Blog #8 (chapters 15&16)
It was interesting to read further in these chapters the different details of EMDR especially after last week we were able to hear firsthand from Hannah Buetyn about her experience with EMDR. My supervisor for my internship is currently is actually trained in EMDR as well though he implements the spiritual aspect to their experience as well. He has found great success in doing this, so I enjoyed learning more practical aspects of this modality.
Before I started studying different modalities used for trauma, I always thought it would not be helpful for the client to continue to talk about what hurt them so badly. Just telling me once about the experience would be traumatic enough for them. I always thought the more I brought trauma up the more traumatizing it was for them. EMDR kind of proves the opposite. With the help of a counselor, EMDR allows clients to revisit those traumatic memories and work to change those memories, so they aren’t as painful and traumatic. What an empowering thing to know that our memories have the ability to evolve and change. I think something that was helpful for me was how honest that Van Der Kolk was in the sense that the first few times clients are asked to revisit memories it can be really hard for them, but if they continue with the process, revisiting memories only gets easier. This was seen in the story of Kathy.
I loved how well chapter 16 tied into what was taught in chapter 15. Van Der Kolk says, “EMDR… focuses not only on regulated the intense memories activated by trauma but also on restoring a sense of agency, engagement, and commitment through ownership of body and mind.” Yoga and mindful are great tools to gain that control back of your body. God has uniquely created our body’s and souls to be so intertwined. When we experience trauma, our bodies are almost always effected in some way. Yoga is a great way to relieve different muscle tension experienced because of trauma. Not only does yoga focus on relieving music tension, there is also a breathing element to it. I loved how Van Der Kolk included so many testimonies of how helpful Yoga was to some of these people. I appreciated the example of Annie who was a rape victim. She found it hard to do the pose “happy baby” in yoga because in this position her legs are spread and she feels more vulnerable. This is true for many other rape victims, but I think there is something really freeing about finding how to be comfortable in your body especially after something really hard has happened to it.
Have you had any experience with yoga? I did it years ago, and felt that it was helpful. With so many other things, it just hasn't worked into my schedule right now. Are you interested in providing EMDR?
ReplyDeleteKayla: Love how you use God's thoughts and perspective in this creative of the earth and people. There are may people have been questioning to themselves like, "Why am I here?" They found that was super frustrated for them and wanted to understand life but it is also finding the way to have those mind to let things go and focus on the currently daily life. God has a plan for everyone and people are on the earth for a reason. At the same time, it is also frustrated on the earth because people are taking over the nature and lot of different people, violence's are everywhere and that cause a serious stress on them. People are too busy focusing on those craziness or dramas but totally forget about themselves. That is why life lesson of learning is so important to do the self care and focus on yourself first before supporting and helping others. As therapists is there to guide because people does not know how to improve their skills until session and then they are going to able to use those skills only if they are take it seriously. Great blog! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAre you interested in becoming trained in EMDR? After reading your blog, it sounds like you have a strong passions for helping trauma survivors. EMDR truly sounds like such a hard, yet rewarding modality. I have a client's mom who is currently participating in EMDR. She has shared with me that these days are hard and often take a lot out of her. However, she almost always feels 'lighter' and more free.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend that was severely abused as a child and he goes to massage therapy like once a month. This has helped him learn about safe touches, that he can be touched in sometimes vulnerable ways and it can be safe. I think that's a good excuse for all of us to get massages after this semester :)
ReplyDelete