APPROACHES

Beyond traditional psychodynamic talk therapy, I also specialize in the following cutting edge therapeutic techniques:

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This treatment approach, which targets past experience, current triggers, and future potential challenges, results in the alleviation of presenting symptoms, a decrease or elimination of distress from the disturbing memory, improved view of the self, relief from bodily disturbance, and resolution of present and future anticipated triggers.

Trauma Resiliency Model

Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), inspired by the work of Dr. Peter Levine's Somatic Experiencing, is designed to prevent the symptoms of traumatic stress and/or stabilize the human nervous system. It is an integrative mind-body intervention, which focuses on the biological basis of trauma and the automatic defensive ways the body responds to threat and fear.

After a traumatic experience, there can be a cascade of physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral and spiritual responses. TRM explains these common responses from a biological perspective, which reframes the human experience from one of shame and pathology to one of hope and biology. TRM's goal is to reduce the symptoms of trauma by returning the body and mind back to balance. TRM can be used to treat any person who has experienced or witnessed trauma.

Psychodynamic Art Therapy

If you believe your dreams have meaning, then you will believe in Art Therapy. Unlike art classes, there is no grade or judgment in art therapy, but rather unconditional positive regard that allow for increased creative exploration and freedom. Art products are utilized as a jump off point to explore metaphors that bring unconscious material to the surface. This process allows for greater insight and awareness for the client. Art products might be derived from the client’s free art (creating art reflecting your feeling, sensations or thoughts) or structured art directives given by me. Art directives can be as simple as “Draw what your anger looks like”. Clients who may benefit come from varied backgrounds, from soul searchers to those who might have trauma, disabilities or psychiatric diagnoses.

Hypnotic Visualizations

Utilizing my education as a certified hypnotist, I provide hypnotic visualizations that allow positive suggestions to be placed within the highly suggestible subconscious mind. This process speeds behavioral/emotional change and increases insight.  Subjects have reported having chronic pain cease for days at a time. They have also spoke of a prolonged increase in feelings of peace, happiness and bliss that extends several days past the visualization. If utilized regularly, visualizations often improved the client’s ability to cope with overwhelming feelings and can improve pain management. The visualization usually last twenty minutes and includes a deep breathing stage, body relaxation stage, a deepening trance stage, the positive suggestion induction stage, and finally the process is reversed until you awaken feeling light, refreshed and relaxed.