Further Support

There’s a world of healing modalities. If you have tried one and haven’t found much success or are at a point of diminishing returns, there are many other options that could work for you. No one technique works for everyone, so experiment until you’ve found something that suits your unique self and situation.

 

For individuals


EMDR

One technique you might consider if you’re experiencing symptoms of numbness, anxiety or depression is EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.) Instead of having you talk about emotional issues, the practitioner will have you follow their finger or a pointer with your eyes as they move it left and right about once per second. It's not totally understood how this works, but some hypothesize that it activates the brain's processing of memory in a similar way to the rapid eye movements during deep sleep. The technique distracts you from the discomfort so that you can bring up traumatic memories without becoming overwhelmed. You can free unconscious memories that were previously too painful to recall. Once put into a story the conscious mind has access to, the triggers no longer have the same power to draw you into panic states.

EMDR has been declared an effective evidence-based treatment for PTSD in the professional treatment guidelines of the U.S. Department of Defense and the American Psychological Association.


Somatic Experiencing

Unlike conventional psychotherapy, which focuses largely on verbal cognitive processes, Somatic Experiencing targets traumatic memories indirectly by gradually guiding the patients to develop an increasing tolerance for difficult bodily sensations and emotions. It aims to release fight/flight/freeze responses of unresolved trauma.


Integrated Family Systems

“If you love what’s in your way, it will transform.” Integrated Family Systems therapy recognizes that there are multiple voices within us – the inner critic, the wounded child, the protectors and that most of our emotions come from these parts. When you can get these parts of self to become separate and communicate with each other, a new part arises that knows how to heal the self.


 

For couples


Emotionally Focused Therapy


Relational Life Therapy


Sex Therapy

American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists