PTSD Treatment with EMDR Therapy: Safe and Effective
Triggers from childhood trauma, birth trauma, and work related trauma don’t have to take the steering wheel of your nervous system forever.
What you are currently experiencing with PTSD or C-PTSD is not your imagination: you logically know you’re safe now, but your nervous system hasn’t caught up to that yet. Your nervous system’s goal is to protect you at all costs - and right now, the flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, short fuse, panic attacks and dissociation are your nervous system’s way of keeping you out of (perceived) harm’s way.
It’s my job as an EMDR therapist who specializes in PTSD treatment to guide you towards processing and truly releasing what your nervous system has been holding onto, so you can truly feel safe, worthy, and in control of your life again.
PTSD Treatment with Danik Bernier looks like this:
We meet for a free virtual consultation, for about 30 mins (it may take longer because I like to get to know you really well and answer alllll your questions). This is where you tell me what has been weighing you down lately and how PTSD symptoms are showing up in your life. Then I explain what you can expect when working with me and answer your questions.
We set up a 1st appointment. We typically start with a 50-60 min appointment.
During the 1st appointment: We establish a plan for what we will work on together. We go through the assessment for dissociation (DES-II) so you know exactly how EMDR therapy will have reduced your PTSD symptoms. We also practice nervous system-based coping tools so you can at least keep your head above water before processing and releasing the traumatic memories.
The “Band-Aid Phase”: This is where we focus on getting you functional with adapted coping strategies and we create the inner safety required to go through Standard EMDR Protocol (so EMDR Therapy doesn’t feel overwhelming or re-traumatizing). This can take between 1-5 sessions, depending on individual circumstances. The goal is to move to the next phase as safely and effectively as possible: Band-Aids are needed in the healing process but we can’t stop here.
The “Polysporin Phase”: This is where we actively treat the wound. With the targets for EMDR processing you will have chosen in earlier sessions, we go through EMDR Standard Protocol to transform traumatic memories into difficult but non-activating memories. The goal isn’t to brainwash you into thinking what you went through wasn’t that bad or was actually fine - it was not fine and never will be. We want you to feel your true feelings about what happened while feeling safe. We process the targets fuelling your PTSD (usually 3). This usually starts happening in session 3+ (depending on individual circumstances).
Preparation for future situations with high risk of possible triggers : By desensitizing you towards your upcoming challenge in advance, you can feel more confident and safe when going through situations where there is a high risk you can get triggered. Some examples: Going back to work, going to the hospital, going to school, going for surgery, co-regulating with your child in a meltdown, public speaking, setting and upholding boundaries, etc.
I’m Danik, a bilingual EMDR Certified Therapist. I want to guide you back to you.
I help people with PTSD from birth trauma, work related trauma, and childhood trauma in the Embrun, Ottawa, and Gatineau area feel like themselves again. I also support those with PTSD in Calgary, Edmonton, and anywhere in Alberta.