EMDR, IFS and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

   

Developmental Trauma and the need for a treatment beyond talk therapy 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other traditional therapies are effective in treating depression and anxiety however they are not effective in treating trauma. Therapeutic approaches emphasizing talking about trauma result in more not less activation of trauma responses and symptoms, therefore are not helpful with long term feelings of alarm and activation. When painful memories are stored in the brain, body and nervous system, they keep their power to disturb you, sometimes for decades or a lifetime. Starting the 80’s and 90’s treatments began to move more to the body to directly impact the somatic and emotional effects of trauma. EMDR therapy is one trauma therapy widely used by experts to treat PTSD and trauma symptoms. EMDR is effective in decreasing the disturbance of trauma memories as well as assisting in the processing and development of adaptive adult perspectives of trauma memories. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy developed by Pat Ogden, PhD is another trauma therapy used to disrupt old neurological patterns born out of trauma and works specifically with “body memory” and “feeling memory” which are not responsive to traditional therapies. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy draws from somatic therapies, neuroscience, attachment theory, and cognitive approaches. For more information on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy developed by Pat Ogden and understanding of the trauma model of Janina Fisher go to http://janinafisher.com. Internal Family Systems therapy is a depth therapy model developed by Richard Schwartz PhD also found highly effective in treating symptoms of trauma and helpful for working with parts of ourselves that are stuck in the past. In my time with clients I generally use a combination of the above therapies when working with trauma.

Anxiety and Depression treatment in Sacramento

Depression and anxiety often co-occur with other mental health disorders as PTSD, other health conditions as Fibromyalgia, digestive disorders, etc., and alongside relationship conflict. My approach in treatment is to understand the origin and function of these symptoms in your life and to treat the underlying causes of depression and anxiety. DBT and CBT skills/tools are also incorporated to assist with distress tolerance and symptom management/reduction. I do recommend as a resource to my clients becoming familiar with mindfulness-self compassion developed by Dr. Kristin Neff.  I have experienced mindfulness-self compassion as an excellent tool for increasing awareness of negative self-talk and changing self-talk to a compassion based inner dialogue. 

 

 

 
 

Sacramento Counseling and Therapy for Individuals, Couples, Family and teens, serving Davis and surrounding areas