EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly effective therapy for trauma that integrates a mind-body-emotion technique called bilateral stimulation (BLS). The therapist uses BLS techniques like eye movements, sounds, or taps to help move and process unconscious memories or traumatic events to a more functional part of the brain.

Trauma can cause our brain to store memories incorrectly, making past events feel like they’re happening now. This can lead to reactions as if the trauma is still occurring. EMDR helps resolve this by reprocessing those memories, so they lose their emotional and physiological intensity. This allows you to respond to the present without being activated by the past.

Attachment focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) is a flexible adaptation of the standard protocol. Individuals with chronic relational traumas and attachment wounds have a harder time tolerating the intense emotions that arise in trauma processing. AF-EMDR is safer for individuals who developed an insecure attachment style as a survival response to childhood neglect, abuse, abandonment, emotional misattunement, or mistreatment.

Abuse and trauma leave gaps in the development of networks in the brain, which later presents as anxiety, depression, and emotional regulation issues. AF-EMDR helps the brain rewire new pathways to repair these gaps, to alleviate deeply rooted pain, feelings of not being good enough and form a sense of emotional stability and security.

Parts Work sessions are informed by the Internal Family Systems approach. “Parts” is an IFS term for the different subpersonalities within our mind. We are all born with parts; each of whom has their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Traumatic life events leave our parts wounded and burdened with extreme roles in efforts to protect the system. All parts have good intentions; there are no bad parts. The roles our parts play affect how we function and relate to others in our external world. By getting to know our parts, we can release their burdens and shift how our parts show up. As we change internally, our relationships and issues in our external systems are transformed. Our parts can inform how we respond, but once healed our Self energy is liberated to lead the system.

An integrative psychotherapy session is simply a creative and eclectic approach to trauma-informed talk therapy. The clinician integrates elements from more than one evidence-based modality; drawing from the different methods in which they are trained, ensuring a person-centered treatment plan that is carefully curated for your individual experience.

Kristen’s practice is informed by Trauma-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment Focused EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, mindfulness and somatic practices.