I am trained in a number of psychotherapies and use an integrated mind-body approach especially to trauma recovery. For trauma-focused therapy I use Internal Family Systems, EMDR,  Bodyspotting and Body/Somatic Psychotherapy. 

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Acceptance & Commitment Therapy & Mindfulness: Commiting to your values-based goals while noticing, without judgement, any thoughts and feelings which might be hampering your life and learning how to 'defuse' unhelpful thoughts/feelings. Focusing, as well, on our strengths (often akin to our values) and adding self-compassion puts us in a positive mindset for change. In mindfulness practices we use our "noticing brain", the medial pre-frontal cortex, to observe/witness what is happening inside ourselves to create a bit of inner distance in order to become aware of patterns of troublesome thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. A mindfulness practice of only 17 minutes a day especially when observing what is happening inside ourselves (what is called "interospection") has proven to reduce anxiety, rumination, low mood and increase focus and concentration. 

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TRAUMA-FOCUSED THERAPY

For those who feel they are still burdened from their past trauma (childhood or recent) and would like to move forward, our goal is to process fragmented memories stuck in the past that are experienced in the present when triggered, what we call an "emotional and/or somatic flashback". I do this using one or a mix of the therapies below. 

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Internal Family Systems (Trauma-Informed IFS) & Ego-State Therapy 

IFS and Ego State Therapy are"parts" therapies which posit that we are all made up of a multiplicity of aspects/parts/side of ourselves representing subconscious, automatic thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Many of our parts developed when we were children and therefore are still operating in a very narrow and sometimes outdated way. For example, a child might have survived an alcoholic parent by taking care of that parent, developing a Child as Parent part, and now finds him/herself always people-pleasing and rarely gets his/her own needs met. We work with the people-pleasing part to get it a new job or role in your system. In the above example, the person learns how to balance care for others with self-care and self-compassion. 

For an excellent overview of parts including the neuroscience of parts in IFS watch the youtube video No Bad Parts: Unblending From Protectors in IFS Therapy

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh4oiSIJhTE

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Parts Therapy Training

Post Graduate in Ego State Therapy. Modules I (safety and stabilisation), II (resource development), III (symptom associated ego states), IV (trauma associated ego states). Body Psychotherapy. 

IFS - Stepping Stones

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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) ​

"EMDR enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences... as our bodies are equipped to naturally heal given the right aids, the brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health.  If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes."

To assist emotional healing, EMDR uses bilateral (bilateral means both sides) stimulation of the brain by way of back and forth eye movements, hand tapping or audio sounds while the person recalls the trauma event.

For more information go to: https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

EMDR is not suitable for all my clients, in my experience, due to its rapid and intense effects. I use EMDR only after I've done some work with your protective parts (see IFS above) so the processing during EMDR is not blocked. 

​​​EMDR Training: I have completed Advanced EMDR training with Graham Taylor. 

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​Brainspotting 

Brainspotting's founder David Grand, formerly a Master EMDR consultant, discovered that where we look affects how we feel and began his journey to connect how a gazespot (where our eyes focus) connects to the "deep brain and the body through its direct access to the autonomic and limbic systems within the body’s central nervous system". Therefore a gazespot with its direct access to these deep brain centres can have"profound psychological, emotional, and physical consequences"during Brainspotting. He describes Brainspotting as a brain, body, relational, mindful therapy where the therapist is the tail of the comet, i.e., follows the client and trusts their system knows how to heal. The mindful aspect of the therapy is similar to EMDR in that as the client gazes on a gazespot, they notice with curiousity what is coming up as the process of healing unfolds.

Phase 1 Training completed (Singapore 2024)