What is EMDR?
The mind can often heal itself naturally, in the same way as the body does. Much of this natural coping mechanism occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Francine Shapiro developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 1987, utilizing this natural process in order to successfully treat Post-­‐traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since then, EMDR has been used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health problems.
What happens when you are traumatized?
Most of the time, your body routinely manages new information and experiences without you being aware of it. However, when something out of the ordinary occurs and you are traumatized by an overwhelming event (e.g. a car accident) or by being repeatedly subjected to distress (e.g. childhood neglect), your natural coping mechanism can become overloaded. This overloading can result in disturbing experiences remaining frozen in your brain or being "unprocessed". Such unprocessed memories and feelings are stored in the limbic system of your brain in a "raw" and emotional form,
rather than in a verbal “story” mode. This limbic system maintains traumatic memories in an isolated memory network that is associated with emotions and physical sensations, which are disconnected from the brain’s cortex where we use language to store memories. The limbic system’s traumatic memories can be continually triggered when you experience events similar to the difficult experiences you have been through. Often the memory itself is long forgotten, but the painful feelings such as anxiety, panic, anger or despair are continually triggered in the present. Your ability to live in the present and learn
from new experiences can therefore become inhibited. EMDR helps create the connections between your brain’s memory networks, enabling your brain to process the traumatic memory in a very natural way.
What is an EMDR session like?
EMDR utilizes the natural healing ability of your body. After a thorough assessment and development of a treatment plan, you will be asked specific questions about a particular disturbing memory. Eye
movements, similar to those during REM sleep, will be recreated simply by asking you to watch a bar of moving lights. The eye movements will last for a short while and then stop. You will then be asked to report back on the experiences you have had during each of these sets of eye
movements. Experiences during a session may include changes in thoughts, images and feelings. With repeated sets of eye movements, the memory tends to change in such a way that it loses its painful intensity and simply becomes a neutral memory of an event in the past. Other associated memories may also heal at the same time. This linking of related memories can lead to a dramatic and rapid improvement in many aspects of your life.
Can anyone benefit from EMDR?
EMDR can accelerate therapy by resolving the impact of your past traumas and allowing you to live more fully in the present. It is not, however, appropriate for everyone. The process is rapid, and any disturbing experiences, if they occur at all, last for a comparatively short period of time. Nevertheless, you need to be aware of, and willing to experience, the strong feelings and disturbing thoughts that sometimes occur during sessions.
Will I will remain in control and empowered?
During EMDR treatment, you will remain in control, fully alert and wide-­‐awake. This is not a form of hypnosis and you can stop the process at any time. Throughout the session, the therapist will support and facilitate your own self-­‐healing and intervene as little as possible. Reprocessing is usually experienced as something that happens spontaneously, and new connections and insights are felt to arise quite naturally from within. As a result, most people experience EMDR as being a natural and very empowering therapy.
What evidence is there that EMDR is a successful treatment?
EMDR is an innovative clinical treatment which has successfully helped over a million individuals. The validity and reliability of EMDR has been established by rigorous research. There are now over nineteen controlled studies into EMDR, making it the most thoroughly researched method used in the treatment of trauma, and The American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, Department of Defense, Veteran’s Administration, insurance companies, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies recognize EMDR as an effective treatment for PTSD. For further information about EMDR,
point your Internet browser to www.emdria.org or www.emdr.com

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Adapted from: https://compassionworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/EMDR-CLIENT-HANDOUT.pdf

What is SP?

Sensorimotor psychotherapy (SP) is a holistic approach to healing trauma or unhealthy attachment patterns formed in early childhood. It integrates the body and movement into traditional talk therapy to address and heal ongoing psychological and physical difficulties.

Considered a “body-centered talking therapy,” sensorimotor psychotherapy addresses thoughts, feelings, and experiences for deeper and more complete healing than traditional therapies may provide.

Traditional forms of mental health therapy can overlook physical or somatic manifestations and other effects of trauma and attachment difficulties. According to the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, research indicates that not only do trauma and attachment problems directly and significantly impact the body, but their emotional symptoms are often driven by the body, too.

In SP, the mind, body, and spirit are addressed as a whole rather than as separate parts. The body is a source of information and a target for interventions. Understanding how the body reacts and contributes to thoughts, emotions, and behaviors helps clients deeply and thoroughly address experiences like intrusive symptoms, numbness, motor inhibitions, avoidance, affect dysregulation, and difficulties with relationships and general daily functioning.

What Is the Goal of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy?

