Connie P. Milligan

📖 Psychology Today has interviewed EMDR therapist and trainer Lizy Wiggins. In a wide-ranging piece, Lizy says that - like many other therapists who have seen the limitations of purely cognitive work when it comes to trauma - she craved new tools: "It just felt like we weren't getting to the core of things. We were reframing thoughts, reinforcing good decisions and healthy behaviours, and teaching coping skills, but it felt like the trauma was still there" You can read Lizy’s full interview with psychotherapist Jennifer Gerlach here: https://lnkd.in/eJWp_fEU #Trauma #EMDR

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🧠✨ Here's a fascinating EMDR fact that changes how we understand trauma processing: Recent traumatic events are stored in the brain differently than events that occurred six or more months ago. This isn't just interesting neuroscience—it has real implications for how we approach trauma therapy. Fresh trauma often remains in a more activated, unprocessed state in our neural networks, while older trauma may have begun to integrate differently into our memory systems. Understanding this timing helps EMDR therapists tailor their approach to where a client is in their healing journey. It's a reminder that our brains are constantly working to make sense of difficult experiences, and that the timing of therapeutic intervention can be just as important as the intervention itself. The more we understand how trauma lives in the brain, the more precisely we can help our clients heal. 🌱 #emdroftherockies #emdr #emdria #neuroscience

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EMDR Therapy uses #BilateralStimulation to engage both hemispheres of the brain using different sensory inputs. Here are some common techniques... https://lnkd.in/giQQnYE7 #PTSD #Anxiety

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is one of the most evidence-based approaches used in substance use treatment. It helps individuals identify the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, creating space to respond in healthier ways. At The Recovery Hub, CBT is a key part of our outpatient counseling programs. Clients learn to challenge unhelpful thought patterns, develop practical coping skills, and build confidence in their ability to maintain long-term recovery. Learn more about our outpatient services at https://loom.ly/j7H_-E0 #RecoveryHub #CBT #OutpatientCounseling #RecoveryEducation #SUDTreatment #RecoveryJourney #Recovery

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Neuro Nuance Therapy and EMDR, PLLC is an EMDR-focused psychotherapy practice, and that focus includes a clear understanding of how trauma affects the brain. When trauma overwhelms the nervous system, experiences don’t always get stored as finished memories. Instead, they can remain active, sensory, emotional, and reactive, keeping the body responding as if the event is still happening. EMDR therapy is grounded in neuroscience that helps explain why this occurs. Research shows that trauma can disrupt coordination between the brain areas involved in threat detection, memory integration, and regulation. When those systems don’t communicate effectively, memories stay unintegrated and continue to drive stress responses. EMDR works with the brain’s natural processing mechanisms to help those experiences become fully integrated. Through structured exposure and bilateral stimulation, memories can be updated so they feel like something that happened in the past, not something that’s still happening now. A full explanation of this process is outlined in Understanding the Neuroscience Behind EMDR Therapy on our site. EMDR is supported by a strong research base and is recognized by organizations such as the APA, VA/DoD, and WHO. Learn more at the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/gvqKSJ9b This EMDR-focused, neuroscience-informed approach guides how trauma therapy is practiced here in Austin, with telehealth available across Texas. #EMDRTherapy #Austin #Texas #Neuroscience #NeuroNuanceTherapy

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What if abstinence isn't the only marker of progress? In substance use treatment, we often rush to "fix" the behavior before we understand the function. But what happens when we stop centering the substance and start centering the human? I’m excited to share a preview of my recorded training: "Substance Use and Abuse: A Relational Framework for Clinical Practice." This isn't a lecture on "how to stop." It’s a 62-minute dialogue between two sober clinicians on how to stay in the room when outcomes are uncertain. We dive into: The "Trigger Beneath the Trigger": Moving past people, places, and things. The Engine of Addiction: Navigating secrecy and loneliness. The Clinical Priority: Preserving life while building an affect tolerance. The Relationship as Intervention: Holding the tension between autonomy and safety. If you’ve ever felt stuck working with clients where abstinence isn't occurring, this framework is for you. 🔗 Access the full training here: https://lnkd.in/eqKHdizy #Psychotherapy #SubstanceUse #HarmReduction #ClinicalPractice #RelationalTherapy https://lnkd.in/e45dhxEF

