EMDR is a mode of therapy developed to help clients with the emotional distress associated with disturbing and unresolved life experiences. It is a physiologically based technique that helps the brain process disturbing material in a new and less distressing way. EMDR uses eye movements, tapping, or sounds, depending on the client’s preference to activate both the left and right sides of the brain while recalling the distressing life experience in order to more adequately process the memory contributing to the emotional disturbance. During the therapy process, old beliefs, thoughts, and feelings about the experience are connected with more positive and realistic information. Following a successful EMDR session normal information processing is resumed, such that the person no longer relives the experience in the same way when the event is brought to mind. There is still a memory of what happened, but it is less upsetting and the person can look at the experience with a new sense of understanding and clarity. It can be used to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, grief, abuse, panic attacks, trauma, phobias and PTSD. EMDR is also helpful for resolving present relationship issues that are affected by past patterns of interactions.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Some clients are unable to leave their house to come to our office or therapy farm and need all their sessions to be held remotely. Other clients have sudden circumstances, such as child illness, and need a remote session to avoid having to cancel their appointment. We have therapists that are Distanced Credentialed Counselors (DCC) with the specialized skills to conduct remote counseling sessions. We also offer a HIPAA compliant digital platform which enables video sessions with clients and still permits our canine co-therapists to be part of the counseling process. Call our practice manager at 919-243-1505 to find out if your insurance plan covers telemental health sessions.
Telehealth
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by individuals when focusing their awareness on the present moment, while calmly becoming aware of and accepting their feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. used as a counseling therapeutic technique. This is a growing area of interest and there is empirical support for the clinical value of mindfulness interventions for a variety of psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, substance abuse, insomnia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Mindfulness techniques are a key way to help clients cultivate awareness of their emotions and to improve emotional regulation.
Mindfulness Techniques
Focusing on the mind-body connection through the use of yoga techniques helps clients to reduce the negative effects of stress on the body and mind, promotes emotional healing and encourages a positive healthy lifestyle. Dr. Christina Strayer has received her certificate in Restorative Yoga and has completed her RYT-200 Yoga Teacher Training Program from Martha Catz E-RYT at The Yoga Connection. This additional education enables her to provide the benefits of yoga techniques to our clients individually and on a group basis.
Yoga Techniques
Expressive arts therapy combines the creative process with psychological principles to encourage emotional growth and healing. The use of various artistic forms, including painting, drawing, music and other artistic forms is incorporated into the therapeutic process to help increase awareness and initiate change. Expressive art techniques can be used with children, adolescents and adults, as individuals or in a group setting to facilitate personal growth and transformation.
Expressive Arts Techniques
PTSD is a mental health issue that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing life-threatening events, such as a natural disaster, a car accident, sexual assault, or combat. After such events, it is common for individuals to experience intrusive and upsetting memories of the event, hypervigilance, increased startle response, jumpiness, or trouble sleeping. If these reactions do not resolve over time or if they get worse, it is possible the individual may have developed PTSD.
Some of our therapists have a deeper level of experience to assist clients struggling with the wide array of symptoms associated with PTSD.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2014 approximately 20.2 million adults (8.4%) had a substance use disorder. Of these, 7.9 million people had both a mental disorder and substance use disorder known as co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. These issues are common, prone to relapse, and often serious, but there is hope because they are treatable with many people reaching recovery.
Substance use disorder encompasses the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs causing clinical and functional impairment, including physical health problems, disability, as well as failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. According to the DSM-5, a diagnosis of substance use disorder is based on evidence of impaired control, social impairment, risky use, and pharmacological criteria.
Some of our therapists have a deeper level of experience to assist clients struggling with substance use and co-occurring mental health issues.
Substance Abuse
