EMDR

EMDR(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy protocol that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of traumatic life experiences.  EMDR accomplishes this by utilizing the Adaptive Information Processing System(AIP) labeled by Francine Shapiro, which processes the multiple elements of our experiences and stores memories in an accessible and useful form. Memories are linked in networks that contain related thoughts, images, emotions, and sensations. Learning occurs when new associations are forged with material already stored in memory. When a traumatic or severely emotionally disturbing event occurs, information processing may be incomplete, sometimes because strong negative feelings may exceed an individuals capacity to cope with them at the time the experience occurred.

This process can result in the symptoms seen in PTSD such as intrusive thoughts, emotional disturbance, and negative self-referencing beliefs. It is not only major traumatic events, or “large-T Traumas” that result in PTSD that can cause psychological disturbance. Sometimes an event thought to be relatively minor through the lens of adulthood that occurred in childhood, such as feeling like they didn’t fit in with one’s peers in school or being emotionally neglected by one’s primary caregivers, may not be adequately processed. Such “small-t traumas” may not cause someone to exhibit the typical symptoms for PTSD, but can result in the basis of more generalized behavior that actually ends up causing the perpetuation of the problem we wish we didn’t have.

EMDR is thought to complete the processing of a traumatic memory, which was not done when the experience first occurred. More adaptive learning can then take place, and the experience is stored with emotions, and thoughts that can help to guide the person towards what they actually want in their lives. EMDR can be used with small-t trauma such as with attachment wounds or repeated themes and large-T trauma such as a single incidents like a car accident or loss of a loved one, however, sometimes a client may benefit from extra stabilization or preparation using resourcing or other types of therapy to compliment and prepare for EMDR processing. This may allow for processing more preliminary issues such as internal conflicts like fear of change or success that can prevent or interfere with processing of the target traumatic experience if not addressed prior to engaging in EMDR.

EGO-STATE THERAPY/IFS

Ego-state therapy is a Psychodynamic Therapy approach utilized to treat various behavioral, emotional, and cognitive issues within a person. It uses techniques that are common in group and family therapy, but with an individual client, to resolve internal conflicts that manifest in a "family of self" within a single individual. This therapy has been reported by my clients to be a beneficial component of their therapy specifically through the lens of the Internal Family Systems Model as it helps to identify and mend attachment wounds that may not make sense to process with the basic EMDR therapy protocol alone, and the past traumatic experiences influencing them, which can also be processed with CBT and EMDR Therapy.

CBT

CBT(Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) can be thought of as being similar to Ego states therapy in that it allows one to become more aware of their thoughts and emotions; identify how certain types of situations, thoughts, and behaviors trigger certain emotions; and improve feelings by changing dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors. CBT can be used as a stand alone therapy, but can also be used with EMDR Therapy, and is also something I tend to utilize in conjunction with Ego States Therapy to facilitate the process of improving the cohesiveness and connection of the personality system by identifying the source of internal conflicts that can be rooted in distorted core beliefs based upon absolute all or nothing thinking.

MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is the concept of being completely present in each current moment as it passes. Think of it as a state of mind where one just notices what they are experiencing as they are experiencing it without judgment. We are accustomed to judgement when we notice things, but are not used to noticing them without judging them or having an opinion about what we are noticing. This is a challenging reflexive habit to deviate from, but if someone is able to utilize mindfulness effectively, although we cannot control what emotions we feel when we feel them, when we experience them we can validate and acknowledge them without them consuming us. When we are less at the mercy of being controlled by our own emotions we are able to choose to respond to them with more compassion and understanding as by becoming mindful of them before we react to them they are less likely to end up determining how our behavior. Mindfulness can also become a very helpful component of someone’s therapy especially during EMDR processing or the Ego States Therapy as it allows us to connect with certain emotions in a more intentional, willful, and safe manner, so they can be processed along with the experiences they have sensitized.

An Integrative Relational Approach

These Evidence Based Practices can all be used independently, but when combined create a more streamlined process allowing you to see specific areas where you may benefit from improvements in internal cohesiveness, and connection. This knowledge combined with processing of related past negative experiences can lead to reduced over-corrective or unfavorable emotional and behavioral reactions, and increases in adaptive, and appropriate, proportionate emotional and behavioral responses to situations, ourselves and others. Think of this process like your Google Maps for psychotherapy. You are driving the car, have control of the speed, direction, and can brake whenever you feel it’s necessary. You also know the destinations you want to reach, even if you might not be able to see it clearly just yet. I just provide the most efficient routes I can for you to choose from along with alternate routes in case you need to take a detour in favor of a recently developed destination.