Trauma

You may have heard about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, also known as EMDR. Perhaps you've even thought that it sounds like a really interesting treatment method that seems like it has great potential. However, you may be wondering if it would actually work for you. So, when should you seriously consider EMDR treatment? Obviously, EMDR isn’t a “magic bullet” solution to every therapy problem. But it is very effective at treating certain conditions, especially those related to trauma. That's because it can help with resolving the memories that surround the trauma so that they're no longer so painful. If you are [...]

Understanding Complex PTSD starts with learning about a term that is gaining widespread recognition. Most people have at least heard of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It affects thousands and can be extremely debilitating. But complex PTSD (C-PTSD) isn’t as widely known yet. That’s why understanding it is incredibly important. The most essential part of understanding complex PTSD is learning how it differs from traditional PTSD. In order to do that, we have to take a closer look at what C-PTSD really is and what signs you should be looking for. Some of the symptoms of C-PTSD are similar to those of traditional [...]

It’s been a long time since the accident. However you are still left with chronic pain in your neck and back. Whenever the pain spikes, it reminds you of that fateful day and how everything changed. Eventually, you had to leave your job because the chronic pain was too great, and now you sit at home by yourself. If you have PTSD and chronic pain, every day can feel like a struggle. EMDR therapy, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, can help with treating both your post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain. What Is Chronic Pain? The National Institutes of Health considers [...]

The car accident happened so long ago, but it feels as if it occurred just yesterday. You can still hear the screeching of the tires on the pavement and the crunching of the metal. When you go to a gas station, just the smell of the fuel vapors in the air brings you back to that terrible day. It’s often hard for you to concentrate and focus. You’ve even caught yourself getting angry and snapping back at others. If this sounds familiar, that’s because these are symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And these trauma symptoms can be crippling. However, eye movement desensitization and [...]

EMDR psychotherapy has been around since the 1980's. During that time, there has been a fair amount of false and inaccurate information about it. What am I talking about? Below is a description of few of the common misunderstandings that I hear from clients, and sometimes from other therapists   EMDR Psychotherapy Is A Quick Fix Every few weeks, I receive a phone call from a potential EMDR psychotherapy client. He or she tells me that they want to come in for "a few EMDR psychotherapy sessions". During our conversation, that person often will describe a bit about their history and [...]

You've heard about EMDR. Perhaps you've had someone close tell you about their experience of EMDR sessions. But you wonder "What is an EMDR session like?" In this article, I'll describe to you the typical flow of  EMDR sessions. Your First EMDR Session The first time we meet, I will do my best to help you feel comfortable talking about personal things. I'l ask you questions to help me learn about you. We'll talk about your history and your goals. We'll come up with a plan about how to work together in such a way as to get you the best [...]

  Being in a loving, caring, and affirming relationship is a wonderful thing. You feel supported by your partner, and you know that their feelings are based on mutual respect. Yet, what happens if you're someone who has experienced trauma, even when very young? Can that lead to relationship problems later in life? Yes, a history of trauma in the past could cause problems in your present relationship. Consider the following reasons for how trauma—even if it happened a very long time ago—can still have an effect on your relationships today. Not Knowing the Difference Between Caring and Abuse For those [...]

You can still remember how your parent yelled at you constantly when you very young. Every little thing you did seemed to set them off. You tried your best, but of course, you were only a child! Over time, you learned that you had to walk a very fine line in order to please your parent. This trauma stuck with you as you became an adult. And now you struggle with chronic anxiety symptoms that you just can’t seem to shake. You may not have realized that early life trauma could be the source of these issues. However, trauma therapy can help you [...]

Unfortunately, we know that for many children growing up is very difficult. Children can be exposed to traumatic events early in their lives. This could mean experiencing a loss, such as the death of someone close to them, or being displaced from their home. Trauma can also occur from having to cope with an illness or being exposed to violence. Whatever the reason, the impact of childhood trauma can continue far into a person's adult years. And that can have a profound impact on their lives, their emotions, and their relationships with others. How so? Being “Stuck” in the Past For many [...]