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EMDR
E.M.D.R. stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This revolutionary form of therapy targets traumatic memories and moves them toward a normal resolution. Trauma is any experience that overwhelms the capacity of the system to cope. Either because you experienced an event that was overwhelming in itself (like a car accident, rape or war trauma) or because your capacities to cope where dimished (either because you were a child or you were debilitated by stress) your “system” won’t be able to “digest” the experience appropriately. When this happens those memories are stored separately in the brain and they produce what we call trauma symptoms (nightmares, flashbacks, headaches, anxiety, need to avoid certain situations). Those symptoms are an attempt of your body to bring those memories to consciousness so they can be processed and resolved. Unfortunately, they keep producing distress and without the proper treatment usually debilitate you more and more.

E.M.D.R uses the bilateral stimulation of the brain to bring the memories into awareness so they can be integrated. This form of therapy naturally moves the traumatic symptoms into a healthy resolution. Initially this technique utilized eye moments as bilateral stimulation (and from there the name) but nowadays also includes taping and tones.

E.M.D.R. can be extremely beneficial to deal with somatic symptoms that your M.D. cannot help you resolve completely. Those symptoms include headaches, pain, stomach problems, skin problems, etc. Many of those symptoms can be exacerbated by emotional experiences that have been traumatic and stayed unresolved. E.M.D.R in addition to medical treatment can help you resolve and alleviate those symptoms so that you regain the pleasure on your daily living activities.

Call me or email me  if you would like more information about the way E.M.D.R. treatment works. For immediate information, you can also visit www.emdria.com


Eating Disorders
Many women and men in our society find themselves constantly struggling with an obsession to be thin and a desire to control their food. As a result, many develop an eating disorder or other form of disordered eating (preoccupation with your body shape, size, calories, foods etc). The unpleasant symptoms that get expressed through the body, or the obsession to achieve an “ideal” body are just the manifestation of extreme pain and often feelings of being out of control. Striving for external perfection could be a manifestation of a lack of satisfaction with one’s internal sense of self. The number on the scale, the size of the pants or the amount of calories one eats becomes an external measure that helps (momentarily) fight feelings of inadequacy and an attempt to establish a sense of control and safety in the world.

Many times eating or not eating becomes a way to manifest feelings of anger or fear and can become the way an individual establishes his or her sense of power in the world. Sometimes the shame associated with the inability to stop behaviors associated with an eating disorder prevents many individuals from getting the treatment they need. Sadly, they end up missing the treatment that will help them to start regaining satisfaction in their lives.

Eating disorders take different forms and shapes. Whether you are a chronic dieter or happen to struggle with bulimia, anorexia or compulsive overeating, psychotherapy can help you understand and regain control of your life. With the appropriate help you can get well and your symptoms will be reduced. I am passionate about helping men and women discover the deeper roots of their “hunger” and teaching them to find new, healthier ways to satisfy this feeling. I will meet you where you are at (you don’t have to be willing to give up your eating disorder behaviors to start treatment with me) and will help you regain trust in yourself. This newfound strength will help you break the self -destructive cycle that an eating disorder often entails.


Adults Survivors of Sexual and Physical Abuse
Men and women who were sexually or physically abused often develop difficulties creating safety and protecting themselves as adults. As children, we are helpless and unable to protect ourselves or to run away from abusive environments. Many children who were abused become compliant or blame themselves as a form to gain control over their abusers (“If I’m good he won’t hurt me”). Often, when these children become adults, they experience difficulties protecting themselves and/or being assertive and proactive when establishing boundaries with others. This, unfortunately, puts some of these men and women at greater risk to continue being abused as adults. Psychotherapy can help you find ways to establish safety and bring an end the cycle of abuse.


Relational issues
Our ways of connecting with others are developed early on and in connection to our families of origin. As a result of those interactions, we create ways of relating to others that become consistent over time. Many of us grew up in environments where our needs were not meet, where we did not feel safe, or where we were being abused.  As children or adolescents we developed ways to cope with stress and to protect ourselves (or even just survive). For example, a girl who is constantly disappointed when she attempts to connect with her mother, might shut down and stop reaching out to others as a way of avoiding the overwhelming pain that results from repeated disappointment. Many of the patterns that allowed us to survive as children get in the way of connecting with others and finding meaningful relationships as adults. For example, that same girl, when she becomes a woman, might stay shut down and overlook the possibility of connecting and reaching out to available people in her surroundings. Some people cannot understand why their relationships continue to fail. They grew up in families that seem perfect and their basic needs were met. Psychotherapy can be very valuable in helping you to understand what patterns block you from having meaningful and fulfilling relationships.

Whether in individual or couple’s therapy I will help you understand and identify the ways in which you relate to others and find ways to modify them so that you can achieve a fuller and deeper capacity for intimacy


Therapy in Spanish
As a bicultural and bilingual therapist I’m sensitive about cultural differences and I understand the challenges that families and individuals from a different culture experience while living in the United States. My modality of therapy addresses the specific struggles that you might be experiencing while having to cope with either adjusting to the habits of the new culture, or balancing life in the United States with the traditional values of the culture of your family. Moving to a new country can result in feelings of isolation, depression, intense anxiety and confusion. Therapy can be a supportive process and can help you address those feelings. Addressing this change in therapy can result in a more fulfilling and enriched way of being where all of who you are can be included.