Trauma and Treatment
Because trauma can be experienced in so many unique ways the best treatment for it is one that is tailor-made for the individual that has experienced the trauma(s). Denver Psychologist, Dr. Shaayestah Merchant understands how painful and isolating it can be to experience and survive a traumatic event. At Essential Dialogues LLC, we specialize in providing culturally competent, respectful, trauma-informed care to adolescents, teenagers, and adults.
While there is some debate about the type of events that can be considered traumatic, Dr. Shaayestah Merchant at Essential Dialogues LLC believes that an event or events that psychologically overwhelm(s) an individual and her/his capacity to cope is one inclusive definition of a traumatic event. Some examples of traumatic events include sexual assault, motor-vehicle accidents, loss of a loved one, medical procedures including birthing experiences, loss of health status, physical abuse/assault, violence (domestic and otherwise), emotional abuse, childhood sexual abuse, significant bullying experiences, military combat, etc.
At Essential Dialogues LLC our trauma specialists will provide you just the safe and comforting environment you need to heal from whatever trauma you have experienced. We will take the time to understand your unique experience of the trauma(s) as well as its impact and work collaboratively with you to come up with a treatment plan that works for you. Dr. Shaayestah Merchant has been trained in and practices Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), a widely researched technique for treating trauma. EMDR can be a part of your treatment plan if you choose it.
Reaching out is the first step towards healing. Connecting with us can help. Contact us for a free consultation now.
Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
Trauma has a deep and long-lasting impact on our lives. We are learning through research that the effects of traumas live in our bodies and impact not only our emotional selves but also our body’s physiological systems. Trauma-sensitive yoga is emerging as one particularly effective tool for survivors of trauma to heal and navigate their life after their traumas. At Essential Dialogues, LLC we are constantly striving to offer our clients opportunities to grow in many different ways. In this vein, we are excited to now offer a trauma-sensitive yoga group. Click here for more information about this group.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing or EMDR is a psychological therapy pioneered by Dr. Francine Shapiro. It is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of many types of trauma as well as other psychological difficulties. EMDR incorporates and borrows from several effective psychotherapy models and theories to include psychodynamic, interpersonal, body-centered therapies, experiential, and cognitive-behavioral.
EMDR is practiced using eye movements or other bilateral stimulation (tones or tappers) in an effort to process a traumatic or otherwise disturbing experience that was processed incompletely. Processing in EMDR terms does not necessarily mean talking about it. It means “setting up a learning state that will allow experiences that are causing problems to be “digested” and stored appropriately in your brain” (EMDR International Association). This will lead to the maintaining of what is useful to you from a particular experience and will likely guide you in helpful way in the future. The upsetting, negative beliefs, sensation, and emotions will be discarded. “The goal of EMDR therapy is to leave you with the emotions, understanding, and perspectives that will lead to healthy and useful behaviors and interactions” (EMDR International Association). If you are treated with EMDR you will continue to have memories of the upsetting events but they will no longer be as charged or triggering and your responses to these memories will be adaptive and positive.
For more information on EMDR please visit: www.emdria.org
Dr. Francine Shapiro answers many questions about EMDR and its use in her New York Times Consults feature.