I am a bit of a Jill of all trades, in that I take from many different types of theories and therapies when I work with my clients and their unique strengths and goals. Below are some of my favourites/specialties:
EMDR
What is EMDR effective with?
EMDR therapy has proven effective when working with various disorders and challenges including PTSD, depression, anxiety, OCD, BPD, and many others. It helps the brain reprocess “stuck” memories and the nervous system move out of fight-flight-freeze. Clients can find relief from intrusive thoughts, urges, impulsivity, somatic distress, and feelings of being “stuck”.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping on knees, auditory beeps, hand buzzers, etc.) to help the brain process stressful memories or body sensations.
What does it do?
Resolves unprocessed stressful/traumatic memories:
EMDR allows the brain to process the emotions/memories which are “stuck”. These memories can cause the nervous system to become distressed (e.g. nausea, racing heart, headache, anxiety, lack of motivation, flashbacks, etc.) and can result in avoiding certain things or repeating behaviours which clients might desire to change. When reprocessing occurs the brain finds more positive or adaptive ways of functioning and the body can find a state of calm and resume healthy functioning. Clients tend to notice that their feelings and behaviours shift naturally to healthier patterns.
Creative Arts Therapy
What is Creative Arts Therapy?
Creative arts therapies use the client’s creativity as a means of beginning the process of self-reflection and self-understanding. As clients begin to see themselves as creative, they also become more self-confident, growing in self-esteem and abilities to communicate emotions and needs.
Clients can use various mediums that feel relevant to their processing including visual art, music, movement/dance, writing, or visualizations.
Creative Arts Therapies can be intertwined with other therapies to create well-rounded and fulfilling interventions.
Brainspotting
What is Brainspotting effective with?
Brainspotting is effective for reducing intensity and duration of anxiety, depression, panic, "stuckness", phobias, and unwanted behaviours and urges.
What is Brainspotting?
It is a brain processing and nervous system focused therapy that helps identify and provide relief from troublesome patterns, behaviours, thoughts and urges linked to emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation, lack of motivation and a variety of other challenging symptoms.
Through the use of bilateral music and eye positions this technique allows the therapist and client to pinpoint specific neuro-networks in the brain, allowing the brain and nervous system to process disturbing memories, behaviour patterns, or experiences.
What does it do?
Brainspotting can reduce intensity or strength of symptoms (anxiety, depression, panic, procrastination, confusion etc.), the length of time these episodes last, and aids in quicker recovery time after moments of challenge and stress. Through regulating the nervous system people are more able to feel calm and grounded more frequently and for longer periods of time. Clients report increases in spontaneity, self confidence, and ability to deal with life’s stresses.
