“Be not the slave of your own past — plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep, swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, new power, with an advanced experience, that shall explain and overlook the old.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Unfortunately, trauma is common in our world. Traumatic experiences can range from a single experience to the complexity of multiple or repeated traumas. The goal is not to forget what happened or even to become desensitized to it. Rather, when we can embrace all parts of the self with love and acceptance, we neutralize traumatic experiences, and they no longer affect life in a negative way. In fact, we can see new possibilities for life.
New methods for recovery have been researched and provide hope for a speedier, more complete recovery. Life Solutions specializes in trauma treatment, using evidence-based approaches. Included in the process may be IFS (internal family systems or parts work); EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing); somatic and energy psychology techniques, as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy and aspects of exposure therapy. Susan may also help clients integrate other community experiences to enhance the recovery process. These may include trauma-sensitive yoga class, Tai Chi, Qi Gong or other martial arts classes, acupuncture, or therapeutic contact with horses or other animals.
Susan is an EMDR trained therapist, and has a specialty Certification in Traumatic Stress Studies, having completed a certification class with some of the world’s leading trauma authorities, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Center team at Justice Resource Institute. Dr. van der Kolk is a clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of post traumatic stress whose work integrates mind, brain, body, and social connections in the treatment of trauma.