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Chapters 15 & 16

 I really enjoyed chapter 15 and the exploration of EMDR therapy. Throughout the chapter, we are exposed to different stories of EMDR and the success of this treatment modality.We read about David, a father and husband who has able to overcome and reverse the revengenful 'monster' that he was turning into and was instead able to get back in touch with his generous self and re-find himself in the activites that he enjoyed. We also read about Maggie and her experience with EMDR therapy and freedom that she felt upon completion. However, Van Der Kolk points out that Maggle, "like many trauma survivors, she told one story with words and anohter in her actions...(p. 252). I thought this was interesting perspective and I think about some of my own clients and how sometimes their actions can be contradicting to their words. Honestly, this can sometimes be really frustering, but I see now that this is a trauma response. After reading this section in the book and doing other various assignments about EMDR, I think I would like to get trained in this modaility someday. I like how EMDR is explained on page 255, " because EMDR doesn't require parients to speak about the intolerable to explain to a therpist why they so upset, it allows them to stay fullt ocused on their internal experience, with sometimes extraordinary results".  On this same page, Van Der Kolk also warns the reader about a warning that he recieved in his training as well. Within the helping profession, we can get so caught up in wanting to help others and listening to their stories that we can lose sight of what's important. Van Der Kolk tells us what his EMDR trainer told him - " you really need to know the difference between your desire to hear stories and your patients internal proess of healing". 

Van Der Kolk also goes on to share studies of how EMDR works in comparison to medications such as Prozac. I was pleased to see that EMDR is actually better then medications together or alone and that EMDR can truly help with trauma losing a sense of imeedicacy and coming a story of the something that happened long ago. Furthrmore, Van Der Kolk explained that while he doesn't discredit medications, they only improve symptoms so long as you take them. I was also reminded of just how important sleep - specifically REM sleep is for our brains and bodies. So often, at least for me personally, sleep will become one of the first things I give up. I will stay up late for homework, or get up early to complete an assignment that I didn't get too the night before - a perfect example is me writing this blog at nearly 10pm at night. I need to get better about priroitizing my sleep and making that part of my routine! I have noticed how my mood, espcially feelings of sadness, anxiety and burnout can really take hold of me. 

I really enjoyed reading about how Yoga can be reduce intense feelings of trauma. Right away at the start of this chapter, Van Der Kolk stated that "people who are this scared can't think straight, and any demand to perfprm will onlu make them shut down further" (p. 265). This made me think of my Kate and how even the smallest change of voice and tone may completely shut her down. I have tried talking to her mom about this in the interactions that I have with her, as well as provide other parenting skills that may help to rebuild some of their mother/daughter relationship. As this chapter goes on to explain the 'broken alarm system' and I again think of Kate who is simultaneously excited to see her mom and yet terrified of what happened to her while in her mom and mom's boyfriend care. Last week, Kate was going to go court to tell the judge that she wanted the protection order against her mom's boyfriend extended (it got extended two more years!) but before she went, we practiced some yoga together to help regulate some of her emotions.  It was fun and yet reliving at the some time and I was glad that we could relax and smile together before she had to go do something really brave and really important. This movement is important, and while other therapy modalities might ignore this, I can see the importance and improvements that yoga can offer. We need to listen to our bodies 


Comments

  1. freebirdApril 6, 2021 at 10:29 AM

    I struggle with wanting to hear the stories. I haven't decided why that is important to me right now. But it has me thinking. I think part of the reason is that I answer to so many people that if we have a specific reason as to what has happened to the parents, then we can give reason to why the child abuse took place. It sounds distorted, but I believe that is what people want to know. The whys.

    I'm so surprised that Kate was actually participating in the court hearing. That is so huge and can be scary. I'm glad you worked with her on regulating her emotions. How has the NCO impacted what mom thinks? Does she have a grasp that she can't be with her current boyfriend? When is permanency for this little girl?

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