EMDR therapy in North Adelaide and online Australia wide
EMDR therapy for adults living with the effects of childhood trauma
Maybe you know that your childhood wasn't easy, but you've learnt to get on with things.
You may have become very good at coping, keeping the peace, looking after other people or putting your own needs aside.
You might now find yourself anxious, overwhelmed or constantly thinking about what could go wrong. Perhaps you struggle with self-doubt, people-pleasing, boundaries or relationships. Maybe you often feel like you're too much, not enough, or somehow getting things wrong.
You can understand where some of these patterns came from and still find yourself reacting in the same ways.
Sometimes understanding why we do something isn't enough to change it.
I work with adults experiencing the longer-term effects of childhood trauma, including complex PTSD, as well as PTSD following traumatic experiences in adulthood.
EMDR is at the centre of my practice. It can provide a structured way of working with experiences that continue to affect you in the present.
You might not think of yourself as having trauma
When we hear the word trauma, we often think of one major event. But difficult experiences in childhood can affect us in many different ways.
Perhaps you learnt to pay close attention to other people's moods.
Maybe keeping everyone happy felt safer than saying what you actually thought or needed.
Perhaps you became independent because relying on other people didn't feel safe or comfortable.
You may have learnt to push difficult feelings away, be the "good" one, or not ask for too much.
These ways of coping can make sense in the environment where they developed. But they don't always work so well later in life.
You might find that you're still on alert, even when things are okay. You might struggle to trust yourself or other people. You may know that you're safe but not actually feel safe.
Or you might simply be tired of feeling like you're always managing yourself.
Therapy can be a place to slow things down, understand what is happening and begin to make some changes.
A little about how I work
I'm Mel, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and EMDR therapist.
My approach is trauma-informed, client-centred and paced.
I don't expect you to tell me everything straight away, and I don't believe therapy should be about pushing through difficult experiences before you're ready.
For me, the relationship we build in therapy matters.
So does understanding your history, noticing the patterns that have developed and making sense of what your mind and body are doing now.
EMDR is my primary therapeutic approach. I also draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy, as well as nervous-system regulation strategies, depending on what is useful for you.
I'm interested in helping you understand yourself with a little more compassion, while also making practical changes that allow you to live your life differently.
EMDR therapy doesn't start with eye movements
If you've heard of EMDR, you might think you come into therapy, follow a light with your eyes and start processing trauma straight away.
That's not how I work
Early sessions are about getting to know you and your story, understanding what's happening now and making sure you have the resources and readiness for trauma processing.
We'll pay attention to what happens when emotions become difficult or overwhelming and work out what helps you stay grounded and connected.
When you're ready, EMDR provides a structured approach to processing experiences that are still affecting you.
We go at a pace that makes sense for you.
Sometimes we slow down.
Sometimes we pause.
And sometimes the most useful thing we can do is not process the trauma at all that day.
Safety and readiness come before processing.
Trauma doesn't always begin in childhood
Although much of my work is with the longer-term effects of childhood trauma, traumatic experiences can also happen later in life.
You may have experienced sexual assault, violence, an accident or another event that has changed your sense of safety.
You might be experiencing PTSD symptoms such as intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance or feeling constantly on edge.
Or perhaps the experience has shown up more as anxiety, panic, difficulty trusting people or feeling disconnected from yourself.
EMDR can be used to work with traumatic experiences, including single-incident trauma and PTSD, when it is clinically appropriate.
You don't have to have it all figured out
You don't need to arrive knowing exactly what is wrong.
You might know that you're anxious.
You might know that something from your past is still affecting you.
You might simply know that you're tired of feeling this way.
That's enough to start with.
We'll work out together what is happening and what might be helpful.
Therapy in North Adelaide and online across Australia
I offer in-person appointments in North Adelaide and online therapy for adults across Australia.
The frequency of sessions can vary depending on what you're working towards, your circumstances and what feels manageable for you.
Some people find weekly sessions helpful, particularly when beginning therapy or doing trauma processing. For others, appointments may be spaced further apart.
There isn't one right frequency for everyone.
Let’s make sense of what shaped you, and work with what’s still affecting you.
Appointments are available throughout the week and on Saturday mornings. If you are ready to work together, I invite you to book an appointment or get in touch with any questions.