I work as a psychotherapist with a focus on process-oriented somatic work that connects with people's natural abilities to find a path toward resolution and completion. I utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with a strong focus on the body and nervous system to facilitate this work. Two questions that have driven my orientation have been: "How does our nature work, and how can we best work with that nature?"
This has led me to find ways of working that align with the potential movement and integration of our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual natures. People feel caught in pain, anxiety, patterns of reaction, very challenging mood states, and difficult relational dynamics. These are all accessible to effective processing through close attention to the present sensations that arise the moment.
Foundational to my work is a deep trust in a non-interpretative engagement that trusts our natural drive for completion. Over the years, I have learned much about "trauma, " in its subtle and more obvious forms.
This has led me to find ways of working that align with the potential movement and integration of our mental, emotional, physical and spiritual natures. People feel caught in pain, anxiety, patterns of reaction, very challenging mood states, and difficult relational dynamics. These are all accessible to effective processing through close attention to the present sensations that arise the moment.
Foundational to my work is a deep trust in a non-interpretative engagement that trusts our natural drive for completion. Over the years, I have learned much about "trauma, " in its subtle and more obvious forms.
Services
Because I have a process-oriented approach, this work crosses a broad range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma (episodic and developmental), relationship and family dynamics, post traumatic stress, attachment dynamics, phobias, insecurity, anger, grief, drugs and alcohol, eating disorders, obsessive and compulsive behaviours, dissociation and dissociative identity disorder, peak performance, physical pain, trauma associated with medical conditions and procedures, and more.
I provide individual and group consultations for other therapists, both in person and via Zoom.
I provide individual and group consultations for other therapists, both in person and via Zoom.
Sessions with adults and couples are generally 90 minutes.
Children are usually 60 minutes.
I find that the greater time to process helps the work to be more efficient.
You can find detailed desc ription s of five 4-day trainings, reviews, learning objectives, CE information, fees and registration at www.naturalprocessing.org.
These trainings are both dydactic and experiential, with practicum sessions and personalized feedback daily.
Part One, "Integrating Somatic Psychotherapy with the EMDR Therapy" is an intensive 4-day training for psychotherapists who have completed basic EMDR training.
Children are usually 60 minutes.
I find that the greater time to process helps the work to be more efficient.
You can find detailed desc ription s of five 4-day trainings, reviews, learning objectives, CE information, fees and registration at www.naturalprocessing.org.
These trainings are both dydactic and experiential, with practicum sessions and personalized feedback daily.
Part One, "Integrating Somatic Psychotherapy with the EMDR Therapy" is an intensive 4-day training for psychotherapists who have completed basic EMDR training.
What is a Process-Oriented Somatic Approach?
We all go through our day and take information in through all of our senses.
We spontaneously put meaning on things, have emotional and physical reactions, make associations, etc.
We also have a drive in our nature to take things full circle - a desire to feel complete and finished.
Sometimes events in our lives do not permit us to reach resolution.
We also have drives for protection and to not feel things that are unpleasant or overwhelming.
So there are many ways we get stuck with incomplete responses and drives, and have to figure out (usually unconsciously) how to work around these.
We all go through our day and take information in through all of our senses.
We spontaneously put meaning on things, have emotional and physical reactions, make associations, etc.
We also have a drive in our nature to take things full circle - a desire to feel complete and finished.
Sometimes events in our lives do not permit us to reach resolution.
We also have drives for protection and to not feel things that are unpleasant or overwhelming.
So there are many ways we get stuck with incomplete responses and drives, and have to figure out (usually unconsciously) how to work around these.
EMDR was originated by Francine Shapiro, PhD in 1987.
Her keen self-reflections revealed that doing rapid eye movements from side-to-side effected the way she processed a disturbing memory.
She developed a methodology around this dynamic, and created the EMDR Institute, where others joined her intrigue about the therapeutic value of this seemingly odd phenomena.
A series of protocols and procedures were developed to create a comprehensive treatment methodology.
The first research was published in 1989, and many validating studies have followed.
Her keen self-reflections revealed that doing rapid eye movements from side-to-side effected the way she processed a disturbing memory.
She developed a methodology around this dynamic, and created the EMDR Institute, where others joined her intrigue about the therapeutic value of this seemingly odd phenomena.
A series of protocols and procedures were developed to create a comprehensive treatment methodology.
The first research was published in 1989, and many validating studies have followed.
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