Specialized Approaches
Trauma and Attachment-Focused Therapy
Trauma can take a significant toll on the mind and body by disrupting our sense of safety and attachment. Through individual therapy approaches such as EMDR and schema therapy, along with gentle, attachment-focused strategies, we can work together to help you feel secure, rebuild trust, and strengthen your connection to yourself and others. Additionally, acceptance and commitment therapy may also be integrated to support your healing journey in trauma therapy.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a well-researched trauma therapy that has proven effective in helping individuals heal from trauma, anxiety, depression, dissociation, and more. While it may sound strange, EMDR works by having individuals focus on a distressing memory while the clinician simultaneously uses back-and-forth (bilateral) movements for the individual to follow—most commonly with their eyes. This method facilitates the natural healing process of the brain and has been shown to reduce the vividness, arousal, and emotional intensity of traumatic experiences, making it a valuable approach alongside other therapeutic techniques like acceptance and commitment therapy and schema therapy in individual therapy settings.
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that assists individuals in addressing long-standing, unhelpful patterns of thought, emotions, and behaviors. Often referred to as maladaptive schemas, these patterns often stem from difficult past experiences and can significantly impact the beliefs we carry about ourselves, others, and the world around us. In addition to schema therapy, methods like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and EMDR can also be beneficial in trauma therapy. Schema therapy supports us in understanding the origin of our schemas, challenging their validity, and replacing them with more adaptive schemas. This aids us in healing from difficult past experiences and developing a more positive sense of self through individual therapy.
Somatic Experiencing
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a therapeutic approach that effectively heals trauma and restores our sense of safety and wellbeing. What distinguishes Somatic Experiencing from other methods, such as acceptance and commitment therapy or EMDR, is its recognition that trauma affects us not only psychologically but also somatically. SE acknowledges that our bodies store trauma-related memories and sensations, which can lead to a dysregulated nervous system, ongoing hyperarousal, or dissociation. By gently tuning in to physical sensations, SE facilitates the release of stress and unresolved trauma held within our bodies, complementing other forms of individual therapy like schema therapy and various trauma therapy techniques.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an approach that originates from traditional Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and has been effective in addressing a variety of mental health concerns. This form of individual therapy aims to enhance psychological flexibility by encouraging individuals to reduce emotional avoidance and denial. Instead, they learn to accept uncomfortable emotions as valid responses to challenging experiences. Through this process, individuals discover how to embrace hardships beyond their control, manage difficult thoughts and feelings, and commit to actions that resonate with their personal values, ultimately providing their lives with meaning and purpose. In addition to ACT, other therapeutic modalities such as EMDR, schema therapy, and trauma therapy can also be beneficial in supporting mental health recovery.
Compassion-Focused Therapy
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) is a therapeutic modality that supports individuals in overcoming self-criticism and shame, often stemming from early experiences of abuse or neglect. CFT, along with approaches like acceptance and commitment therapy, EMDR, and schema therapy, teaches clients how to foster self-compassion and compassion for others. This trauma therapy approach has demonstrated effectiveness in emotional regulation, helping individuals achieve feelings of safety, self-acceptance, and comfort during individual therapy.