EMDR and trauma therapy
trauma therapy
I offer trauma therapy for a range of difficulties, primarily focused on those that occurred during childhood and/or adolescence (e.g., emotional, relational, physical and/or sexual abuse or neglect).
Trauma can, but does not have to, be something “big.” Trauma can be repeated small experiences that chip away at your sense of worth, identity, and safety. It can be the absence of something. You are worthy of care and support regardless of the type of trauma you experienced.
I use two main trauma therapies - EMDR and Schema Therapy.
about emdr
EMDR is one of two trauma therapy approaches that I offer. It’s an evidence-based therapy for trauma and can also be used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, phobias, eating disorders, and grief.
-
The first phase (assessment) is a chance to understand more about you and your experiences. We’ll consider if EMDR is appropriate for you and how you would like your life to be different.
At all times, it’s up to you how much information and detail you choose to share about what you have experienced. You don’t have to share information that you don’t want to.
-
In the second stage, we’ll work through strategies to cope with difficult emotions that may arise, as well as deciding what memories, emotions, beliefs, and difficult experiences you want to process.
-
In stage 3, we’ll begin processing your experiences. This involves calling to mind your memories, beliefs, emotions, and bodily sensations whilst simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation (following my fingers moving with your eyes, tapping, or listening to sounds alternating sides). This process is thought to overload your memory systems and mean that the traumatic memory becomes less vivid and distressing. We also use a similar process to integrate more positive and helpful beliefs about yourself and the world around you.
We repeat this process for each of the identified memories. For those with a single traumatic event, EMDR can be effective in just a few sessions. For longer trauma (e.g., childhood abuse or neglect), you may need longer term therapy (10+ sessions) integrated with other approaches.
Processing can be challenging. I will be with you the whole time and will guide you through. You are always alert and in control during processing, you can choose to stop if needed.
-
In the final stage, we check how you are feeling, if there are any experiences left to process, and if we have achieved your goals. If you are still experiencing challenges we can continue with EMDR or integrate another approach (e.g., schema therapy).
This is a helpful and brief video from the EMDR Association of Australia explaining EMDR.
about SCHEMA THERAPY
Schema therapy is a longer-term therapy that aims to understand and meet your emotional needs that weren’t met in childhood.
Schemas are deeply held ways that we view ourselves, others, and the world around - they encompass thoughts, emotions, memories, urges, physical sensations. Our schemas influence our behaviour and we can develop a variety of ways that we respond and cope with them.
In schema therapy, we’ll start by exploring your schemas and how they are influencing you now as well as considering what needs weren’t met for you in childhood. We’ll work together at a pace that feels right for you, leaning on the safety of the therapeutic relationship and opportunities to be truly heard and seen. Using a variety of techniques in session, as well as activities to do at home, we’ll begin to make changes to your schemas.
You may like to consider schema therapy if you would like to:
better understand your ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving;
change unhelpful thoughts about yourself and others;
increase helpful coping strategies and stop those that are no longer serving you;
cope with distress and interactions when your needs aren’t met;
improve your relationships with others;
better regulate and manage challenging emotional experiences;
set and hold boundaries.
