Therapies Offered
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
All of the listed therapies may be used with each other. I typically draw from whatever modality seems most appropriate.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
All of the listed therapies may be used with each other. I typically draw from whatever modality seems most appropriate.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is based on the assumption that many difficulties with mood and social interaction are caused by distorted beliefs. The first step is to inventory strengths and consolidate them. After that, CBT-based therapy addresses specific, client-identified problems--what's not working. Client and therapist collaborate together on finding a solution building on client's strengths--what is working. Getting to a solution may require an analysis of habits and re-evaluation of beliefs in session. But between sessions, client will also try out new behaviors. Homework--doing something new--is the only way to reap the benefit of thinking new thoughts.
CBT is based on the assumption that many difficulties with mood and social interaction are caused by distorted beliefs. The first step is to inventory strengths and consolidate them. After that, CBT-based therapy addresses specific, client-identified problems--what's not working. Client and therapist collaborate together on finding a solution building on client's strengths--what is working. Getting to a solution may require an analysis of habits and re-evaluation of beliefs in session. But between sessions, client will also try out new behaviors. Homework--doing something new--is the only way to reap the benefit of thinking new thoughts.
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR is a therapy originally developed by Francine Shapiro to address traumatic experiences, especially single-incident traumatic experiences such as an automobile accident or an assault. Its application has been refined and is now used effectively to help those who have suffered repeated traumas or whose early attachment history was troubled.
For Trauma
Trauma may leave us in a chronic state of "fight or flight" even when the actual threat has passed. In that state it typically becomes difficult to get adequate sleep, offer others an appropriate level of trust, make far-sighted decisions, focus on work, or relax into play. Instead, the traumatized person swings between hyper-vigilance and shutting down.
EMDR is a phased treatment for the symptoms of trauma. EMDR promotes the adaptive processing of the overwhelming information (for instance, "I am about to die!") it was impossible to process at the time of the trauma. Whereas the undigested traumatic experience leads to a feeling of being stuck, adaptive information processing leads to a new recognition of possibilities.
The International Society of Stress Studies practice guidelines lists EMDR as an evidence-based level A treatment for PTSD in adults.
For Attachment Issues
EMDR is also helpful in resolving attachment issues--the stuckness that comes from growing up in an emotionally or otherwise threatening environment and that interferes with forming or maintaining loving relationships in adulthood.
For a detailed description of the phases of EMDR, please see the EMDRIA website: http://www.emdria.org/associations/12049/files/EMDRIA%20Definition%20of%20EMDR.pdf
For an explanation of how EMDR leads to adaptive information processing, please see Ellen Farrell's synopsis of the theory: http://www.ellenfarrell.com/PDF/what_is/general/emdr_information_proc.pdf
For research on trauma, please see David Baldwin's Trauma Pages: http://www.trauma-pages.com/
EMDR is a therapy originally developed by Francine Shapiro to address traumatic experiences, especially single-incident traumatic experiences such as an automobile accident or an assault. Its application has been refined and is now used effectively to help those who have suffered repeated traumas or whose early attachment history was troubled.
For Trauma
Trauma may leave us in a chronic state of "fight or flight" even when the actual threat has passed. In that state it typically becomes difficult to get adequate sleep, offer others an appropriate level of trust, make far-sighted decisions, focus on work, or relax into play. Instead, the traumatized person swings between hyper-vigilance and shutting down.
EMDR is a phased treatment for the symptoms of trauma. EMDR promotes the adaptive processing of the overwhelming information (for instance, "I am about to die!") it was impossible to process at the time of the trauma. Whereas the undigested traumatic experience leads to a feeling of being stuck, adaptive information processing leads to a new recognition of possibilities.
The International Society of Stress Studies practice guidelines lists EMDR as an evidence-based level A treatment for PTSD in adults.
For Attachment Issues
EMDR is also helpful in resolving attachment issues--the stuckness that comes from growing up in an emotionally or otherwise threatening environment and that interferes with forming or maintaining loving relationships in adulthood.
For a detailed description of the phases of EMDR, please see the EMDRIA website: http://www.emdria.org/associations/12049/files/EMDRIA%20Definition%20of%20EMDR.pdf
For an explanation of how EMDR leads to adaptive information processing, please see Ellen Farrell's synopsis of the theory: http://www.ellenfarrell.com/PDF/what_is/general/emdr_information_proc.pdf
For research on trauma, please see David Baldwin's Trauma Pages: http://www.trauma-pages.com/
pillow photo used by permission, Wilma Wyss, http://www.wyssdesign.com/
If you cannot fall asleep or have trouble waking up, EMDR and Neurofeedback can help.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is an experiential technique that brings mindful attention to the somatic components of the way we are in the world or what might be called our internal organization. As a trauma therapy, it aims at liberating the action we wish we could have taken when we were overwhelmed. The therapist pays close attention to the level of autonomic arousal the client is living with and works to expand the client's capacity to live life fully.
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy
AEDP is an experiential technique that is based on the assumption that psychopathology arises from the experience of "unwilled and unwanted aloneness in the face of unbearable emotions" (Fosha, 2009). The therapist works to undo that aloneness by staying present with the client throughout the distress that initially had proved overwhelming.