As a trauma survivor, you have a unique story; it may involve a difficult past, one extreme event, or a series of events you experienced. Regardless of specifics, those feelings of intense fear, helplessness, loss of control and/or threat of annihilation have stayed with you. These are the psychological foundations of trauma (Herman, 2015). The weight of these emotions can be overwhelming.

 

     There are unlimited ways in which trauma can be triggered. Most are sensory; hearing a certain song, an ordinary household smell, etc. The most challenging aspect is that the brain initially reacts as though the experience is happening in the present. Essentially every time the trigger is activated, you are reliving the past.

 

     Logically, you know the experience is not really happening right now. The problem is 'neurons that fire together wire together.' This means repeated negative experiences, or even just one severe traumatic experience can create a neuronal pathway in the brain that becomes automatic when set off by a trigger.

 

     There are different treatment methods to address trauma; I utilize techniques that have been proven effective. We start by building awareness; we give your trauma a narrative from which to work. We will identify the triggers, and use cognitive behavioral techniques, NLP practices, and hypnosis to shift thought patterns. 

 

   EMDR is a powerful technique that specifically targets the overwhelming effects of trauma. This practice utilizes the mechanics of REM sleep to process and desensitize memories, thereby decreasing the intensity of symptoms of trauma.

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   Hypnosis is an excellent tool for relaxation, and has been proven as an effective complement to cognitive behavioral therapy. We use hypnosis to shift automatic reactions to triggers, and build new neuronal pathways. I encourage clients to record our hypnosis sessions, and listen to them between sessions to reinforce the subconscious lessons. 

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For more information about EMDR or Hypnotherapy, click 'Services' above.

 

     The length of treatment depends on your unique story, and the pace at which you are comfortable working. I am committed to providing you with a safe space to work through and recover from trauma.

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Herman, Judith, M.D. (2015) Trauma and Recovery The Aftermath of Violence from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. New York:  Basic Books