Heart of the Matter

In my work, I mainly rely on the following therapy approaches:

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

 

EMDR (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is an extremely well tested and fast approach to move through unresolved (traumatic) experiences and loosen their grip and effect on a person's current life. EMDR is widely and very successfully used to resolve trauma symptoms after accidents, sexual assault, or war trauma. It can also be very effective to ameliorate persistent grief, depressive and anxiety symptoms.

 

IFS (Internal Family Systems) is a therapy modality as well as an approach to life that views the human mind as naturally multifaceted. We can become more of our authentic Self when we build relationships inside with our parts, some of which have taken on burdens from the past and are stuck in coping strategies that were once the best possible response to difficult circumstances, but are now no longer adaptive. If you would like to know more, you can find a more detailed description as well as IFS resources here.

 

In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) the goal is not to eliminate difficult feelings. Rather, it is to be present with what life brings us and to "move toward a valued behavior".  A full and meaningful life invariably includes sadness and pain; by allowing all feelings ("good" and "bad" ones), we can develop skills to cope more effectively with them.