One of my specialties is working with adults who have a history of Trauma in their lives. The Trauma they survied can be small or large. This experience can be due to many things including being a victim of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse or experiencing an event that was out of their control.
A traumatic reaction can also occur due to a loss (miscarriage, still born, traumatic delivery or death of a loved one) or abandonment. I see many adults in my practice that struggle with Attachment Trauma. This occurs when people do not develop a healthy, loving attachment with their mother, father or caregiver. This absence and/or toxic relationship shapes the way adults deal with adversities, develop/utilize their coping skills, and engage in interactions with loved ones, employers, children etc.
Often people will present with many different symptoms including anxiety, depression, rage, numbness, racing thoughts, self-mutilation, addictive behavior (drugs, drinking) and more. This is just the way their body is remembering what happened and helping them to survive their ordeal.
By using the methods of Natural Processing/Somatic Experiencing, Adult Attachment Focused Therapy and EMDR, I believe in encouraging safety and appropriate boundaries first with adults. I then utilize the mind/body connection to promote healing from the trauma, while encouraging empowerment, confidence, and resiliency.
EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while at the same time experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements). This process reduces the intensity and emotion associated with the trauma memories. EMDR also helps with depression, anxiety, and grief and loss.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. See video below that details the process of EMDR.