How EMDR sessions can help you stop living in survival mode finally?

I decided to invest in my craft to better serve my clients and became trained in EMDR last year. I work with many adults in the forgotten generation; Generation X. 

Many have experienced childhood trauma growing up in the ’70s and 80’s grappling with the impact of the crack epidemic that destroyed many communities of color. Also, many Gen Xers had a parent who served in the military in the Korean War like my Dad, or Vietnam. Many of those men came back home with severe mental health issues untreated and used drugs and alcohol to kill the pain. 

This means many people who are in generation x have tons of unaddressed childhood trauma walking around now. This trauma is present in their lives today, impacting their relationships with others and the relationship they have with themselves. 

Remember therapy was not as popular back then the way it is more acceptable and accessible as it is now. That means many gen Xers needed care but did not receive it.

EMDR is one of the most effective forms of therapy to address trauma. 

How does EMDR help people with childhood trauma? EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, or side-to-side eye movements, to reprocess disturbing memories. Research from many sources found that the bilateral eye movements performed in EMDR may replicate the rapid eye movements (REM) during the dream stage of sleep. Research has long believed that during REM sleep our brains process the events of the day, including our emotions, beliefs and physical sensations. If the brain does not process these properly, memories may become lodged and can cause us problems further down the line. Sometimes the symptoms of trauma don't appear for months, years, and even decades afterward. 

In a series of EMDR therapy sessions, I use gentle bilateral tapping (often on the top of the client's hands or side of a client’s legs) in addition to the eye stimulation. Some therapists use tappers to stimulate the physical tapping method I use. During sessions, dual attention stimulation (bilateral eye movements and tapping) unlocks the unprocessed memory, releases the painful emotions and sensations, and allows your brain to let go of the beliefs that are holding you back in life

Childhood trauma anxiety, anger, and depression are just a few of the symptoms of having unprocessed, maladaptive memories stuck in your brain. After EMDR therapy sessions clients find the memories about the event processed seem faded. Some bits of information, deemed unimportant to your current life and survival, may be completely discarded. EMDR does not delete memories. EMDR simply changes the way painful memories are stored, so that when you think about them, they no longer trigger and hurt you the same way before you started EMDR sessions.

Please email me at therapyfor@livinginthesecondhalf.com or call me at 646-859-0125 to schedule a free 15 minute consulation

Is being a caregiver wrecking your marriage?

Is being a caregiver destroying your marriage?

How do I split my time between taking care of the kids, care for Mom, have a career, and make time for my marriage? 

Simultaneous commitments of aging parents, children, career and maintain a healthy relationship can result in stress for couples being sandwiched by the overwhelming responsibilities.

Divorce is becoming increasingly common for people in the sandwich generation. Think about your circle of friends? It’s hard to hold on the foundations of your relationship when you are being pulled in a million different directions, and everything seems equally important. 

Important questions like how I split my time between children, mom, marriage, and work do not come with easy answers. By establishing boundaries, open communication, and hard work divorce does not need to be the narrative for your marriage.

Many couples become so busy, connection, and communication often will be the first thing that falls off. Many couples will fail to see bids for connection their partner is making. According to Dr. John Gottman there are verbal bids and nonverbal bids for connection that is important. Nonverbal bids include affectionate touching such as a kiss, trying to hold hands, returning a smile, or opening the door for you. Verbal bids may include your partner asking you if you take a walk together or sharing a story about something they feel in interesting. A failed bid is being consumed you consistently fail to see or acknowledge the attend to connect.  When these bids for connection are ignored this can deepen a lack of connection in the relationship and create strain.

Many couple hesitate to seek professional help or wait until it’s too late. Therapy can help you hope with the feelings of anger, anticipatory grief, help establish boundaries, and provide tools to help cope with demands of work and maintaining a healthy relationship. 

Therapy feels expensive and time consuming, but the price divorce financially and emotionally is huge. Couples therapy can help you see what is possible for you and your partners and provide tools to navigate very difficult waters. 

What About your friends, caregivers edition

Article By: Vanessa Watson,LCSW

Three tips to support your friend who is a caregiver

Last night on Real Housewives of Atlanta, Nene Leaks shared her struggles being a caregiver to her Husband Gregg who is battling Stage III Colon Cancer. I applaud Nene and Gregg for sharing their story. Many caregivers, especially caregivers of color, can feel alone, and their stories are not told. Nene expresses feelings very common for people providing care to loved ones facing a serious or chronic medical condition. Life as a caregiver can feel like being in a pressure cooker on high that doesn’t turn off. 

The multiple stressors and demands of caregiver can be overwhelming on top of the feelings you may experience watching your loved one battle for their lives. Many caregivers start experiencing their own medical problems, face strain in their personal and work life when support is not provided.

Often people may not know how they can support a friend who is a caregiver. Many people not knowing who to do or say, may stay away, which can lead to increased feelings of isolation many caregivers already face. 

Here are three tips to remember to do to help support a friend in your life who’s a caregiver. 

1.    Remember to ask your friend how they are doing instead of how he/she is doing. Your friend in is this with their partner. Asking “How are both of you “acknowledges it’s not just the person who needs care who is dealing with challenges.

2.    Try to avoid saying “Please take care of yourself”. For many caregivers when they hear that it’s just another thing to add to an already very long do to list. Try to offer concrete support. You can offer do some errands like picking up the laundry or picking up the kids from basketball practice. 

3.    Support may look like offering to pick up dinner and a bottle of wine for a girl’s night in. Your friend many not be able to hang out or go out to dinner because of their caregiving responsibilities. An offer like this will help your friend have an outlet and one less meal to cook.