Treatment for Trauma, Anxiety Symptoms and Phobias
After more than 20 years of providing therapy, I've discovered that the "scaffolding" for deeper healing and growth our “relational alchemy,” and a faith in my clients' intrinsic healing capacity. Also key are the evidence-based therapy techniques. My clients also come to trust in their innate healing process.
Establish Rapport, Themes, and Goals
Building rapport helps deepen curiosity, trust, and self-compassion. Personal history is important, but so is identifying what is and isn't working for you. In collaborating together, we would:
Frame themes, such as: low self esteem, perfectionism, difficulty setting boundaries, people pleasing, or “Imposter Syndrome.”
With trauma learn to track and regulate out of triggered states created by PTSD or childhood trauma (C-PTSD). These can cause: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, panic attacks, depression, phobias, hypervigilance, catastrophizing, or physical discomfort.
Set goals and plan which therapy approaches might be best. We would then track and evaluate progress along the way.
Somatic Mind Body Therapy and EMDR Therapy for Trauma, PTSD, and Complex Relational Trauma (C-PTSD)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) is a gentle mind body somatic therapy that is evidence-based and uses mindful, focused awareness of the body's responses to briefly recalling a memory. During this trauma work, I guide then my client to focus 100% on their body’s process to release energy previously used to repress trauma triggers.
For trauma processing with EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) we would use alternating taps or tones known to help the brain lower, or eliminate, disturbance levels due to traumatic memory.
Freedom from Restrictive Behaviors and Distorted Beliefs is Possible
EMDR therapy and somatic mind body therapy are also known to heal, and update, distorted childhood beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or limiting behaviors like perfectionism or people-pleasing. Here is a more detailed example of this work:
A client is triggered into a shame spiral by his supervisor’s minor suggestion. Recalling this moment could be an entry point to reprocess and heal his reactivity. A memory might surface of when his second grade teacher publicly shamed him, leaving him believing he is “stupid.”
Typically, in using EMDR therapy or somatic mind body therapy processing, he’d likely realize his belief was untrue, he’d feel self-compassion, and his child self could receive a missing experience of protection and comfort from his adult self. It’s a depth-oriented process that feels authentic.
Inner Parts Work: IFS and TIST
If clients are open, I also offer IFS (Internal Family Systems) and TIST (Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment) to help them recognize and communicate with internal child parts, and thus avoid becoming hijacked and controlled by these child parts. Isn’t it preferable to guide your own life?
Parts work is just one orientation, if it feels right.
The Flash Technique: A Fun Way to Do Trauma Healing
The Flash Technique is a method to heal an isolated traumatic event.
It starts by briefly touching upon a traumatic memory, and then immediately discussing a happy memory, along with alternating tapping or tones.
This process updates the trauma trigger center, reclassifying the event as harmless and over.
Breaking Free with Compassionate, Evidence-Based Therapy
If you'd like to find out more and see if this could help free you from your past, I invite you to schedule a free consultation to learn more about my evidence-based approach.