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Can EMDR help with anxiety-related symptoms like panic attacks and phobias? Yes. EMDR has been shown to reduce the intensity of symptoms such as panic attacks and phobias by targeting the underlying traumatic experiences that fuel them. By reprocessing these memories, EMDR helps shift the way they are stored in the brain, easing fear and anxiety while building a greater sense of calm and control. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ecJxgYWv

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Trauma survivors often carry heavy layers of shame, guilt, and self-blame, and early career therapists may find it difficult to know how to respond with the right blend of compassion, grounding, and structure. This post walks you through practical trauma-informed skills: fostering self-compassion, challenging negative beliefs, re-narrating trauma stories, using somatic awareness, and guiding clients through values-based healing. Reflection Questions for Early Career Therapist: • How do you respond when a client expresses deep self-blame? • Which of these techniques feels most natural for you, and which feels challenging? • How can you integrate self-compassion more intentionally into your sessions?

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Discover how not all therapy is the same. A new article on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) explores how trauma disrupts the nervous system and why standard talk therapy might not suffice for everyone. At Fig Tree Therapy, we integrate EMDR into our Christian counseling to unravel trauma intricately interwoven in biology, psychology, social systems, and spirituality. Our holistic approach aims at healing, aligning clinical expertise with Biblical guidance. Read more about EMDR therapy's effectiveness in treating trauma in the article titled, "Does EMDR Really Work?" from Naples Daily News. https://bit.ly/4t4y0N2 #MentalHealth #TraumaRecovery #ChristianCounseling #EMDRTherapy #ChristianMentalHealth #FaithBasedCounseling #TraumaTherapy #FigTreeTherapy #EMDR

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How do you know what to look for when searching for a trauma therapist? What type of therapy is best for trauma? Get a FREE download of my PDF guide, The 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Searching For A Trauma Therapist when you sign up for my e-mail list here: https://lnkd.in/emgEf_Rh

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Yoga: A Secret Weapon for First Responders? 🧘‍♂️ Many Clinicians avoid it, but research from 9/11 survivors proves that yoga and EMDR are incredibly effective at releasing trapped trauma from the body. Instead of turning to unhealthy habits, these tools help you physically "let go" of the stress you carry from the job. Watch this episode of Registry Insider to learn how healthy regulation can save your career and your life. _____ #NREMT #EMS #EMT #MentalHealth #Yoga #FirstResponders #Trauma

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​The Flash Technique is an innovative approach designed to gently reduce the distress associated with traumatic memories, serving as a preparatory step before engaging in deeper trauma processing therapies like EMDR. In this concise mini-webinar, Bruce Ecker, LMFT, co-director of the Coherence Psychology Institute, elucidates the underlying mechanisms and practical application of the Flash Technique. This presentation offers valuable insights for mental health professionals seeking effective methods to alleviate clients' trauma-related distress.​ Watch the mini-webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gCeumpR5 #FlashTechnique #TraumaTherapy #EMDR #BruceEcker #MentalHealth #TherapeuticTechniques

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We often remind clients that trauma doesn’t always live in words. During overwhelming experiences, the brain shifts into survival mode, which can make it difficult to access language, organize memories, or talk about what happened. This is why many trauma survivors feel frustrated when traditional talk therapy alone doesn’t seem to reach the deeper layers of their experience. Because trauma is often stored in the body, in sensations, images, and implicit memory, healing can begin through bottom-up approaches that focus first on the nervous system. Modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment work with sensation, movement, imagery, rhythm, and breath to help restore regulation and safety. Creative expression, through art, music, imagery, or metaphor, can be a powerful part of this process. These approaches allow people to explore emotions and experiences in ways that feel grounded and contained, especially when words are hard to find. As the nervous system settles, insight and language often emerge naturally, helping clients connect their experiences with greater clarity and compassion. Healing from trauma does not always mean talking, it must begin with feeling safe enough to reconnect with the body and the present moment. If you’re in the Alexandria, VA area and are curious about trauma-informed, body-based therapy, we’re here to help. https://ow.ly/bkfL50YteHX

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