Trauma Intensive (EMDR/Brainspotting)
““Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.””
What is Trauma?
The outcome from exposure to an incident or series of incidents that are emotionally disturbing or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based technique which may help the brain unblock maladaptive coping mindsets and/or behaviors manifested as anxiety, frequent panic attacks, post- traumatic stress symptoms (i.e., intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks), dissociation, depression, phobias, identity crisis and other traumatic experiences.
In other words, a way to reprocess a past significant event, or series of experiences in order for you to see/experience things differently in the present.
What is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting, or BSP, is a method in which focused mindfulness is used for identifying, processing, and releasing sources of emotional and/or somatic pain; trauma, dissociation, and other triggers.
Which is right for me?
If there are memories, experiences, or patterns that are impacting your life in a negative way, EMDR or Brainspotting may be a way your system can reprocess and relearn. Both methods in and of themselves can be intensive, but typically a faster way to healing. The biggest difference is that EMDR uses eye movements while Brainspotting uses eye positioning. Also, EMDR has a more formal protocol and uses a memory/event for activation while Brainspotting uses the emotions/feelings for activation.
In addition to trauma, both methods can help with:
Anxiety/Panic
Maladaptive patterns (e.g. disordered eating, sleep issues, personality traits)
Mood dysregulation
Grief/Loss
Pain management
“In today’s America, we tend to think of healing as something binary: either we’re broken or we’re healed from that brokenness. But that’s not how healing operates, and it’s almost never how human growth works. More often, healing and growth take place on a continuum, with innumerable points between utter brokenness and total health.””
Why intensive style?
Doing trauma work - specifically EMDR in a weekly hour-long format can take months (or years!) on end. Doing EMDR in an intensive style invites you to find relief faster maximizing your healing.
An intensive can help you feel less triggered or activated around traumatic events or adverse life experiences rather quickly while, at the same time, helping you learn skills to manage or regulate your nervous system.
See if a Trauma-Intensive is right for you. Click here to inquire.
The Process
NyLu Clinicians were trained in EMDR using The Fairy Tale Model developed by Dr. Greenwald; Brainspotting training is through John R. Edwards or Tracy Gantlin-Monroy.
The target issues are dragons; you are the dragon slayer; what you’re after is your treasure. The Clinician is your trainer, helping you prepare to slay your dragons!
For EMDR - We do it in phases:
History & Planning - discuss your history, identify specific memories to target (i.e., the dragon), and create a treatment plan with you
Prep - Think personal training, where you and the therapist review techniques to address any distress that may arise during treatment.
DRAGON SLAYING!! - Assessment, Desensitization, Installation, Body Scan, Closure, and Re-evaluation. This is where the eye movements are happening.
Living with your Treasure - Here is where we focus on integrating your treasure into your life; addressing fear of success and imposter syndrome.
Scheduling Options
Brainspotting Intensive - scheduled for 2.5 hours
Half (1/2) Intensive - scheduled for 3.5 hours
Three-quarter (3/4) Intensive - scheduled for 5 hours; 10am-3pm
Full Day Intensive - scheduled for 7 hours; 9am - 4pm (several breaks provided)
Weekend Intensive - scheduled for 6 hour blocks on Saturday AND Sunday
Check out the rates here.
Ready to heal? Click here to be contacted by the Office Coordinator for more information.