Therapeutic Modalities
EMDR
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful approach for working with trauma and PTSD as well as other presenting concerns including but not limited to anxiety and panic, depression, grief and loss, relationship challenges, distressing memories, and unresolved emotions or problematic coping strategies such as self-harm, disordered eating, and substance use. When we experience adverse life experiences, our nervous system can become overwhelmed and have difficulty making sense of the event(s). The material (sensory components, emotions, cognitions, and physical sensations) can get stuck in our brain and body. As such, when triggered (consciously or often unconsciously), our nervous system becomes activated and reacts in ways that can interfere with our ideal functioning.
In short, EMDR supports the processing and integration of stuck material and allows for new, adaptive information to emerge so that we are able to live more fully in the present and in alignment with our wisest Self.
As a Certified EMDR therapist I serve as a guide in facilitating the 8-phased protocol in a way that attunes to the individual client and supports the innate healing capacities we all carry. My role is to afford a safe enough space that allows for processing and resolution of the identified target event; this often includes developing resources and integrating parts work to increase one’s readiness or resolve barriers if they arise.
Please use these videos to learn more about EMDR.
Parts/Ego States Work
There are many approaches to parts work therapies including but not limited to Ego States Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Gestalt therapy. Each of these modalities recognize the complexity of our internal experience and hold space for the coexistence of thoughts, feelings, needs, beliefs, and reactions. These multiple perspectives, or sub-personalities, are honored as important, valuable parts of the whole where no part is deemed “bad”.
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Parts of self typically emerge during childhood and adolescence in response to factors within one’s family system as well as the surrounding environment (this may or may not include explicit traumatic events). A developing person uses coping strategies as a means of getting their needs met – emotional needs, physiological needs, and safety needs. Over time, the most effective strategies are reinforced and become more reflexive responses to conscious or unconscious triggers. It is important to note that the coping responses/strategies our parts rely on offer important information about the needs trying to be met as well as the amount of pain experienced (extreme coping strategies in response to extreme pain). Furthermore, as a child tries to make sense of their circumstances, parts typically develop beliefs or internal dialogue that carries into our present (“I’m not safe”, “something is wrong with me”, “I have to be perfect” to name a few).
Where challenges arise, is that the coping responses and internal narratives our parts have brilliantly relied on are not always healthy, sustainable, or effective while trying to navigate interpersonal dynamics and the day-to-day functioning in adult lives. Parts, though well-intending, can pose barriers to engaging through a Wiser, more grounded and present-oriented Self.
In working from a parts-informed lens, I offer support and guidance for clients getting to know their parts and transforming one’s internal system. Initially this might include identifying specific parts and their respective adaptive responses/roles, beliefs, experiences, needs, strengths while simultaneously exploring and increasing connection with the Wise/Adult Self. With more awareness and understanding we can increase resources for Self and parts to support repair of the lingering wounds, attune to the unmet needs/missed experiences, and consider alternative roles/coping strategies.
Examples of parts showing up in daily life:
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One part of me wants to have children, another part of me is terrified of what that entails
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One part of me knows my partner is committed to our relationship, another part of me becomes panicked when they’re upset and believes they’ll abandon me
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Even though I know it’s not my job, a part of me feels compelled to intervene when my parents argue
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I feel confident at social events but as soon as I leave I start berating myself
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I know I should practice these coping strategies my therapist taught me but I can’t seem to do them outside of sessions
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Other indications of parts activation: Internal negative self-talk, perfectionism, impulsive behaviors, overwhelming emotions, dissociation, dysregulation
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Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy attunes to the connection between the mind and body as a whole, acknowledging that our physical sensations are inherently tied to our emotions, thoughts, and behavior. Learning the language of our body (what it may be communicating or needed) can be a transformative experience and often supports the movement of “stuck” material. In the therapeutic space, somatic exercises can be a powerful tool for accessing one’s internal wisdom, increasing grounding, or facilitating healing that may not be accessible through cognitive/cerebral approaches.
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I integrate body-based practices into sessions based on each individual’s expressed desire and/or readiness to do so. For some, this might be an invitation to learn and practice breathing exercises, engage in body scans, or gently observe one’s present emotional state in the body. Other individuals may be inclined to integrate movement, sound, or touch; engage in guided resourcing; or go inward and utilize a personal practice within the safety of the therapeutic space.
