INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY THERAPY
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SOMATIC EXPERIENCING®
Somatic Experiencing® is a body-oriented treatment modality developed by Peter Levine, PhD that offers a unique perspective on the healing of trauma. Somatic Experiencing® emphasizes sensation and communication of the body to help people ''renegotiate'' and heal their challenges rather than relive them. When the nervous system is overwhelmed, we experience over-arousal, under-arousal and disorganization, often called dysregulation. This can lead to some of the debilitating symptoms of panic, anxiety and depression. In Somatic Experiencing clients are guided to notice the body's ''felt sense,'' to gain access to these high and or low states of arousal. Through this awareness of sensation, clients gain access to restorative physiological action patterns allowing the survival energies to be safely and gradually discharged and completed. When these energies are discharged, people frequently experience a dramatic reduction symptoms and greater sense of wellbeing. Somatic Experiencing neutralizes the symptoms of trauma, which bind this arousal, and offers the steps needed to resolve arousal states and heal trauma. |
EMDR
EMDR is an evidence-based practice that was developed to treat trauma and PTSD. EMDR can be effective in addressing a wide variety of common issues, including: anxiety, phobias, panic, sleep disturbances, unresolved grief and loss, obsessive-compulsive thoughts and behaviors, addictive behaviors, negative core beliefs and many other sources of stress. Often times these issues are connected to something in our past that remains wounded or incomplete. The brain is an elaborate association machine that quickly makes meaning of our experiences and then categorizes and files them away based on past events that seem similar. Sometimes traumatic or highly emotional or stressful experiences can cause the brain to miscategorize or misfile an experience, leaving it "stuck" and unable to be adaptively resolved. Without adaptive resolution, the brain continues trying to work out this experience, decreasing brain-power available to maintain optimal daily functioning. This can lead to unwanted symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, obsessive-compulsive issues, disturbed eating patterns, defiance and problematic behavior in children and teens, emotional over-reactivity, somatic symptoms, and problems concentrating or focusing. EMDR is safe, non-invasive, and can be used with people of all ages. EMDR activates the brain's innate information processing system and keeps it moving, so that whatever is "stuck" can be cleared out and resolved. The healing happens within you as your brain reprocesses the old material and moves it through to resolution - the therapist's role is to guide the process and keep it moving. Clients are often surprised at how quickly they start to feel better and notice a decrease in their unwanted symptoms. |
GROUPS
Mommy and Me: This class is a highly interactive experience, with an emphasis on mindful, empathic parenting and optimizing your baby’s development through your relationship. We meet weekly for 75 minute classes, which would ideally continue throughout your baby’s first year. The approach to parenting is individual. It is my intention to support new moms access the wisdom of their instincts and heart, while calming their new mom worries. CURRENT GROUPS
Sherman Oaks only through Wrightmommy.com/classas |