What to Expect

Most therapists are exposed to working with trauma diagnoses in their practice, but not all therapists adopt a trauma-informed approach. Therapists who are trauma-informed will be able to recognize trauma symptoms and have a sound comprehension of how it impacts an individual's physical health, relationships, and overall quality of life. 

Therapists who are trauma-informed also incorporate additional practices such as taking extra care and consideration in providing clients knowledge of what to expect in treatment, familiarity with the counseling environment, empowerment and control in treatment, and more. 

When a disturbing or difficult event happens, it can get locked away in the brain along with images, thoughts, emotions, and body sensations.

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, or EMDR, helps you revisit one memory at a time while in a safe environment and reprocess it so that it is less overwhelming or distressing. It also helps reduce the intensity of triggers you may encounter in your daily life. 

A common type of bilateral stimulation is eye movement, where you follow your therapist's fingers back and forth with your eyes. Other forms of bilateral stimulation include using tappers that gently vibrate in your hands. Bilateral stimulation helps speed up your brain's ability to process and heal troubling memories, thoughts, or feelings. 

EMDR is clinically proven to be helpful in treating a wide variety of issues including:

• Trauma and other stressful events
• Anxiety and phobias
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Grief
• Self-esteem

EMDR may not be as conversational as traditional talk therapy, but it is still highly effective. EMDR follows a specific protocol that helps your brain to process the memories or target. You are in control the entire time. Your therapist will help guide you through the process and can provide support if you get stuck along the way. 

Emotionally Focused Therapy, or EFT, is an evidence-based model of counseling based on attachment theory. EFT operates from the belief that humans are wired for connection and that everyone craves belonging, bonding, and acceptance. Emotionally Focused Therapy can be used with individuals, couples, and families. 

EFT helps clients have new emotional experiences, offers transformative moments, and assists in moving clients from rigidity into flexibility. 

The client and therapist work together to identify negative patterns that the individual may be repeating and helps to update these patterns so that stable and long-lasting change can occur.