Trauma Responsive Therapy
Most people experience trauma and toxic stress in their lives- either as children or in adulthood. These experiences can change how we see ourselves and the world. They also make changes to our minds and bodies. Traumatic experiences have long term impacts on the way we think, feel, and relate to others, and they even change the way our nervous system reacts on a moment-moment basis. Therapeutic interventions that safely and directly target the consequences of trauma and toxic stress are called Trauma Responsive.
Trauma responsive therapies are critical for truly helping people with trauma begin to heal. I am deeply committed to helping clients of all ages, cultural backgrounds, genders, and abilities move beyond their trauma so they can live happy, successful, and connected lives. To ensure I can do this well, I have been building my expertise in evidence-based approaches for healing trauma including: EMDR, polyvagal informed therapies, and integrative mind-body therapies. More detailed explanations about each of my approaches to therapy are offered below.
EMDR
I am an EMDR Certified Therapist and EMDRIA member who works with teens and adults to resolve traumatic memories and toxic stressors from the past that are having a negative impact on their lives and relationships in the present. EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is one of the most widely used trauma treatments across the world. While originally developed for treating PTSD with adults, EMDR is now used to successfully resolve a wide of range of mental health concerns with children, teens, and adults including anxiety, complicated grief, and complex trauma. I use EMDR to help clients resolve the traumatic impacts of adverse life experiences such as parental divorce, loss of a loved one, infidelity, chronic illness, living with addiction, being bullied, antisemitism, racism, homophobia, and transphobia. My particular approach to EMDR emphasizes safety in the therapeutic relationship to ensure clients of all ages, cultural backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations feel safe and connected throughout our work together. I infuse strategies and concepts from the leading experts in the fields of Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Informed Therapy, and Interpersonal Neurobiology into my EMDR practice to meet the specific needs and preferences of each client. These approaches ensure our work together is safe, collaborative, and effective.
Mind Body Practice
I utilize a range of mind-body practice approaches to help my clients improve their mental health, interpersonal relationships, and overall well-being. These approaches are rooted in Interpersonal neurobiology, which was developed by Dr. Dan Siegel, and combines research and clinical expertise from neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry, and attachment theory. A primary goal of interpersonal neurobiology is to foster integration. Integration, a foundation of well-being, can be undermined by trauma. Trauma and toxic stress often leave people feeling fragmented, stuck in the past, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves and others. Mind-body practices that foster integration are plentiful and can include visualization, art, mindful awareness, breathing, body scans, tapping, yoga, music, movement, and relaxation. These strategies help clients to build and strengthen positive neural networks and enhance the integration of feelings, thoughts, body sensations, and experiences. When we become more integrated, we can experience a sense of ease, authenticity, and peace in ourselves, our lives, and our relationships.
Polyvagal Theory
My trauma work is rooted in Polyvagal Theory. Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, offers a scientific explanation for understanding feelings of safety as they relate to our brain and nervous system. Polyvagal theory is critical for understanding the role of physiology in managing stress and well-being.
Polyvagal theory is very important aspect of my trauma responsive practice. It offers a framework for clients to understand trauma and its effects on the body (nervous system) and mind. Using the fundamental concepts of polyvagal theory within therapy, I can help clients become aware of their physiological responses to stress and trauma. By exploring their fight-flight-freeze-collapse responses along with triggers and glimmers, clients build their capacity to tolerate distress (window of tolerance) and learn to better regulate their emotions safely and effectively.
Dana, D. (2018). The Polyvagal theory in therapy: engaging the rhythm of regulation (Norton series on interpersonal neurobiology). WW Norton & Company.
Porges, S. W., & Dana, D. (2018). Clinical applications of the polyvagal theory: The emergence of polyvagal-informed therapies. W W Norton and Company.