Finding a therapist for trauma recovery is a complicated process. Figuring out who is covered by insurance, finding someone that fits your schedule, someone you feel comfortable and safe with, and figuring out the process is time-consuming and confusing. After all of that, there is also the question of what type of therapy is best? Everyone on the internet and your aunt and your neighbor has an opinion of what is best. I have had many clients reach out to me asking for specific therapies, such as EMDR therapy, and while it is a good modality, it may not be the best type of therapy for them and their needs. How can you find the best therapy for you, and how can your therapist help?
What is EMDR?
First, some basics. EMDR therapy stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. What? Yes, that is what I thought when I first looked into becoming an EMDR therapist. The history of EMDR therapy goes back to 1987 when Francine Shapiro noticed a correlation between healing thoughts and bilateral stimulation. That is a very basic summary of what EMDR does. Eye movement is only one of the methods that can be used. Some people will use tapping, cross body movement, or other ways to make a bilateral stimulation work with memory reprocessing. EMDR does not look like traditional talk therapy, and studies have show that it can be very beneficial in working with trauma. Many people report marked improvement when meeting with an EMDR therapist.
Is EMDR the right therapy for me?
EMDR may be the right choice of therapy for you. However, please note a few things. One, is that the eye movement or bilateral stimulation is only a SMALL part of the therapeutic process. Sometimes clients will come in having heard or learned about EMDR and will get frustrated that they still have to go through the intake and other procedures before stepping into the reprocessing role. Sometimes clients will work with a therapist who may recommend a different treatment protocol, or who may determine that trauma may be a secondary diagnosis, and want to treat with a different modality. Just because EMDR was the right treatment for a friend or a family member, does not mean it is the right treatment for you. I liken this to a situation I had. I am a diabetic, and I had a friend on a specific medication. They had great results, and they told me to ask my doctor. Everyone else told me that this medication would change my health dramatically. I went to my doctor and asked for the medication. However, when reviewing my history, my doctor pointed out that this medication was not indicated for someone with my health history, other medications, and situation. My doctor gave me a different medication that was far better suited to me. While something else worked for my friend, neither my friend or myself understood everything that the doctor understood.
Other options for trauma:
Treatment for trauma has many options. Within the mental health industry, we are learning more and more as we continue to study. One promising field is the study of expressive arts therapy. Art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, storytelling, meditation, and other means of expression can do wonders with trauma healing. People have also found a great deal of healing by sharing their stories and their narratives as survivors. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is also a well-known treatment for trauma. As a client who is seeking out treatment, one of the best things you can do is work with a therapist to have them get to know you and your situation as deeply as possible. The more a person understands you and all that you have been through, the more they will likely be able to help you and address your challenges in a person-centered approach.
Health, Wellness, and Trauma:
Recent research has shown that trauma has a lasting impact on the body. This also has an impact on a person’s health and wellbeing. As therapists, we are seeing that people who have PTSD will also have many health conditions and struggles. One thing that can be very helpful for a person is to work with a holistic view of mental health. What this means is that instead of just focusing on the mental wellbeing, we focus on physical, social, spiritual, and any other needs that a person might have when they are recovering from trauma. Many people find that they have physical issues that they cannot find a physical cause for when they have suffered a trauma. They also find that they get tired easily, struggle to deal with some of their health problems, and have issues with recovering from illnesses. They also find that they get overwhelmed easily with stresses. We have also begun to see a correlation between auto-immune disorders and PTSD. There still needs to be a lot of research to understand trauma and how it affects the body and health. Working with a therapist that understands trauma can be a great way to help you figure out what works best for you. Integrating health care, wellness routines, good food, good rest habits, and more, can do a lot to aid your mental health recovering and trauma care. Some of this may include using EMDR as a treatment method. However, it may also include using one of the other methods of treatment listed here, or it may mean that you try something different from anything mentioned. This is why therapy is such an individualized practice. No two human beings are alike. No two cases of trauma are alike. It is vital that we make sure that we look at all the different options so that we can be well informed about what will help us on our mental health journey.
Finding the right Trauma Therapist:
As with finding any therapist, finding the right trauma therapist is a daunting task. Making sure that the therapist is covered under your insurance if you will be using insurance is one of the first and most important tasks. Making sure they understand trauma informed care, and can practice different modalities is also vital. Do your research, ask questions, and do not be afraid to speak your mind. It is ok to admit that you do not feel it is working out. As therapists, we understand that sometimes you need to seek a different person. I have referred clients to different therapists when I thought they may feel better with someone other than me. If you feel like you may need the assistance of a trauma informed therapist, you can call the Counseling Center, and one of our staff can help you look at our therapists and see who might be a good fit for you. You can also look at profiles on websites like Psychology Today, seek referrals from people you know, and through your health insurance. Help is out there. You do not need to do this alone!