Photo by: Chang Duong From Unsplash
Meet Pete Gaerlan-Di Libero, is a therapist in North Port and a Clinical Social Work Intern with a unique perspective shaped by his 12 years as a Catholic monk. This experience instilled in him a deep sense of care and compassion that he brings to his trauma-informed therapy practice. Pete’s clients benefit from his contemplative approach and expertise in EMDR and clinical hypnosis. If you’re seeking a therapist who understands the complexities of trauma and offers a holistic path to healing, Pete may be the right guide for your journey.
Introduction
EMDR is not just another therapy, it’s a beacon of hope. It’s one of the most well-researched and effective therapies out there, offering a ray of light for those struggling with PTSD, anxiety, phobias, pain, psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, grief and loss, sexual assault, substance abuse, and other issues. The ordinary process of EMDR therapy follows this pattern:
Assessment. A typical first session would involve assessing the client’s coping skills and ability to shift from a stressful state to a peaceful state. It would also look at any medical and psychological issues that may challenge effective EMDR, such as a history of seizures or schizophrenia.
History Taking. The first stage of EMDR is history taking, where current issues coming up for the client are noted, as well as other relevant information related to treatment.
Preparation. The second stage is the preparation stage, where the client is prepared for later stages by deepening their coping skills using various visualization exercises, somatic techniques, and CBT skills to help them learn their window of tolerance and how to remain in it.
Assessment. The third stage is the assessment stage (different from the general EMDR assessment), where the client chooses a single troubling event for desensitization and reprocessing. A memory, the negative belief attached, and the physical sensations associated are identified and are placed on a treatment plan. The goal is to find similar thematic events for this client in their past, present, and future. Next, a positive belief and feeling/state is chosen that the client would like to feel during those challenging moments, such as empowerment or peace. They create a similar treatment plan of times they have felt peaceful in the past and present and can anticipate in the future.
Desensitization & Reprocessing. The fourth stage is what most people think of when they think of EMDR. During this phase, those identified memories, thoughts, and physical sensations will be held in the client’s minds while they simultaneously rhythmically tap on their body from side to side (bilateral stimulation), follow the therapist’s fingers across their span of vision, or hold hand “tappers” that keep rhythm for the client. This happens for a set amount of time, usually 30 seconds or less, the therapist checks in, and then the client enters that same experience again. This cycle repeats until the client shares that there is no longer any distress when they recall that memory.
Installation. The fifth stage is installation. The client has been able to reduce their distress over their issue, and now the positive belief is installed or built into the nervous system through the same process of tapping and focusing.
Body Scan. The sixth stage involves having the client perform a body scan, taking a moment to note if there is any residual tension left in their body. If there is any, they are asked to identify whether they think it can be reduced or if it is something natural and organic. If it can be reduced, the client returns to stage four, with the body sensation as the focus of the client’s attention until it reduces.
Closure. The seventh stage is closure, where the client has completed their process, or there is no longer time in the session to go further. In either event, the client is assessed for their level of distress and belief in the new cognition installed. The goal is that their distress is 0 and new cognition at its highest level. For those times when therapy cannot be completed or there is lingering stress, a container exercise is used to help the client secure those emotions till the next session.
The Science Behind EMDR
The science behind EMDR is fascinating and ultimately lies in the human body’s power to heal itself under the proper conditions. Through bilateral stimulation, the mind’s focus becomes split so that the intensity of the emotion is simultaneously reduced and re-integrated into the person’s psyche with less resistance than before. Sometimes, other beliefs may be connected or feed into the memory, which must also be processed to gain complete relief. However, these ordinarily present themselves during reprocessing and can be targeted then.
One of the amazing things about EMDR is that when you target one memory on a memory pathway that needs integration, you naturally integrate them all. For instance, If the client is present for EMDR because they have recently been in a car accident and they identify the worst part of the event as being stuck in the car after the crash, resonate with the negative belief that they no longer feel safe, and feel the emotions of fear and anxiety, these memories along with all their associated memories from this person’s past that predated them and could have contributed to them feeling unsafe, will also begin to be processed and resolved without intentionally working on them. It’s summed up in Hebb’s axiom, “neurons that fire together, wire together,” and if one heals, they all heal.
An EMDR Therapist in North Port Perspective
My experience as a North Port Therapist who is an EMDRIA trained practitioner has been to see clients respond positively, often in the first session of reprocessing, to EMDR. I have seen clients make subtle shifts, such as new insights they had not grasped. I have seen clients recall lost memories that related to the loss of a child; I have seen clients who haven’t dreamt in years begin to dream again; I had one client who had not felt safe enough to leave her home due to agoraphobia do so without overwhelming anxiety and terror. These clients put in hard work and were willing to follow the protocols their physicians and other providers put them on, and they saw success.
Speaking of success, an EMDR therapist in North Port measures success not just by reducing symptoms but also by the client’s growth. Some clients may come in with unrealistic expectations and leave having received a level of realistic growth and reprocessing. This may not have been their initial hopes, however, the growth is seen in their adjusted and realistic mindset. This, along with the many coping skills learned in EMDR, will always serve clients, even if their symptoms are not reduced. It is also noteworthy that, at least in my opinion, there are times and seasons of healing. A person cannot always integrate a trauma when they want to; their whole being has to be ready. Sometimes, this is on a different clock than our desires.
Getting Started with EMDR
Someone considering EMDR therapy with a therapist in North Port should keep the following things in mind:
- Openness to an alternative therapy. Sometimes, clients are seeking relief from their symptoms of trauma so badly, but they are uncomfortable with the process of EMDR because it seems “weird” to them. Honestly, it is a little weird!–but it works and is science-based and supported.
- Commitment to the process. Building on the previous consideration, clients are often asked to commit to weekly or bi-weekly sessions, do homework in between, and may find that after a reprocessing session, they can experience more tiredness, intense emotions, or deeper emotional insights than they had been used to. These are signs that memories are being relocated to their proper regions, and this is a good thing, but it can be challenging, especially for those who work and need to perform at their peak.
- Trust in the Therapist. Rapport and trust in their therapist are crucial to treatment. If this can’t be built, then EMDR will be effective. Still, the possible depth of transformation will only be achieved if an atmosphere of trust and safety needs to be established for you to enter deeply into these challenging places. Trust is a process, but ordinarily, there is a sense of whether a relationship can be built.
Conclusion
As my thoughts wind down, I’d like to say that I wholeheartedly believe in EMDR because I am an EMDR client myself and have experienced its radical benefits. I spent twelve years in talk therapy where I grew tremendously. However, it was not until I went to EMDR therapy that I found I had made more progress in those six months than I had made in 12 years regarding a particular issue. I believe that any client who comes to Rooted Therapies will be supported in their EMDR journey because of the integrative approaches that the therapists in North Port utilize and will find a level of healing just right for them at that time in their life.
*https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/emdr-ptsd/
*https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder
