#emdr and somatic therapy

[oscill4te]

Dopamine & avoidant behaviors

Reddit post that has me considering a lot rn (link)

[bottle-cap-baby]

the most visceral expression of sadness through words, that i've ever heard, was spoken by my english teacher, on a particularly difficult day. she said, i feel sad in my body. as someone who is currently working through years of emotional trauma with somatic therapy, this phrase hit me very hard. i feel sad in my body today. in my body.

[clickntreat]

When my husband left me, one of the things he said was that I "deserve better"

At the time it didn't make any sense, and it makes even less with time. I mean, he was correct. I did, and do, deserve better. But it doesn't make sense as a reason to leave someone you love. Like. Be better then? Unless you're leaving to be alone and work on yourself, but even then, most relationship issues can only be worked on while in a relationship.

But they don't do that anyways, of course. They run right to another girl. So what's the plan? Settle for someone who deserves less? Or con someone who doesn't realize they deserve better, someone like who I was when we first got together?

[wisterianwoman]

How to Find the Right Therapist - From a Therapy Regular

Have you decided to go to therapy, but struggling to find the right therapist? Or maybe you're in therapy, and not sure if it's time to go your separate ways. This comprehensive guide was designed to help you wherever you are on your therapy journey.

Have you decided to go to therapy, but you’re struggling to find the right therapist? Or maybe you’re in therapy, and not sure if it’s time to go your separate ways. This comprehensive guide was designed to help you make the right choices for your mental health journey. Choosing the Right Therapist can be… tricky So you’ve finally decided it’s time to see a therapist. This is a great step…

[sensitiveaangel]

reading through my emdr journals from a couple years ago is like 😮 i had ptsd for real and am actually living such a better life now…who knew!!

[domemescountaspoetry]

When the EMDR session is too intense…

Gif source: scene from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971); gif made for this post by @domemescountaspoetry

Image sources: Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma: A qualitative

analysis of clients’ experiences. Natalie Louise Brotherton http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/18975/1/__network.uni_staff_S2_jpartridge_DCP_0809_RES_06060030_4059120%20v2.pdf//

@chuanming-ong

@samxcamargo

[icbccounselling]

We’ll be going more in-depth about the different treatment methods we can use to help you get through your experience of ICBC counselling PTSD. We’ll also telling you more about our other services.

[theambitiouswoman]

Trauma is embedded within the body and ingrained in the brain. For lasting change, create strategies that address both the physical and mental aspects of trauma.

Physical Therapies:

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Leverages bodily sensations to navigate through trauma.

Yoga: Boosts bodily mindfulness and alleviates stress.

Somatic Experiencing: Helps discharge trauma-induced physical tension.

Tai Chi: Enhances equilibrium through deliberate movements.

Massage Therapy: Facilitates emotional liberation through easing muscle tightness.

Acupuncture: Activates the body's healing spots.

Craniosacral Therapy: Eases stress through soft manipulations of the skull and spine.

Breathwork: Employs breathing techniques for better physical and psychological well-being.

Dance Movement Therapy: Merges emotional expression with physical activity.

Mental Therapies:

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Bridges the gap between mental impacts and bodily reactions.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Aids in memory processing through eye movements.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): Aims to transform harmful thought patterns.

IFS (Internal Family Systems): Promotes healing within different parts of the psyche.

NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming): Modifies behavior via language and thought patterns.

Neurofeedback: Boosts brain activity for better function.

MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy): Combines mindfulness practices with cognitive therapeutic techniques.

Psychodynamic Therapy: Investigates the influence of past experiences.

Narrative Therapy: Helps individuals reframe their life stories.

Please remember that I am not a therapist. Speaking to a professional will help you figure out what course of action is better for you.

[thebibliosphere]

just wanted to wish you luck with the emdr! it worked great for me despite being self-administered (not recommended, but nhs waiting lists)

Thank you. I've done EMDR for the Other Horrors in my life, and it works well for me (even if it's harrowing to begin with).

I'm pairing it with somatic movement therapy because part of my trauma/masking response is to completely freeze up internally while pretending to be completely fine outwardly.

(can't show emotion! my emotions are Too Big, and that makes me Annoying for others to be around, so I will simply not experience them. I'm sure this is totally fine and will have no lasting repercussions on my mental and physical health ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ… oh what's this? it's multiple immune disorders coming in with steel chairs!!!)

So, I'm learning to flail around to give my body something to do with all the adrenaline after EMDR sessions. Weirdly, that's almost harder than the actual EMDR.

There's something weirdly visceral about Kermit flailing to music in front of your therapist 😅

[cat-eye-nebula]

Tips & Tools for Releasing Stored Trauma in Your Body

🌻Somatic Experiencing: Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing can release trauma locked in the body. This method is the result of a combination of stress physiology, psychology, neuroscience, medical biophysics and indigenous healing practices. (Videos on youtube)

🌻Mindfulness and Movements: going for a walk, bike ride, Boxing, Martial arts, yoga (or trauma-informed yoga), or dancing. People who get into martial arts or boxing are often those who were traumatized in the past. They’re carrying a lot of anger and fighting is a great release for them. Exercise helps your body burn off adrenaline, release endorphins, calm your nervous system, and relieve stress.

Release Trapped Emotions: 🍀How to release anger from the body - somatic healing tool 🍀Somatic Exercises for ANGER: Release Anger in Under 5 Minutes 🍀Youtube Playlist: Trauma Healing, Somatic Therapy, Self Havening, Nervous system regulation

🌻 Havening Technique is a somatosensory self-comforting therapy to change the brain to de-traumatize the memory and remove its negative effects from our psyche and body. It has a calming effect on the Amygdala and the Limbic system. 🌼Exercise: Havening Technique for Rapid Stress & Anxiety Relief 🌼Exercise: Self-Havening with nature ambience to let go of painful feelings 🌼Video: Using Havening Techniques to rapidly erase a traumatic memory (Certified Practitioner guides them through a healing session)

🌻Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy technique often used to treat anxiety and PTSD. It incorporates rhythmic eye movements while recalling traumatic experiences. This combo changes how the memory is stored in the brain and allow you to process the trauma fully.

🌻Sound & Vibrational Healing: Sound healing has become all the rage in the health and wellness world. It involves using the power of vibration – from tuning forks, singing bowls, or gongs – to relax the mind and body.

🌻Breathwork is an intentional method of breathing that helps your body relax by bypassing your conscious mind. Trauma can overstimulate the body’s sympathetic nervous system (aka your body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ response). Breathwork settles it down.

Informative videos & Experts on Attachment style healing: 🌼Dr Kim Sage, licensed psychologist  🌼Dr. Nicole LePera (theholisticpsychologist) 🌼Briana MacWilliam 🌼Candace van Dell 🌼Heidi Priebe 

Other informative Videos on Trauma: 🌻Small traumas in a "normal" family and attachment: Gabor Maté - The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture 🌻Uncovering Triggers and Pattern for Healing: Dr Gabor Maté  🌻Understanding trapped emotions in the body and footage of how wild animals release trauma

Article: How Trauma Is Stored in the Body (+ How to Release It)

Article: 20 self-care practices for complex trauma survivors

[queeringpsychology]

Checking In - A New Chapter

Checking In – A New Chapter

Hey, long time no see! For those of y’all who are not also following me on other sites/social media apps, I had taken a writing break because life got real. After 2020 and the 1st half of 2021, I was feeling stagnant in my clinical work. Basically, I reached a plateau and realized that I needed to shed some skin like a snake and grow from a professional perspective. I re-focused my clinical…

[nvc-nonviolent-communication]

The HIDDEN TREASURE OF NVC IS SELF COMPASSION...

For me, I needed to experience several months of trauma therapy before I had the capacity to be mindful of opportunities for NVC. In fact, as I create this post I am 🥹tearing up feelings of grief, sadness,and joy, relief...anticipating another level of integrated self care... 🥲

Knowing that I've been exposed to similar communication models several times over my 30-40's and never really sticking, it brings up sad 😢 feelings of shame and guilt.

However, I now have several months (2022-2024) of EMDR trauma therapy that has paved the way for me now in my mid 50's to foster the ability for mindfulness to constantly observe my thoughts, feelings and words.

Unfortunately, I was conditioned as a child and continued into adulthood to react emotionally and easily get highjacked by emotional flashbacks, trauma triggers... via the 4F's, toxic shame, and the inner and external critic...explained in a very detailed way by Pete Walker -CPTSD Surviving to Thriving.

No matter how hard I tried... I didn't have the capacity to be present in the moment in any relationship.

I had no capacity to be vulnerable because I didn't know how to process feelings from thoughts. Trauma therapy has created a new foundation to finally accept my feelings and distinguish them from thoughts so I can create space to be aware and in tune with my body (somatic experiences) and accept myself if parts are still triggered.

Founder of NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION

Marshall Rosenberg

Part 2 of Dr. Rosenberg's workshop @ minute 47:22, he describes the state of being necessary to foster a healthy connection.

Behind every feeling is a need.

-Anger: judgement on others

-Depression, Guilt, Shame: judgement on self

[goosegoblin]

If therapy is an option and you haven’t already tried it, maybe finding a therapist trained in Somatic Experiencing Therapy? I also had a therapist friend recommend EMDR to help my anxiety once. I thought it was just for people with PTSD or C-PTSD but she said it’s really versatile and can help with desensitization.

Mm, I've been looking into it. I had also assumed those were mostly trauma-only/ trauma-focused therapies, so that's good to know.

I struggle with finding a therapy modality I like, to be honest. I've had many, many therapists over the years, but after a few months I always just end up frustrated and unhappy. My loved ones are like "therapy was so helpful today!" or "I'm really looking forward to therapy", and that confuses me so much. I anticipate sessions with the kind of dread and dismay normally reserved for dental appointments or unwanted social engagements.

CBT often feels surface-level and useless. DBT feels the same, plus some basic coping skills I already have. EMDR is interesting (purple hat/ the eye movement stuff aside)- but at that point, perhaps plain prolonged exposure therapy is better (which I am kind of interested in, ngl).

I can't picture things in my head so anything with guided imagery is useless to me. Polyvagal theory is pseudoscience and I can't fuck with it. My therapist has done some IFS with me, which was interesting at first, but I... kind of feel like I started thinking in those ways naturally during my anorexia recovery, just by the way that my brain works. That's not supposed to be a brag (lmao that would be the most pathetic flex ever)- just that 'viewing my brain as different parts and being kind to them' was already something I was doing, and it hasn't helped for this.

I'm interested in some somatic stuff, but I know lots of it involves like... moving or beahving in certain ways in front of the therapist, and I'd honestly rather die? I do so badly with requests I perceive as 'cringey' that I got politely asked to not return to art therapy when I was inpatient lmao

Anyway, I've spent 5+ years going to therapists and saying "Hello, can we try ACT?", and every time they agree and then make me do a different therapy. I do not know why this keeps happening to me.

[thistlecatfics]

As a peer worker/possible future therapist, I’m so excited for this therapy + HP characters idea you got!! I love your takes so far. What about Ron + post OoTP Department of Mysteries trauma? Aaaand Luna for..just about any of it. I think she might come when she’s older and focus on trauma in Malfoy Manor but would you address her mom’s death or bullying she experienced?

omg thank you! I'm having fun with it. <3 <3 <3

Ron!!

I was just thinking that of the golden trio, Ron would be the one I'd want to work with and the one most likely to engage with and benefit from therapy.

Yes, we could do some EMDR or focused work around the Dept of Mysteries (probably with core beliefs around safety and power -- I'm not safe, I'm in danger, I'm helpless)

I think Ron would also just really benefit from talk therapy where there is a person who is wholly focused on him and his needs and just validates the shit out of his emotions. I think having a space where his feelings could be expressed and validated and then his thoughts/beliefs considered would also be really beneficial for his friendships (and for not making a total ass of himself in book 6 lol).

I could see him going to therapy for short term stuff after the dept of mysteries but then deciding he actually does really like therapy and continues with it.

It would take forever to actually get into family stuff beyond a surface level, but that's the main thing for him I think.

Luna in her 20s was another one I was thinking about on my run today!

ok so I could see her going to therapy just as a thing to do or as part of a deal with Ginny to make Ginny go too. She's engaging in therapy, sort of, but she's like "everything is fine! how are you??" for AGES.

I'm feeling IFS with her (I think she'd love the idea of doing parts work) and really getting to know her protector parts (escapist imaginative ones) and honoring them and also seeing if it might be safe to start living more fully in reality.

And it might not be! it might be safer to live half in her imagination, and we'd also honor that.

But I'd love to get to know her exiled parts -- I'm sure she has this little angry part that she never lets out, and I think checking in with her would be really beneficial.

I also see her as someone who really lives in her head, and I'd want to slowly start to introduce somatic work with her, which I think she'd be into (what shape and color is that feeling in your stomach?) until we hit something a little too real and then she'd dissociate again so fast.

I actually don't think we'd go into specific memories all that much actually - much more about her feelings/body sensations/perceptions/thoughts/beliefs as they exist in the present. I think she'd be resistant into going into the past (the manor, carrows, bullying, her mother's death), and I think we could work with that.

[drdemonprince]

Thank you for doing a stream on therapy/therapists. I hear about so many different therapies from my friends (DBT, parts work, EMDR, somatic, trauma-informed) that I generally haven't organically run across in my own therapy experiences... I wish there was a pre-screener I could go to that could help me figure out what therapy to even start with based on my goals. I think at this point I might just have to make some educated guesses and just start trying.

Also, most of my therapy experiences have been me going, "I'd like to learn coping/management skills for [stress, ADHD]" and the therapist agreeing but then not helping me with those things generally. A friend said recently that therapists don't like to suggest changes like that and I should go to a life coach for this. So now I'm also curious about any info on therapists versus life coaches, if anyone has had any experience there. Looking forward to seeing the stream on this; it's such an important topic!

you've inspired me to add some details on therapy modalities and articulating exactly what you want out of therapy to my slides for tomorrow! thank you!