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| Overcoming Fear of Therapy to Overcome Trauma |
Somatic Experiencing and EMDR Are Effective Forms of Therapy For Trauma
As a psychotherapist who is a trauma expert, I've found that Somatic Experiencing and EMDR are effective forms of trauma therapy for most people.
Both Somatic Experiencing (SE) and EMDR tend to be more effective than regular talk therapy to overcome trauma.
Somatic Experiencing and EMDR are being used effectively in the US and all over the world for people who want to overcome emotional trauma.
I've included links to prior blog articles that I've written (below) that explain how to choose a psychotherapist, and what EMDR and Somatic Experiencing are. I've also included the professional websites for Somatic Experiencing and EMDR that provide international directories of therapists as well as links to books by Peter Levine, Ph.D., who developed SE and Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., who developed EMDR.
Seeing a Licensed Psychotherapist is a Must
My recommendation, and I can't stress this enough, is that you seek a licensed psychotherapist.
There are trauma therapists who are listed on the Somatic Experiencing website who are not licensed psychotherapists. They have learned how to do Somatic Experiencing and they might be certified, but they aren't licensed therapists and don't have experience doing psychotherapy.
Licensure in various states can vary. In New York City and most other states, you can't call yourself a psychotherapist unless you have a license. If you're not sure what type of licensure they have, ask.
Being certified as an SE therapist is not the same as being a licensed psychotherapist. Being a certified SE therapist (or SEP) means a person has attended all the workshops and attended the required number of supervisory sessions and personal SE sessions to get certified by the SE Training Institute.
Also, a person might be licensed as a bodyworker or massage therapist and become certified as a SEP, but they are not licensed psychotherapists. This is not to say that these individuals aren't knowledgeable.
But if the trauma work goes beyond a certain clinical depth, they will have to refer you to work with a licensed psychotherapist who is a Somatic Experiencing psychotherapist because they are not allowed to work outside the scope of their knowledge.
That will mean that you will have t start over with someone else. There are enough licensed psychotherapists who are excellent SE therapists that you can find, certainly in NYC and on the West Coast.
With regard to EMDR, at least when I was trained several years ago, you could not learn EMDR unless you were a licensed psychotherapist, so you are much less likely to encounter this issue. But, once again, if you're not sure, ask.
In my next blog article, I'll discuss the first session with a psychotherapist, which I recommend that you consider as a consultation.
About Me
As a psychotherapist who is a trauma expert, I've found that Somatic Experiencing and EMDR are effective forms of trauma therapy for most people.
Both Somatic Experiencing (SE) and EMDR tend to be more effective than regular talk therapy to overcome trauma.
Somatic Experiencing and EMDR are being used effectively in the US and all over the world for people who want to overcome emotional trauma.
I've included links to prior blog articles that I've written (below) that explain how to choose a psychotherapist, and what EMDR and Somatic Experiencing are. I've also included the professional websites for Somatic Experiencing and EMDR that provide international directories of therapists as well as links to books by Peter Levine, Ph.D., who developed SE and Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., who developed EMDR.
Seeing a Licensed Psychotherapist is a Must
My recommendation, and I can't stress this enough, is that you seek a licensed psychotherapist.
There are trauma therapists who are listed on the Somatic Experiencing website who are not licensed psychotherapists. They have learned how to do Somatic Experiencing and they might be certified, but they aren't licensed therapists and don't have experience doing psychotherapy.
Licensure in various states can vary. In New York City and most other states, you can't call yourself a psychotherapist unless you have a license. If you're not sure what type of licensure they have, ask.
Being certified as an SE therapist is not the same as being a licensed psychotherapist. Being a certified SE therapist (or SEP) means a person has attended all the workshops and attended the required number of supervisory sessions and personal SE sessions to get certified by the SE Training Institute.
Also, a person might be licensed as a bodyworker or massage therapist and become certified as a SEP, but they are not licensed psychotherapists. This is not to say that these individuals aren't knowledgeable.
But if the trauma work goes beyond a certain clinical depth, they will have to refer you to work with a licensed psychotherapist who is a Somatic Experiencing psychotherapist because they are not allowed to work outside the scope of their knowledge.
That will mean that you will have t start over with someone else. There are enough licensed psychotherapists who are excellent SE therapists that you can find, certainly in NYC and on the West Coast.
With regard to EMDR, at least when I was trained several years ago, you could not learn EMDR unless you were a licensed psychotherapist, so you are much less likely to encounter this issue. But, once again, if you're not sure, ask.
In my next blog article, I'll discuss the first session with a psychotherapist, which I recommend that you consider as a consultation.
About Me
As a licensed NYC psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, EMDR and Somatic Experiencing therapist, I work with individual adults and couples.
I specialize in working with emotional trauma.
To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist
To set up a consultation, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.
Articles From My Psychotherapy Blog:
Overcoming Your Fear of Attending Psychotherapy to Recover From Trauma - Part 1: Common Fears
How to Choose a Psychotherapist
Overcoming the Freeze Response Related to Trauma with Somatic Experiencing
What is EMDR: Big T and Small T Trauma
Somatic Experiencing and EMDR Information With US and International Directories:
Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute
EMDR International Association and Directory
Books
Book About SE: Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences - by Peter Levine, Ph.D.
Book About SE: In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restore Goodness - by Peter Levine, Ph.D.
Book About EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principals, Protocols and Procedures - by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.
Book About EMDR: Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life With Self Help Techniques From EMDR Therapy - by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.
I specialize in working with emotional trauma.
To find out more about me, visit my website: Josephine Ferraro, LCSW - NYC Psychotherapist
To set up a consultation, call me at (917) 742-2624 during business hours or email me.
Articles From My Psychotherapy Blog:
Overcoming Your Fear of Attending Psychotherapy to Recover From Trauma - Part 1: Common Fears
How to Choose a Psychotherapist
Overcoming the Freeze Response Related to Trauma with Somatic Experiencing
What is EMDR: Big T and Small T Trauma
Somatic Experiencing and EMDR Information With US and International Directories:
Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute
EMDR International Association and Directory
Books
Book About SE: Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences - by Peter Levine, Ph.D.
Book About SE: In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restore Goodness - by Peter Levine, Ph.D.
Book About EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principals, Protocols and Procedures - by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.
Book About EMDR: Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life With Self Help Techniques From EMDR Therapy - by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.