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Stormy Skies Over a Lake

Our Healing Approach to Trauma

At Hope Counseling, I believe it is necessary to dig a little deeper as talk therapy sometimes just won’t cut it. Will you take the journey with me and truly get to the root of the issue of anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma as well as any other mental health concerns? I utilize an engaging approach with such techniques as EMDR and Progressive Counting.

 

What you need to know about Trauma?

Trauma Types | The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (nctsn.org)

Trauma https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma     

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder https://www.apa.org/topics/ptsd 

 

What is EMDR Therapy?

 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that is designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes.

 

EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes.

 

Experiencing EMDR: Experiencing EMDR Therapy - EMDR International Association (emdria.org)

 

Sources: What is EMDR? - EMDR Institute - EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING THERAPY

 

Progressive Counting

 

What is PC?

Progressive Counting (PC) is a research-based approach to trauma treatment developed by Dr. Ricky Greenwald.  Progressive Counting has been found to be effective, brief, and well tolerated for adults and has been shown to be promising for children over age 6. 

 

How does PC work?

Progressive Counting (PC) requires the client to replay the traumatic event in their mind while the therapist counts aloud in increments of 10 (first time to 10, second time to 20, etc.).  This allows the client to gradually re-encounter the traumatic event while remaining connected to the here and now through the sound of the therapist's voice. 

 

A critical piece of this process is the intentional connecting of the traumatic event to the moments before and after when the client felt safe.  This addresses the cognitive reality of "puzzle piece" memory - the tendency for traumatic memories to be held in random places without the connection to the awareness that the frightening stimulus was resolved.... leaving the memory unresolved.

 

​This approach should be used only with a trained clinician who can also address any attitudes that may be interfering with resolution such as guilt and shame.

 

How does PC work?

Progressive Counting (PC) requires the client to replay the traumatic event in their mind while the therapist counts aloud in increments of 10 (first time to 10, second time to 20, etc.).  This allows the client to gradually re-encounter the traumatic event while remaining connected to the here and now through the sound of the therapist's voice. 

 

Sources: Trauma Institute, www.ticti.org

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