Posted by Pfinstegg on February 25, 2006, at 23:33:38
In reply to Re: moving more deeply into ego state therapy... » Pfinstegg, posted by Daisym on February 25, 2006, at 18:16:49
As one of major mental health consumers here (psychoanalysis, art therapy, marriage counselling, EMDR- totally embarrassing how much!)- what about EMDR? It's quite specific and short-term, and designed for people who have had specific traumas which they can remember. I am doing it right now, and find it very helpful in uncouplinging the memories and the intense fear, shame, self-blame and depression. The thought of group therapy is a bad one for me, because I think I'd get more stressed and ashamed than ever if I had to disclose what happened to me to an entire group. I belong to a writing group run by a branch of the APsAA, which has teachers, therapists, etc, in it. We do autobiographical exercises, but when I dared to write, even in a most general way, about the csa, everyone looked appalled. Then someone said, "Why don't you stick with writing about nature, Pfinstegg?" I realize this wasn't exactly a therapy group, but, unless you are with others who really understand, it seems to be such a hard thing for people to hear about. We talk about it here, but that was the only time I did in real life (except with my husband, who knows everything)- and I don't think I ever will again.
Still, I really don't mean to be too negative, because if you were in a group just for that, it might really be helpful and supportive. The EMDR is really focussed on stress relief, and can be quite an amazing process. It does take some of the pressure off my analyst, as he works closely with the EMDR therapist, and they decide together, along with me, what traumas would be good to work on. Do you have anyone qualified in it near you? I do one or two sessions of it, then stop, and my analyst and I go along as usual until we feel that something else is coming up which would benefit from it. Only a small number of people have written about it here, but for the most part,their reports are very positive.
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:612620
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20060225/msgs/613362.html