Therapeutic Approach and Modalities
What does it mean to be trauma-informed?
Trauma refers to how the body responds when things are too hard to cope with. We might have limited resources, are not old enough to understand what’s going on, or are simply unable to process the experience. As a result, the nervous system’s ability to respond gets overwhelmed and the resulting impact on the body is the trauma.
Being trauma-informed means that as a clinician, I work with your system to rediscover safety and autonomy. Trauma looks different for everyone, and we cannot assume that one method of healing will work for all systems. Working with trauma requires us to work collaboratively and with consent.
Modalities and Techniques I Use:
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based approach to treating traumatic or distressing events. EMDR uses a technique called bilateral stimulation (BLS) to process emotionally intense experiences which reduces their emotional charge. BLS is any movement that crosses the midline of the body, and functions to integrate both hemispheres of the brain. This process occurs naturally all the time, for example our eyes move side-to-side during REM sleep. EMDR therapy can be used to treat nightmares, traumatic memories, anxiety, grief, addiction, and much more!
Somatic Therapies
“Soma” means “body” and somatic therapies refer to body-based modalities. My work is informed by the science of our nervous system, including the mechanisms and impact of the vagus nerve. In session, somatic work may look like body scans, breathing exercises, identifying emotions in the body, co-regulation, and more.
Parts-Work
There are many types of parts work, and the modality I most often use is called Internal Family Systems (IFS). “Parts” refers to the numerous aspects of identity that each person has. You might have heard yourself say something like, “part of me wants this and part of me wants something else” – which shows how we speak about parts as different entities that interact with each other. In addition to parts, we all have a true, inner “Self” who’s grounded, calm, curious, and compassionate. Parts-work aims to form relationships with our parts, identify their functions, and communicate with them in ways that promote inner harmony.
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
EFT is grounded in attachment theory, which describes the importance of a secure bond between infant and caregiver. Research shows that this bond influences the person’s mental health and adult relationships. EFT expands on this idea by highlighting the emotional impact that couples have on each other in conflict, and works to create safety and trust in their dynamic. EFT therapy works to map out the negative cycles that couples find themselves in, identify ways that partners trigger each other and threaten emotional safety, and then build new, healthier interaction patterns.