EMDR therapy is revolutionary.
Are you a survivor of trauma, violence, or abuse? Have you gone through something horrific or disturbing? Do you continue to relive those experiences over and over again through flashbacks, intrusive memories, or nightmares? Has what happened to you affected the way you think and feel?
If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you might be experiencing the after-effects of trauma, or posttraumatic stress. What happened to you may have left you feeling damaged or broken. You may have had periods of normalcy, only to be reminded of the past. Left untreated, posttraumatic stress can diminish your quality of life and shake your sense of joy, peace, and safety.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
My name is Laureen DiMattia, and I am here for you.
I founded Seasons of Strength to help survivors of trauma just like you. I’m proud to offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, or EMDR to help you heal from your past.
If you already know about EMDR and are ready to sign up, contact me today. To learn more about how it works and how I provide treatment, read on!
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a specialized form of psychotherapy treatment designed to help you process and heal from traumatic memories.
Most therapies for trauma are talk therapy only – but EMDR offers much more.
First, EMDR includes a neurophysiological component to treatment. During EMDR sessions, your therapist has you process traumatic memory while focusing your gaze on a moving object, such as a light, as a way to engage your neurobiology while you are talking. The eye movement creates an effect known as “bilateral stimulation,” which research suggests promotes the therapeutic effect of talk therapy by activating the nerves and muscles in your eyes.
Next, EMDR therapists (like me!) pay special attention to your stress and emotional experience so that you do not become overwhelmed during or in-between sessions. This is important, as EMDR focused on addressing the trauma directly so that you can begin experiencing results.
EMDR is ideal for addressing what we refer to as “big T” Trauma, such as:
- Military combat experience
- Being the victim of violence
- Death of a loved one or a pet
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Near-death experiences
- Car accidents
- Witnessing or experiencing domestic abuse
- Sexual abuse, assault, or rape
However, even less acute trauma, or “little t” trauma, can impact your life, such as:
- Childhood bullying
- Public humiliation
- Divorce or breaking up with a partner
- Losing a job
- Sexism or racism
If you or a loved one are struggling with posttraumatic stress and would like to begin the healing process, let me help. I provide EMDR services for people from all over Washingon DC area, and I’d love to work with you.
How can EMDR help with my trauma?
When we experience a traumatic event, the mind doesn’t know how to handle it.
The overwhelming pain and flood of emotions cause confusing, disorganized, and fractured memories of the experience. This can emerge through painful reminders, re-experiencing through nightmares and flashbacks, and feeling fearful or tense in otherwise safe situations.
Other signs of unprocessed trauma might include:
When these symptoms show up, we call it Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. The mind responds this way because it wants to keep you safe in the future – that way, you can try to avoid it happening again. However, this leaves traumatic memories unaddressed and unprocessed.
EMDR is such an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress because it provides a chance to understand, reprocess, and change.
As you learn to work through the painful emotions and become desensitized to the deeper hurt, the body learns to adapt and heal. You begin to learn to let down old defenses, reconnect with yourself and others, and find freedom from the past. Over time, you can learn to move forward with joy, purpose, and a newfound sense of self.
No matter how bad things might seem, no matter how long you’ve suffered, there is hope. Seasons of Strength is proud to offer EMDR therapy to survivors of trauma – people just like you – because everyone deserves a chance at wellness.
What does EMDR look like with Laureen DiMattia?
Let’s work together!
Each EMDR session is completely confidential and specifically designed to meet your goals. Our first meeting is all about helping us get to know each other. I’ll ask lots of questions about your story to get a sense of what might be contributing to the problem, and you get the chance to learn more about how I work and what to expect from treatment.
As a therapist, my job is to work myself out of a job. I believe that, with the right support and guidance, you can finally move forward from the past. In addition to using EMDR in treatment, I also draw from effective psychotherapy techniques such as psychodynamic, CBT, and DBT.
As you make progress in therapy for trauma, you will learn to:
- Relax and sleep well
- Find freedom from painful memories
- Use coping strategies that actually work
- Understand yourself on a deeper level
- Put the past behind you and honor the present
- Break free from unhealthy patterns
- Be mindful and self-aware
I call my practice Seasons of Strength for a reason.
All of us experience hardship. All of us go through times where we feel helpless, defeated, and broken. All of us live through ups and downs, through misery and joy. I believe that, no matter what life has thrown your way, you have the power to make things better. You can find your source of strength, freedom, and control.
Together, we can make that happen.
Find Your Season of Strength
Interested in hearing more about my practice?
Want to learn more about how I can help?
I would love to hear from you. Contact me to get started.
Phone Number:
201-822-1394
Office:
Telehealth available in the Washington DC area.
Contact seasonsofstrength@gmail.com or call for more information or to schedule an appointment!