Mental health issues do not discriminate.
Trauma can happen to anyone.
Young, old, rich, poor, black, white, brown.
You name it.
The only requirement to struggle with mental health is to be a living being.
In my experience as a licensed mental health counselor, I have worked with many people experiencing a variety of struggles pertaining to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, interpersonal issues, and difficulties regulating emotions. However, almost all of the clients that I have worked with have experienced some type of trauma. Before I continue, I want to differentiate between little “t” traumas and big “t” traumas.
Big “T” Traumas and Little “t” Traumas
Most people are familiar with the big “t” traumas. These are events most likely associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that include acts of violence, sexual or physical abuse, combat/war zone, natural disaster, among other events of similar magnitude.
Little “t” traumas are not exactly life-threatening but do threaten your sense of self and exceed your capacity to cope. These include loss of significant relationships, emotional abuse, neglect from a caregiver, and unexpected life changes.
Differentiating between little “t” and big “t” traumas is very common in the mental health field but most people who specialize in trauma, as I do, recognize that trauma is not necessarily about the event itself and what category it falls under, but more about the impact left behind by the trauma. Experiencing a betrayal from a loved one may not be a life-threatening event but for some people, it can leave a deep, lasting impact on whether or not they experience safety in an interpersonal relationship again, while for someone else, they may not be that deeply impacted and can resolve this issue much easier.
How Our Brains Work to Protect Us from Trauma
Our brain works hard to protect us even in the face of trauma. When something negative happens to us, our brain tries to organize the event in efforts to understand it but sometimes, these disturbing memories get stuck in the wrong part of our brain. Traumatic memories sometimes get stuck in our feelings and in our bodies, rather than the cognitive part of our brain.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of therapy that can help break up memories and shift them to where they belong. EMDR has been extensively researched and recognized as an effective treatment of trauma by the World Health Organization, American Psychiatric Organization, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, among others. However, many people do not actually know what an EMDR session consists of.
What happens during an EMDR Trauma Therapy Session?
In an EMDR session, the client will recall a disturbing event, identifying the thoughts about one’s self or feelings that accompanied the event at the time it happened, while also identifying current thoughts or feelings pertaining to the experienced event. Examples of negative thoughts associated with distressing events include “I am not safe.” or “I am a failure.” While recalling this event, the client will also undergo bilateral stimulation, which is the core element of EMDR. Bilateral stimulation consists of the use of visual, auditory, or tactile external stimulation occurring in a side-to-side pattern. Clients can choose which type of stimulation feels most comfortable to them. Some people prefer a light bar where light moves back and forth and they follow this light with their eyes. Others might prefer tappers that vibrate from both left and right hands or tones that sound back and forth between each ear.
Thoughts During an EMDR Session
Once the client and their therapist agree to the bilateral stimulation, reprocessing/desensitization begins. The disturbing event that the therapist and client decide to target is brought up along with the body sensations, emotions and thoughts while simultaneously undergoing bilateral stimulation. The therapist will guide their client to activate thoughts and feelings and will focus on past traumas, current stressors, or worries about the future. During an EMDR session, the client is in control the entire time with the brain really doing most of the work. The therapist will follow the client’s lead, prioritizing emotional safety and comfort. The therapist will guide the client through several sets of this, as more associations come up for the client. Each person will process information differently and there is absolutely no right or wrong way to process information during an EMDR session. Reprocessing will continue until the memory becomes less disturbing and is associated with more positive beliefs about one’s self, such as “I can trust others.” or “I am safe now.” A typical EMDR session lasts from 60-90 minutes while the number of sessions needed to process a traumatic event is dependent on the specific problem and the trauma history of the client.
Staying Safe During Your EMDR Therapy Session
In order to ensure safety during EMDR, clients will be using several techniques such as grounding, relaxation, and mindfulness skills before, during, and after an EMDR session as taught by their therapist. The therapist will not begin EMDR unless they are sure that their client is ready and able to manage the feelings and sensations that may arise during treatment. During processing, the therapist will work to repeatedly ground their client by keeping them in touch with their current feelings and sense of safety to prevent them from drifting away from reality and into the traumatic experience. As with any other type of psychotherapy, after an EMDR session, there may be a temporary increase in distress as the processing of material and underlying feelings may continue. The therapist will be available to support the client if this were to occur and will review the skills that they have already trained their client in order to relieve the distress.
As a trauma-informed therapist, I am hopeful that more people will discover EMDR and consider it as a form of treatment to live a life free from the aftermath of traumatic events. Anyone interested in experiencing EMDR should look for a trauma-informed licensed therapist with additional training in EMDR. As with any type of therapy, it is also of utmost importance to find a therapist whom you feel comfortable working with and trust.
To learn more about EMDR, please visit emdria.org.
To learn more or inquire about working with Minerva Guerrero, Ph.D., LMHC, please visit www.mindmattersmhc.com or email mguerrero@mindmattersmhc.com.
BEGINNING THERAPY IN SCARSDALE, NY
Taking time for your mental health is key to overall wellbeing, especially as a young adult or working professional. Let’s get you feeling good so you can keep doing amazing things for the world! To begin counseling in my Westchester counseling office, follow these simple steps:
Click the button below to schedule our first counseling session.
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MORE THERAPY SERVICES IN WESTCHESTER, NY
From my Scarsdale therapy practice, I want to help you feel more comfortable, confident and connected to others. This is why I also provide therapy for teens, therapy for adults, trauma therapy, therapy for anxiety, and specialized techniques such as EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy. If you want to explore these options further, let’s connect!
*This article first appeared on Brown Girls Mental Health December Digital and Print Magazine on November 27th, 2019. All proceeds from their magazine subscriptions supports their providing of relatable mental health resources to women of color. www.browngirlsandmentalhealth.com
