People who have survived childhood trauma (neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or a combination) often enter adulthood with non-useful coping strategies. These "strategies" can be alcohol/substance abuse and/or other addictive behaviors that suggest an impaired ability to handle strong emotions. Sometimes, in an effort to feel in control, survivors may inflict self-harm, such as cutting, or they may develop eating disorders because their internal distress overwhelms them, and they have not yet learned better ways to deal with this distress. Adult survivors have tried to live their lives based upon dysfunctional "rules" learned from childhood that now prevent them from experiencing life at its best.

If you are now reading these words, and can recognize yourself in this description, there is help available for you. Moving forward from victim to survivor and beyond is a process where you will integrate the abuse experience into the past, where it belongs, and learn how to be your authentic self.

Some common effects of childhood abuse that are experienced in adulthood: anxiety panic attacks depression difficulty relating to others compulsive sexuality aversion to sex or other sexual problems feeling isolated from others forms of dissociation features of borderline personality disorder pain experienced in the body

By coming into therapy, you are taking the first step to making powerful, long-lasting changes. Ann selects from treatment techniques such as EMDR, Imagery Rescripting and Reprocessing Therapy (IRRT), and other treatments using hypnosis, dialectical behavioral therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Ann encourages mindfulness & meditation practices to improve your functioning in your life!

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), is an effective treatment that brings relief to clients in a faster way than traditional therapies (supportive, CBT, and CPT to name a few). Clients rapidly process information, old memories that are "stuck," and move spontaneously to a positive new way of thinking about the disturbing event. After EMDR treatment, clients are able to connect to positive and more adaptive memory networks, allowing for the reduction or elimination of problems in functioning or blocks to feeling whole again.

Although EMDR refers to bilateral stimulation (BLS) of the brain by having the client follow the therapist's fingers back and forth, the effects can also be accomplished through tapping the hands or using auditory cues back and forth on each side of the body.

EMDR treatment should only be done by psychotherapists, professionals with Master's or Doctoral degrees in the mental health fields, because of the careful, therapeutic use of treatment protocols and the integration of other therapies such as CBT, Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Experiential, and more. EMDR training is only given to these qualified professionals.Recent brain imagery, using PET scans and SPECT's, show that the brain experiences positive changes after EMDR treatment. These changes include appropriate increases in prefrontal lobe activity and "cooling down" of the amygdala. EMDR has a calming effect on the limbic system, which allows for the more rational, thinking part of the brain to operate. References to EMDR in brain research can be found by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. and Daniel Amens, M.D., among other highly regarded leaders in the field of neurobiological research.

More information about EMDR techniques and research about EMDR effectiveness can be found at www.EMDRIA.org.

Read Ann's brief article, published in the October 2008 issue of Natural Awakenings, "Healing Trauma Through Our Imaginations," to find out more about IRRT.

Ann limits her practice to adult individuals and couples. Call 561-314-9879.

For clinical help for abused children under the age of 18, please contact Center for Family Services, Inc. at 561-616-1222. Ask for the SAFE Kids program. Counseling is available, free of charge. Call 1-800-96-ABUSE if you suspect a child is being harmed.