Healing Trauma & PTSD

As we go through life we all encounter difficult and challenging experiences. Sometimes these experiences are scary and painful, and may leave a residue in our mind, body or soul. This residue is trauma. The American Psychological Association defines trauma as…

…an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, [war and combat experiences, child abuse or neglect,] rape or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives.

Working through and resolving trauma can be a scary thing for some people, but you don’t have to do it alone. Finding the right therapist to help you work through it can be one of the best gifts you can give to yourself.

There are a variety of ways to work through and resolve trauma, and they all begin with trust, safety and cultivating self-care resources. Working with trauma through the mind and body together has proven to be the most effective, according to studies. Some of the ways I work with trauma are with mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR), NeuroAffective Touch (NAT), Hakomi, hypnotherapy and EMDR.

EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is an information processing therapy. It attends to the past experiences that have set the groundwork for traumatic symptoms, the current situations that trigger painful emotions, beliefs and sensations, and the positive experience needed to enhance future adaptive behaviors and mental health.

For more information about EMDR Therapy and research on it’s effectiveness, visit the EMDRIA website.

If you’re curious about how EMDR Therapy or other therapies might be able to help you resolve trauma, please contact Nick or call for a free phone consultation: 415-766-9629