EMDR and IFS
Given our nervous systems are configured when we are young and this process is extremely sensitive to any behaviours that surrounded us during this time, our nervous systems can be wired in such a way that leaves them easily dysregulated. As we move into adolescence and adulthood we can start to feel the symptoms from this dysregulation, especially if we have experienced traumatic events. This can lead to mental health problems in adulthood, that include anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy directly heal the root cause of distress at the subconscious level, by helping to regulate the nervous system. They are evidenced-based approaches with scientific research to support their efficacy.
EMDR uses your brain’s physical ability to change and adapt (neuroplasticity). This involves using dual awareness whereby you focus on a painful memory while following a visual, audio or physical rhythm (bilateral stimulation). This rhythm taxes your working memory and forces your brain to unlock rigid trauma neural networks and connect them with heathier adaptive networks in the nervous system. Painful memories are reprocessed and they lose their emotional charge. Sessions are typically between 60 and 90 minutes long and can be in-person and/or online. EMDR usually involves fewer sessions than talking therapy or counselling.
IFS works on a “part” of your personality which is a cluster of specific neural networks. Instead of using bilateral stimulation, IFS uses mindful compassion and internal safety resources to calm the amygdala and enhance the prefrontal cortex. By comforting and understanding “parts”, we are changing the neural networks that are holding the pain. Sessions are typically 50 minutes long and can be in-person and/or online. This therapy can be fixed term or open-ended.
Given that both IFS and EMDR structurally alter the nervous system, they work well together. IFS can enable our protective neural networks to be ready to do the EMDR work. Some people struggle to find positive adaptive neural networks, and IFS as well as attachment-informed EMDR techniques can therefore be used to facilitate this.
IFS and EMDR work on dysregulated nervous systems to treat the causes of anxiety, depression, relationship problems, bereavement/loss, complicated grief, low self-esteem, sexuality issues, anger management, as well as most other mental health problems. Both IFS and EMDR can be used in isolation or together to treat nervous system dysregulation that occurred in childhood or adulthood, as well as prenatal, cultural and legacy trauma (passed down from our parents).
Trauma focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is another approach that is particularly effective for treating anxiety and insomnia, as well as menopausal mood and vasomotor symptoms. Evidence shows that women with easily dysregulated nervous systems are more likely to experience severe symptoms during perimenopause and menopause. Again, CBT is an evidenced-based approach and there is scientific research to support its efficacy. CBT sessions are 50 minutes long and can be in-person and/or online. CBT typically involves between 6 and 15 sessions.
Cost per session: £65-£85 (50-90 min)
Pet Bereavement Psychotherapy
Losing a pet feels like we have lost a member of our family. Our pets give us so much love and bring happiness and comfort into our lives. Their death deserves our respect, and as an animal lover you deserve compassion and support during this difficult time. Trained pet-bereavement counsellors provide practical guidance through every stage of pet loss. They can offer practical and emotional support for those who are caring for a sick or elderly pet. They offer information and guidance around difficult decisions relating to euthanasia, as well as aftercare decisions that include cremation or burial etc. They provide grief counselling and can help you find coping strategies for navigating anniversaries, memorials and other difficult life events. They can also provide specialist support for children, older adults and surviving pets that might also be grieving.
Pet bereavement can sometimes be accompanied by other mental health problems. These include anxiety, depression, complicated grief and/or PTSD. In these cases, pet bereavement psychotherapy can be helpful. Internal family systems (IFS) and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) can be integrated into pet-loss therapy to treat these issues.
IFS-informed pet-loss therapy works with the different parts that can arise during the grieving process. Some of these parts can sometimes disagree with each other leading to internal conflict and this can become overwhelming. Examples include guilt around end-of-life decisions, and/or feeling that friends, family and/or society cannot fully understand the depth of grief.
IFS provides a gentle and compassionate space to acknowledge and validate each part’s intentions. This creates calm and space within, which can slowly pave a pathway to peace. IFS can help you to find ways to remember, honour, and stay connected to your pet while gradually adapting to life after the loss. IFS can also help to heal wounds from unresolved past trauma.
EMDR can also be used in conjunction with pet-loss therapy to treat complicated grief and the PTSD that can sometimes accompany pet loss. Both IFS and EMDR are evidence-based with scientific evidence to support their efficacy.
Pet bereavement therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes long and can be in-person and/or online. EMDR sessions tend to be a little longer. This therapy can be fixed term or open-ended.
Cost per session: £65-£85 (50-90 min)