Trauma Therapy

Many people refer to “Capital T Trauma” and “little t trauma” depending on whether the trauma originated from a single event in which a person’s life was endangered such as war, an accident, violence (capital T) or a series of events such as the stress and difficulty of a significant loss, of growing up in an emotionally abusive or neglectful family situation, or of a chronic illness (little t).   Regardless of the capitalization of the first letter, all trauma includes an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and powerlessness. 

Unresolved trauma lingers in the form of both emotional and physical symptoms which can interfere with daily life and relationships.  Some emotional symptoms of trauma are anxiety, difficulty concentrating, heightened anger, feeling numb or disconnected, heightened fears, mood swings, irritability, heightened guilt and shame, withdrawal, depression, suicidal thoughts, racing thoughts, and strong desires to drink or use drugs, sex, food or some other substance to dull the pain.  Physical symptoms of trauma include difficulty sleeping, nightmares, flashbacks, a heightened startle response, stomach problems, panic attacks, increased heart rate, and extreme tiredness.

I am a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and, as such, have specialized training in several forms of trauma treatment.  I am a member of the International Association of Trauma Professionals.  I also provide EMDR therapy.  EMDR is recognized throughout the world as an effective trauma treatment.

For more information on trauma: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/emotional_psychological_trauma.htm

EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

For more than 20 years specially trained therapists have used a form of treatment called EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.  The founder of EMDR, Francine Shapiro, has said that in hindsight a better name might have been Reprocessing Therapy.  Many would agree given the mouthful of initials and the questions raised by the name alone.  

EMDR combines elements of several different traditional types of therapy.  The goal of EMDR is to address and reprocess distressing memories from the past which are triggering and affecting an individual in the present.  EMDR has 8 defined phases.  Throughout these phases a technique is used to activate the area of the brain in which information is processed.  Shapiro initially used eye movement from one side to the other for this activation (hence the Eye Movement portion of the name).  Over time researchers and clinicians found that other forms of stimulation such as alternating auditory tones and/or tapping could accomplish the same purpose. 

EMDR has been used most extensively to help people with dealing with some kind of trauma.   Recently, EMDR has also been successfully used to help individuals suffering from panic attacks, anxiety, addictions and chronic pain.

For more information on EMDR:

http://www.emdr.com/general-information/what-is-emdr.html

Other Issues

I also see clients for other issues including anxiety, family crises, life transitions, addiction, depression, loss and grief, self harm, and abuse (physical, sexual, verbal, and/or emotional).