some people experience guilt, anxiety, or depression after a traumatic event or series of events. Traumas can also involve betrayal trauma from infidelity, ongoing emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect. Other common reactions include intrusive memories of the event, nightmares, or efforts to avoid any little thing that might remind you of the trauma. Sometimes it is hard to imagine ever having a normal life or relationships after going through such an event.
The good news is that therapy can help reduce or even eliminate the symptoms you feel after a trauma. You may not have chosen to live through a trauma but often choosing how and when you enter into therapy and the healing process can be an empowering step to feeling like you have your life back again.
I use EMDR (www.emdr.com or www.emdria.org), Internal Family Systems, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive therapy and holistic interventions to help people work towards healing from their traumas. These modalities are proven effective. I am a member of EMDRIA (the international association for EMDR) and have training as a medical mental health provider so I can help you pursue holistic and complimentary methods of healing to help your nervous system recover. I also regularly pursue professional trainings in PTSD and CPTSD including the work of Bessel Van der Kolk ("The Body Keeps the Score) and Stephen Porges ("The Polyvagal Theory") and others to ensure my clients have the most up to date treatment interventions in my practice.
Many survivors are reluctant to start therapy, as they do not want to “stir it all up again.” But we will take therapy at your pace and I will be there to support you each step of the way.
EMDR is recognized by the World Health Organization, American Psychiatric Association and the United Nations as a preferred and effective trauma treatment. I am experienced in advanced EMDR protocols beyond the basic template. So if EMDR has not been helpful for you in the past contact me to discuss how these more advanced protocols might serve you. The most recent EMDR protocols are designed to minimize the re-activation of your trauma matrix and can be more gentle than the traditional protocols yet extremely effective. Depending on your situation I may be able to provide EMDR via teletherapy if it is safe to do so.