Approach
My therapeutic approach is inherently integrative. My focus is to fuse and synergize various methodologies to meet the needs of each individual with the intention of always moving towards health and wholeness. Relief from depression, anxiety, stress, and trauma-based issues can occur when integration of all parts of one’s being takes place in order to function healthily.
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In my clinical practice, I use a variety of ways to facilitate healthfulness:
Therapeutic Relationship
The therapeutic relationship allows for a unique experience of vulnerability and deep emotions to arise, be processed and transmuted within a safe and protected container. It is a space where unconscious material can be tenderly revealed and worked with in order to be reprocessed and healed. The therapeutic relationship offers an opportunity for individuals to be fully and safely witnessed with deep compassion, authenticity, and empathy which fosters the most important aspect of any healthy relationship--TRUST.
EMDR
EMDR is an acronym that stands for 'Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing'. It is a therapeutic tool that utilizes bilateral stimulation and a set of well researched and documented protocols and procedures to re-process traumatic events and memories that have been locked in a fight/flight/freeze state in the mind/body. EMDR supports linking the mind and body to recognize that the trauma is no longer occurring in present reality by balancing the right and left hemispheres of the brain. It is a powerful and unique therapeutic tool in that it has the capability of yielding positive results within 1-5 sessions for a single traumatic event. Clients working with complex traumas, such as childhood sexual abuse, may need more sessions for resolution.
How does EMDR work?
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Traumatic and distressing memories are stored in the brain complete with all the sensory and cognitive information connected with it such as images, scents, sounds, thoughts, feelings and body sensations. When other distressing events have been experienced that are related in context and theme, they are layered on top of each other to create a network of distressing memories. This can disenable the brain’s capability to process traumatic/distressing events and memories because it is overwhelmed in a perpetual state of fight/flight/freeze. This is also known as a trauma loop.
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In 1989, a psychologist named Francine Shapiro realized that when the left and right hemispheres of the brain were alternately stimulated through eye movements, audio or tactile devices (bilateral stimulation) while processing traumatic memories with a specific set of protocols, the level of distress went down significantly or was entirely gone. This pairing of bilateral stimulation and a set of protocols unique to EMDR seem to support the brain’s ability to process traumatic/distressful events and memories. EMDR disrupts the trauma loop, kick starts the brain’s capacity to respond adaptively, and accesses new or different memory networks that are beneficial to the individual.
Attachment-Based Therapy
Attachment-Based therapy is rooted in attachemnt theory which aims to help people heal from trauma and form secure attachments in their relationships. Essentially this approach explores early attachment to caregivers and how these early attachments give rise to different insecure attachment styles that we carry with us in our relationships with others. Based on which insecure attachment style a client exhibits, will determine the direction of the therapeutic treatment in order to obtain a healthy and secure attachment style. Each insecure attachment style has a unique set of challenges to overcome, but are absolutely attainable. Attachment styles are not hard wired and can be transformed dramatically through subconscious reproamming techniques that will change adverse beliefs, habits, and patterns that influence our emotions and behaviors into healthy ones.
Expressive Arts Therapy
Expressive Arts therapy accesses the power of the arts and creative modalities that have been a part of the human experience since time immemorial. Through movement, visual art, music, drama, writing, and storytelling, expressive arts tap into our inherent nature to communicate, give meaning to life experience, and heal to actualize wholeness. As a mainly non-verbal modality, expressive arts can beautifully access deep emotional and unconscious material through the less linear and intuitive right brain. This modality is extremely containing and has the capacity to hold and shed light upon specific issues that may have felt unspeakable or overwhelming before.
Sand Play Therapy
Sand Play therapy allows clients to create a scene in a sand tray using a variety of different figurines and objects that express a feeling state. This modality can access the unconscious through varying forms of characters, narratives, and storylines through spontaneous play.
Sand Play therapy gives clients an opportunity to concretely bring to consciousness unconscious material through symbolic choices which can help to transmute challenging experiences and shed light on how to better navigate those experiences moving forward.
Faith-Based Therapy
Faith-Based therapy is a modality that's offered to clients who would like to incorporate their faith into their therapy journey. Faith-based therapy refers to counseling or psychotherapy that involves spiritual or religious components that are integrated alongside the therapeutic treatment. Clients for whom faith plays a major role in their lives may benefit from this type of counseling. Faith-based therapy can help clients lean into their values to make decisions, understand suffering, set priorities, and create purpose and meaning in their lives. The faith-based therapy that I offer is primarily Christian centered where prayer, reflections on forgiveness, and reading & interpreting biblical text can support and guide clients moving through difficult seasons in their lives. Faith-based therapy is completely voluntary, never imposed and up to each client.
I intertwine these modalities to meet the individual needs of clients. I am open to learning what specifically works for each client to make sure that they receive the best support with the material they are working with. I am open to questions and discussion regarding ways to tailor the approach so that clients are feeling that therapy is useful in their lives.