Monarchs and Lions Therapy

Actively working to heal from trauma is one of the most courageous and kindest things that you can do for yourself. Trauma can leave you feeling disconnected from who you are and your needs. It can shape how you show up in relationships. It can lead to adaptations such as perfectionism and people pleasing with the thought that if you are "perfect" you will be loved and safe from abandonment or harm. The world can feel like an unsafe place. Trauma opens up the door to coping that has the intention of protecting you from pain and feeling discomfort. Some of these coping mechanisms may end up having serious consequences. Resolving trauma includes reprocessing traumatic memories in a way that serves you now. This includes examining the event with your present day lens. This means working to address and reframe the event to address feelings of shame, defectiveness or responsibility. My approach is patient, gentle yet honest. Trauma work is heavy, There is also the real possibility of sessions including moments of refuge. This refuge may include well-timed laughter. I hope to be a source of encouragement and light. Some of the therapeutic modalities that I use when collaborating with people healing from trauma include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), psychodynamics, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and art therapy. With children the exploration is done through play, art, sandplay or EMDR. Children may require additional support in helping them increase their sense of safety and reducing shame or self-blame they may be experiencing. The fear of anxiety may lead you to seek out temporary solutions. The most popular strategy seems to be avoidance, Other strategies to ease anxiety include seeking excessive reassurance and worrying. Worrying sells the false narrative that if you think of everything that could possibly go wrong, you will be protected from embarrassment, pain and other unpleasant emotions. It is exhausting and disrupts your ability to rest your mind, possibly sleep at night. There are various strategies used to address anxiety. Some of the initial work involves identifying what type of anxiety you are experiencing. Is it based off of assumptions, your inner critic, or a concern that needs to be addressed with strategic planning? Some of the interventions I use when collaborating with clients experiencing anxiety include Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing ( EMDR), Solution Focused Therapy, psychodynamics, Exposure Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The positive thing about working to address anxiety is that it is like a muscle. It can be trained to be contained. You deserve more peace and to experience what anxiety is keeping you from. To see if I'm a good fit for you or a loved one, reach out to schedule a complimentary 15 minute consultation call. Please include a few times that would work best for a call in your message. Best wishes, Baljeet