Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a powerful new method of doing psychotherapy that was originally developed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. It involves concentrating on a troubling memory or emotion while moving the eyes rapidly back and forth (by following the therapist’s fingers or a moving light). This rapid eye movement which occurs naturally during dreaming seems to speed the client’s movement through a natural healing process.
EMDR is used to treat many problems including Phobias, Panic Attacks, Stress, disturbing memories, Anxiety Disorders, Performance Anxiety, Dissociative Disorders, Sexual and/or Physical Abuse, Complicated Grief, and Migraine Headaches to name a few.
Reiki
Reiki is a healing technique that utilizes the flow of energy to restore natural balance and harmony of the whole person. It was rediscovered by Dr. Mikao Usui in the mid-nineteenth century and dates back over three thousand years to ancient Tibet.
The Reiki practitioner is specially trained and attuned by a Reiki Master. S/he simply acts as a channel or conduit for Reiki to flow in a concentrated form, which works holistically on all levels of one’s being, including the physical, mental and emotional. Reiki energy flows to the areas of the body where it is needed most and always seeks to harmonize the root cause of a disorder rather than just treat the symptom.
During a Reiki treatment, Reiki energy radiates from the practitioner’s hands, which are placed gently on the body, or even just above it. The energy flows automatically without any effort. People usually experience a deep enjoyable state of relaxation, where the mind calms down, creating a sense of well being. Individual experiences will differ according to one’s sensitivity level.
Coaching
“Part consultant, part motivational speaker, part therapist and part rent-a-friend, coaches work with managers, entrepreneurs, and just plain folks, helping them define and achieve their goals- career, personal or, most often, both." - Newsweek
Coaching is a technique utilized when individuals feel stuck and helps to facilitate change.
Guided Imagery
Guided Imagery is a process of deliberately using your imagination to help your mind and body heal, stay well, or perform well. It’s a kind of directed, deliberate daydream, a purposeful creation of positive sensory images- sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings - in one’s imagination. This might mean conjuring up images of a tumor shrinking or of blood pressure slowing down; it might be images of the emotions growing calm and steady in a safe, protected setting; or it could involve “rehearsal” images of a successful performance outcome, such as, in the case of a stroke survivor, having a right side that moves more the way you want it to do. The guided imagery script will be tailored to each client’s specific needs and the client will be taught to work with these images at home between sessions. Clients who have a difficult time getting to their feelings find Guided Imagery helpful in getting to the core of their issues using this imagery which helps to “by-pass” emotional blocks
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive therapy is based on the cognitive model, which hypothesizes that people’s emotions and behaviors are influenced by their perception of events. Beginning in childhood, people develop certain beliefs about themselves, other people, and their worlds. Their most central or core beliefs are understandings that are so fundamental and deep that they often do not articulate them, even to themselves. So the way people feel is associated with the way in which they interpret and think about a situation. If you find your interpretation is erroneous and you correct it, you probably discover that your mood improves. In cognitive terms, when dysfunctional thoughts are subjected to rational reflection, one’s emotions generally change.
Critical Incident Debriefing
Used after traumatic incidents, Critical Incident Debriefing is different than therapy. It is an intervention used right after a trauma occurs and is a process by which trauma survivors are given an opportunity to process their feelings and are educated on the symptomatology of trauma. This information is invaluable in that it prepares the survivor for what may potentially come up for them and normalizes symptoms rather than have the survivor think that s/he is going “crazy”. This may also include a triage process whereby the clinician may be able to identify those who may be at greater risk and in need of further intervention.
Energy Work
Many therapeutic approaches leave the body out of the equation. However, the mind, body, spirit are interconnected and when one aspect is out of alignment, it often impacts the other. For example, when one is stressed it may manifest in the body in the form of a headache. Energy work involves working with the body and mind to access information that may be stored in the body on a cellular level. It may include balancing the chakras, energy centers located throughout the body. The work may include looking at the spiritual lessons which continue to occur in one’s life and what is needed to transform them.