Developmental Trauma
Developmental trauma is the result of abandonment, abuse, and neglect during the first three years of a child’s life that disrupts cognitive, neurological and psychological development and attachment to adult caregivers. Developmental trauma is inflicted on infants and children unconsciously and most often without malicious intent by adult caregivers who are unaware of children’s social and emotional needs.
I have been working with people who were adopted, in foster care or have otherwise experienced neglect and other forms of developmental trauma. If you are dealing with anxiety or depression; if you have been diagnosed as bi-polar, PTSD or dissociation, there is a good chance that some form of developmental trauma has something to do with it. We will think together about how you receive support from others and provide support for yourself. EMDR is often a useful tool when dealing with these kinds of issues. Please scroll down to learn more about it.
Immigration:
The experience of immigration in the context of developmental trauma can be overwhelming. We all depend on context to regulate ourselves and to feel good in our environment. Those of us who could not use our close relationships for this purpose, end up using the bigger social context to know ourselves. Immigration takes that away: we can no longer rely on our language skills, our common knowledge of history, culture and social norms to regulate our moods and help define who we are. Immigrants who have a background of developmental trauma may find themselves devastated by the experience of immigration despite being capable, resourceful adults.
EMDR:
Developed in the 1990’s, Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a collaborative psychotherapeutic tool which often helps tremendously in relieving disturbing thoughts, feelings and memories. EMDR helps resolve anxiety, sleep problems and stress. I am certified in EMDR and keep learning and training in this modality though it is not my main specialty. For me EMDR is another tool in the context of an ongoing psychodynamic treatment. You can learn more about EMDR here. If you are interested primarily in EMDR therapy, I recommend that you work with a therapist who works primarily using this method. I will be happy to provide referrals for EMDR professionals.
Parenting
Our parenting depends on the parenting we received and also on the kind of child we have: what are their needs? how do we know what their needs are? do my child’s needs match my skills and personality? what resources are around to support my child? those are some of the questions we can ask together. When working with children I work with the adults in their lives as well because I believe children need to be thought about in psychotherapy, in the context of their daily lives. My experience has shown that working with parents is often very useful for children and for the family’s quality of life in general.
Developmental trauma is the result of abandonment, abuse, and neglect during the first three years of a child’s life that disrupts cognitive, neurological and psychological development and attachment to adult caregivers. Developmental trauma is inflicted on infants and children unconsciously and most often without malicious intent by adult caregivers who are unaware of children’s social and emotional needs.
I have been working with people who were adopted, in foster care or have otherwise experienced neglect and other forms of developmental trauma. If you are dealing with anxiety or depression; if you have been diagnosed as bi-polar, PTSD or dissociation, there is a good chance that some form of developmental trauma has something to do with it. We will think together about how you receive support from others and provide support for yourself. EMDR is often a useful tool when dealing with these kinds of issues. Please scroll down to learn more about it.
Immigration:
The experience of immigration in the context of developmental trauma can be overwhelming. We all depend on context to regulate ourselves and to feel good in our environment. Those of us who could not use our close relationships for this purpose, end up using the bigger social context to know ourselves. Immigration takes that away: we can no longer rely on our language skills, our common knowledge of history, culture and social norms to regulate our moods and help define who we are. Immigrants who have a background of developmental trauma may find themselves devastated by the experience of immigration despite being capable, resourceful adults.
EMDR:
Developed in the 1990’s, Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a collaborative psychotherapeutic tool which often helps tremendously in relieving disturbing thoughts, feelings and memories. EMDR helps resolve anxiety, sleep problems and stress. I am certified in EMDR and keep learning and training in this modality though it is not my main specialty. For me EMDR is another tool in the context of an ongoing psychodynamic treatment. You can learn more about EMDR here. If you are interested primarily in EMDR therapy, I recommend that you work with a therapist who works primarily using this method. I will be happy to provide referrals for EMDR professionals.
Parenting
Our parenting depends on the parenting we received and also on the kind of child we have: what are their needs? how do we know what their needs are? do my child’s needs match my skills and personality? what resources are around to support my child? those are some of the questions we can ask together. When working with children I work with the adults in their lives as well because I believe children need to be thought about in psychotherapy, in the context of their daily lives. My experience has shown that working with parents is often very useful for children and for the family’s quality of life in general.