EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

EMDR is a unique therapy designed to treat trauma related symptoms, as well as to get to the root of beliefs about yourself that are inhibiting you. This therapy has become extremely popular as research has continued to demonstrate that it is one of the most effective methods to treat PTSD and related disorders. This therapy involves identifying a negative belief, feeling, or memory that is troubling you and working with your therapist to find the origin of this issue. From here we process the memory while engaging both sides of your brain using eye movements or another type of bilateral stimulation.  This process taps into how the memory was stored, and helps your mind and body reprocess your initial experience and derive new meaning from it. It is difficult work, but the healing can be rapid and transformational with EMDR. 

​

Ego State Therapy

Ego State Therapy says that humans have different ego states (or parts of self) that are exhibited in different circumstances. Most people can identify with having a work persona and a home persona. Without needing to think about it, they can shift seamlessly in and out of these states. For some, they have more frequent and difficult ego state shifts. I use Ego State Therapy to work with people who struggle with mood and identity (state) shifts to help them lead a more consistent life.  While working with a client, I pay attention to state shifts in the room, and I help people identify and understand the function of the state shift. I help people isolate ego states, nurture and heal them, and to feel more ownership over them. The result - an immense amount of self-awareness and a calmer emotional experience overall.

​

MBSR - Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction  

MBSR is yet another powerful tool that I integrate into my practice. Another evidence-based practice that can have a profound effect on the here-and-now, it incorporates relaxation techniques through breath work and grounding, with a focus on awareness and noticing what's happening in the present moment. The relaxation and grounding techniques are wonderful for those experiencing anxiety and dissociation. They help get someone out of their thoughts and into either their body or the room. 

​

Awareness and noticing involves beginning to notice the experiences you are having in the here-and-now. This can include tuning into your body, your thoughts, and what's around you. Especially in this moment in history, we are pulled in many directions and struggle to simply be. MBRS can help one awaken to the moment and tune in or tune out. The awareness and noticing component are critical in the use of Ego-State Therapy, CBT, and EMDR. 

​

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a tool that can be incorporated into a typical therapy treatment plan, or can be used alone to target a specific behavior (ie - smoking). Hypnosis is considered a trance state - a state where your attention is focused, your awareness is reduced to internal experiences, and you are more open to suggestions. This trance state can be elicited by someone trained in hypnosis, such as myself, and allows for the clinician to bypass the "conscious mind" to speak directly to the subconscious, allowing messages to get through without the usual defenses of the conscious mind. While under hypnosis, a client has full control and is able to stop at anytime. Although you are in a trance state, an awareness of the world around you is maintained and there is not a loss of control over any part of the experience that might not feel right.

​

​

​