Services
SENSORIMOTOR Psychotherapy
Unresolved traumatic memory lives in the body and manifests as physiological symptoms that play out repetitively in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Talk therapy alone may not assist survivors in learning to tolerate the body-based intrusions that are common to the aftermath of trauma.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy is a body-oriented psychotherapy that directly addresses the intrusive sensations and impulses where they live in the body. The sensorimotor psychotherapist assists the client in learning individualized techniques for self-regulation. By working through the body in a mindful state, survivors learn to witness their experience in a way that helps them make practical choices about what they can do in the moment to feel better, be more present to themselves, to others and to life. Only when stability and resilience are established can the traumatic memory be processed in a way that allows an individual to feel that the traumatic event(s) are in the past. When the body and the ANS know that the traumatic event is over, the memory no longer holds the same influence over one’s moment-to-moment experience.
NEUROTHERAPY
Trauma affects the brains ability to respond in a fluid fashion. This is especially true when trauma in early childhood has interfered with healthy neural development. As our brains will give priority to survival, an expectation of danger then becomes the norm. The brain can fire in repetitive sequelae, manifesting in persistent dysregulation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). Symptoms like panic, anxiety, rumination, hypervigilance, pain, tension, depersonalization, are just some of the symptoms that ensue. Trauma-informed body-oriented psychotherapy can retrain the brain into forging new pathways, but it can take a long time of practicing these new competencies before they become the norm.
Neurotherapies can greatly assist the brain to become more balanced and fluid by breaking up the patterns that manifest in intrusive symptoms, and encouraging healthier pathways to be established. The neuroplastic brain learns how to regulate itself, and this regulation is felt in the ANS as a reduction in symptoms, and an easier time transitioning through different states. Neurotherapies have the potential to dramatically reduce the healing time of trauma survivors, and the learning is permanent.
VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION WITH NEUROFEEDBACK
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) combined with Neurofeedback represents an innovative and promising therapeutic approach. When combined with Neurofeedback, VNS becomes even more powerful. By harnessing the power of Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field (PEMF) stimulation of the vagus nerve and simultaneous real-time monitoring of brainwave activity, this method offers a multifaceted strategy for addressing a range of health conditions, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. The potential for personalized and non-invasive treatment makes it an exciting avenue for exploration.
When VNS and Neurofeedback are used together, the potential for synergistic effects is substantial. VNS can modulate the autonomic nervous system, while Neurofeedback can target and train overall brain activity. This combination offers a comprehensive approach to addressing a wider range of neurological and psychological conditions, potentially leading to more effective and personalized treatment outcomes.
TRAUMA INFORMED GROUP Psychotherapy
Group therapy provides an opportunity for people to hone and develop their skills for self-regulation within a relational context. Trauma survivors bring a unique challenge to group process, as their own internal experience can be louder than what is happening within the group space. Trauma informed group therapy allows time and directed focus toward sensations, impulses, and beliefs as they are stimulated in group process. Directed mindful awareness is key, and allows participants to regulate themselves and move toward a felt sense of safety in connection.