

Trauma Work
IS TRAUMA WORK THE SAME THING AS PTSD TREATMENT?
Not all trauma work is PTSD treatment, but trauma work could be PTSD treatment if PTSD criteria is met after a traumatic event. Trauma is subjective to an extent. If an event(s) felt deeply distressing, disturbing, or threatening, then the event(s) may have been traumatic. In order to meet criteria for PTSD, the event(s) must have resulted in actual or threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. PTSD is a specific phenomenon that may happen after a traumatic event. It is understood as a normal reaction to an abnormal event. PTSD is characterized by a heightened sense of chronic or prolonged threat (hypervigilance), avoidance of event reminders, and re-experiencing symptoms. Trauma can affect us in profound ways regardless of whether you develop PTSD or not. Only a mental health professional can diagnose you with PTSD.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PTSD AND COMPLEX PTSD?
PTSD typically develops after a single event whereas Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) develops as a result of multiple repeated or prolonged events. C-PTSD is also characterized by hypervigilance, avoidance of event reminders, and re-experiencing symptoms. Additionally, C-PTSD involves interpersonal difficulties, negative beliefs about oneself, and significant difficulty with emotion regulation. C-PTSD is not currently recognized in the DSM-5.
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WHAT TYPES OF TRAUMA HAVE YOU WORKED WITH?
I've been specifically trained in traumatic loss, medical trauma, sexual trauma, psychological abuse, and LGBTQ+ trauma.
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WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO TRAUMA WORK?
This is individual and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to trauma work. However, trauma work often involves learning emotion regulation and interpersonal skills, somatic work, and processing the emotional and mental impact of the traumatic event(s) as it pertains to your understanding of yourself, others, and the world - past, present, and future. Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based modality I use for processing trauma and treating PTSD/C-PTSD.
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WHAT IS EMDR?
EMDR is an eight-phase protocol that is widely accepted as a treatment of choice by national and international trauma treatment institutions and is continuously supported in multiple controlled studies.
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EMDR helps to reprocess traumatic memories in a safe and contained environment, reduce distress, alleviate symptoms, and cultivate greater compassion and understanding for yourself and others. EMDR is grounded in the belief that our brains have an innate capacity to heal from emotional and psychological distress.
The 8 Phases of EMDR involve taking a history, making a treatment plan, learning coping skills and building up resources, reprocessing traumatic memories, and increasing willingness to be in the here and now with thoughts, emotions, and body sensations.
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Some studies have shown that as many as 90% of trauma survivors show a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms after just 3 sessions. However, the length of EMDR varies greatly person-to-person and I cannot say exactly how long it will take for you. Some of my clients complete the 8 phases of treatment in 6-8 sessions while others complete the 8 phases of treatment in 26-30 sessions.
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Research shows that telehealth is an effective modality for doing EMDR.
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