Many people are familiar with the idea of post-traumatic stress because it is so dramatic and life-disrupting. Hypervigilance, emotional upset, fear, numbing, and intense flashbacks or nightmares are just some of the symptoms of this painful state. I work with that using EMDR therapy and hypnosis, but I also work with some of the more subtle effects of a painful past.

 

For instance, have you ever found it difficult it is to speak up for yourself when you needed to. Is it hard to balance taking care of yourself with caring for others? Do you lash out at someone you love, because they remind you somehow of past abuse? It might be hard for you to let go of the ways their traumatic past has shaped your self-concept and behavior.

 

I see this with people who have had dysfunctional childhoods, emotionally or physically abusive romantic relationships, or even people who have been bullied in the past or discriminated against because they were not part of the dominant culture. All these experiences can linger far longer than they need to. EMDR therapy can help resolve them so you can enjoy life in the present.

 

EMDR therapy was developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980's and is based on the Adaptive Information Processing model. It helps people get unstuck from painful events in their past by allowing the experience to be fully processed, which releases the negative self-concepts, emotions, and body sensations that have been trapped in your body for so long.

 

People often feel terrific after the events are cleared because they can finally be free of all the old coping styles that might have worked back then, but don't work anymore.

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I have been using EMDR for many years and have been certified by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) as an EMDR Therapist since 2008.