Depression and anxiety are interrelated issues and cannot be treated in isolation. Worry, stress and negative thoughts trigger feelings of sadness and lack of self worth and confidence. In reverse, people experiencing depression often have negative belief systems and thoughts that trigger worry and stress that make them feel "on edge" or stressed. Through personalized counseling treatment, clients learn strategies, practices and incorporate new positive beliefs that relieve symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Individuals learn self- trust, and confidence, allowing them to feel more joy and fulfillment in their lives.
How does trauma impact depression and anxiety?
Over the course of a lifetime, we all experience minor and major traumas which impact us. Sometimes we are able to recover and adapt well after these traumas. However, we often have many traumas that have had a lasting impact on us and negatively impact our ability to fully live our lives. This may cause us to develop negative thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, others and our world. EMDR allows individuals the opportunity to free themselves from the negative impact of trauma, thus allowing them to feel happier and more empowered in their lives.
Ms. Pels-Roulier utilizes a variety of techniques to help her patients. These adjunctive techniques are always used in the context of solid, psychodynamic and relational psychotherapy (i.e. talk therapy). In collaboration with her patients, the following techniques are used to promote personal growth.
Mindfulness is a state of mind that allows the brain a chance to rest and regain clarity. The focus is allowing oneself to be fully in the present moment without thoughts or judgment. It is a presence of mind practiced in yoga, tai chi, taekwondoe, and many other disciplines that combine a mind-body approach., This is especially useful in treating anxiety and depression as patients learn how to train themselves to relax under many stressful life situations.
Mindfulness is especially helpful to those needing to know how to relax their bodies under high stress situations. College students, business, medical and other professionals as well as athletes can gain relief from this method.
In individual therapy, clients learn how to use mindfulness in a variety of applications to :
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an integrative, well-researched psychotherapy treatment which is based on Dr. Francine Shapiro’s Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. In trauma, the past is experienced as present. EMDR techniques help to unlink these memories from present day experience.
When we experience highly stressful situations, the memories of these experiences become stuck in our brains. Sometimes aspects of these memories (images, sounds, smells, sounds, etc.) are re-experienced by us causing us to react maladaptively to current life events.
EMDR treatment often provides rapid relief, as it allows the brain an opportunity to re-process these experiences so they no longer block a person’s ability to live fully in the present. While EMDR’s first use was for combat veterans experiencing PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) EMDR has been successfully used to treat a variety of issues and traumatic events. While some traumatic events may seem obvious (physical/sexual assault, abuse, major car accidents, etc.), we all have experienced “minor traumas” which can cause problems in all areas of our lives including chronic relationship problems as well as academic, athletic and professional performance that inhibit personal success.
EMDR has been found effective by the American Psychiatric Association, The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Department of Defense, the World Health Organization, and the Israeli National Council for Mental Health. For more information, go to www.emdr.com or www.emdria.org
EMDR treatment has been found effective for the following issues:
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) treatment is a cognitive behavioral treatment that focuses on the person’s psychosocial environment. This is an evidence based practice that was designed originally for people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. However, DBT methods are very applicable for a variety of individuals with different diagnoses including depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders. Dialectical behavioral therapy helps people understand their negative thoughts, beliefs and emotions. Through DBT, individuals learn how to better identify their emotions and understand themselves and their experience. DBT teaches clients to nurture their relationships.
DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) is:
For more information about Ms. Pels-Roulier's counseling services or counseling techniques, please contact her at 860-942-6390.