The goals of sensorimotor psychotherapy focus on helping clients develop their own internal resources to process the trauma, transcend the prolonged flight-flight-or-freeze reaction of the autonomic nervous system, recognize and self-regulate emotions, and respond calmly and thoughtfully to their world.

Each client will have their own unique goals. Sensorimotor therapy is a collaborative effort between therapist and client. The therapist does not dictate goals or heal the client, nor do they believe a client needs to be “fixed.” Instead, they focus on teaching necessary information and provide gentle guidance and support.

The goals of sensorimotor psychotherapy include:

• Reclaim a sense of control over responses to the trauma and traumatic memories

• Understand the impact that experiences have on both mind and body

• Develop awareness of physical symptoms and sensations and how these relate to the trauma and emotional responses

• Separate the past from the present so mind and body respond appropriately to current happenings rather than reacting from traumatic memories

Phases of Treatment

Sensorimotor psychotherapy is a gradual process across three phases: safety and stabilization/symptom reduction, processing traumatic memory, and integration. These stages are not rigid or time-limited. Rather, therapists adjust the pace and process to meet the needs of individual clients.

The therapist guides, supports, and teaches body-related skills to stabilize the autonomic nervous system and facilitate total healing. While achieving goals may require the client to leave their comfort zone, the counselor always explains the process, secures permission, and proceeds gently.

Dual Awareness

In SP, Clients learn to become aware of their awareness; in other words, they learn to notice and observe both mind and body while remaining cognizant that the trauma of childhood attachment difficulties is over. Clients become aware of mental and physical reactions to traumatic memories while remaining present and distant from those memories.

Mindful Observation

Mindfulness is integral to SP to help clients realize and fully understand how their trauma or attachment style has impacted their internal and external lives. SP also helps clients separate the past from the present. Concentrating on movements and sensations allows the therapeutic process to happen.

Somatic Functioning

In addition to becoming aware of how physical symptoms are connected to emotions and thoughts, SP teaches people how to use their bodies to regulate the autonomic nervous system and emotions. People learn how somatic functions like posture, positioning near or away from others, muscle tension, sensations of the heart beating, and breathing affect emotions and vice versa. Finally, they use this knowledge to induce calm and recover from traumatic memories.

Regulation of Autonomic Arousal

The autonomic nervous system controls the the fight-flight-or-freeze reaction and the rest-and-digest response. By integrating mind and body with awareness, mindful observation, and somatic functioning, people can learn to regulate their nervous system and remain calm despite traumatic memories and other intrusive symptoms.

Is SP Effective?

Sensorimotor psychotherapy is informed by scientific research in physiology, psychology, sociology, and neuroscience, as well as principles from another form of body therapy known as the Hakomi method. It draws from established forms of mental health therapy such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, gestalt therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and body psychotherapy.

While sensorimotor therapy is not yet evidence-based, it is considered credible among mental health professionals. A 2015 article in BJPsych Bulletin states that SP is “endorsed by leading international experts and is neuroscientifically credible.”Anecdotal evidence does support sensorimotor psychotherapy, and it has demonstrated positive outcomes over the decades.

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Adapted from: https://www.choosingtherapy.com/sensorimotor-psychotherapy/

What is IFS?

IFS is an evidence-based psychotherapy model that conceives of every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self. Just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone and can’t be damaged.

IFS helps people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts.

What to Expect

IFS is talk therapy in which you work with a therapist to identify and understand the specific sub-personalities or families that make up your internal mental system. Once you identify these parts, the therapist will help you acknowledge your feelings about these suppressed emotions, learn how to release these feelings so you are freer to address the actual problem, and ultimately find more positive ways to manage conflicts on your own. The therapist may suggest certain tools to help you do this, such as relaxation exercises, visualization or empty chair role plays.

According to the IFS model, parts often play three common roles:

Managers are protective parts that function to control people’s surroundings and manage emotions and tasks to navigate daily life.

Exiles are parts that hold hurt, fear, or shame from early experiences, and they carry the difficult emotions and memories associated with those experiences. Managers aim to keep exiles contained and hidden from conscious awareness to avoid distress and pain.

Firefighters are activated when exiles produce overwhelming, painful, or threatening emotions. Firefights aim to inhibit those difficult emotions by any means necessary, such as substance use or binge eating.

Self

According to IFS, everyone has an undamaged core Self that is the essence of who you are. This part is confident, compassionate, curious, calm, creative, and patient. A person's parts can be healed, transformed, and better managed by the Self by achieving three goals of IFS:

1. Free the parts from their extreme roles

2. Restore trust in the Self

3. Coordinate and harmonize the Self and the parts, so they can work together as a team with the Self in charge

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