The Curious Psych - Therapies & Approaches

Therapies

More than talk therapy...

Many of us hold an idea that coming to therapy means sitting on a couch and talking about your life, with an intention to explore new ideas, beliefs and ways of thinking about your challenges. Of course, this has a place in therapy, and it will be one element of what we do together. However, we are so much more than our thoughts. We are emotional, physical, spiritual AND thinking beings. Our minds and bodies are intricately connected. So, when we experience stress, or we feel 'triggered', there is a whole brain, mind and body impact.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a well researched and evidence-based approach to treating disturbing life experiences and trauma. It is a neuroscientific approach which focusses on the role that maladaptive, distressing and disturbing memories play in the development of mental health challenges. Our brains have in-built biological ways to heal psychological wounds, just as we heal from a physical cut or injury. We are biologically geared to experience healthy mental wellbeing.

EMDR aims to replicate the brain's biological healing processes, which naturally occur during our Rapid Eye Movement sleep cycles. Suffering can occur when this process becomes blocked or interrupted, or when the distress or disturbance that is 'attached' to maladaptive memories has not been fully processed during our formative years. We know that EMDR has been successful when the person is able to recall the memory they have worked on without noticing any disturbing or maladaptive thoughts, images, cognitions (ideas and beliefs), emotions or body sensations.

Training & experience

I first learned about EMDR therapy while working in the public health system with adults requiring substantial mental health support. I began to train in EMDR in mid 2023, completing my certification through the EMDR Institute of Australia in mid 2024. Since then, I've continually attended professional development and supervision opportunties to develop my skills and techniques in delivering this highly effective therapy to my clients.

EMDR 2.0

EMDR 2.0 takes the EMDR standard protocol (described above) and incorporates Working Memory Theory (WMT) into it's approach. In recent years, researchers have found that we can process unpleasant memories with greater efficacy when we 'tax' or stress the working memory, or the cognitive system that performs tasks like problem solving, decision making, learning and planning in the short term while doing EMDR therapy. In EMDR 2.0, we ask the working memory to do a lot of tasks while it holds in mind the traumatic memory we want to process. As our working memories have a very limited capacity to hold information in mind at a time, they can't hold traumatic material for very long while performing tasks, like challenging counting, spelling and tapping tasks. So, it's forced to process the emotional distress associated with the traumatic memory. It's very cool stuff.

Training & experience

I was introduced to the concept of EMDR 2.0 in clinical supervision in 2024. I have completed several trainings with Dr Suzy Matthijssen and Dr Ad de Jongh, Clinical Psychologists who are key researchers in this approach, through the Hummingbird Centre.

Attachment-Focussed EMDR

In order to process old and stuck information, or traumatic memory, we need to have enough access to 'adaptive' memory. Adaptive memory refers to the minds capacity to take information that was processed during EMDR sessions and integrate this into healthier or 'adult brain' existing memory networks. If there's no healthy place for the processed information to 'land', then EMDR processing may not be successful. This can be true of people who have experienced attachment wounding, or early childhood traumas that impeded the young child's ability to form healthy attachments with important adults.Attachment-focussed EMDR aims to make the adaptive memory 'bigger', so that there is sufficient space for processed memories to land. We do this by developing and installing wise, safe, nurturing and capable adult Attachment Figure Resources that help the person to feel supported as they do EMDR therapy.

Training & experience

I became aware of Attachment-Focussed EMDR in clinical supervision, and have since trained in this model through the Parnell Institute and Shirley Jean Schmidt's Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy.

Flash Technique & Four Blinks

Sometimes commencing EMDR therapy might feel challenging. For people affected by complex PTSD, or who have a lot of traumatic memory to process, the Flash Technique can be a great way to begin processing without having to 'be in' the trauma. This works by bringing front to mind a microslice of a traumatic memory at a time, containing it and very quickly focussing your conscious attention on a calm, disconfirming or positive scene. While in the scene, I'll ask you to blink to 'break up' the memory we are working on into tiny slices that are processed while watching something light, funny, calming or peaceful.

Training & experience

I am trained in Thomas Zimmerman's Four Blinks version of the Flash Treatment Technique. As part of my ongoing training and proficiency in this technique, I attend monthly meetings run by Thomas Zimmerman through his clinic in the USA.

Internal Family Systems Therapy

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach which is widely used around the world and more recently in Australia. IFS is built on the premise that each person has a core Self, or the essence of who they are, which is capable of leading their system of protective and wounded inner Parts. IFS believes we all naturally have a multiple mind, and that this is a good thing that helps us to navigate life. Just like in EMDR therapy, the research shows that our minds posess biological ways to heal. IFS works by making us aware of the Parts of us who protect us and who hold the core wounds of the past. It's about knowing your own system, and showing your Parts that there is a healthy, unharmed adult Self who can lead, guide and support Parts when they feel triggered or afraid. It's a beautiful, non-judgemental, self-compassionate therapy.

Training & experience

I first learned about IFS therapy while working in the public health system. I have received over two and a half years of clinical supervision and professional development in IFS therapy, including several courses and training programs focussed on this model.

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