#accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy

[ablackwomansurvivingrape]

To deal with emotional trauma, we need to process disgust.

As trauma psychotherapists, we know that helping patients process painful emotions is crucial for recovery. However, research shows that disgust is often overlooked in therapy, to the detriment of the patient. Disgust is important to understand for trauma treatment, especially in the face of current events like the pandemic, political unrest, the rise in hate crimes against people of color, and war.

Named by neuroscientists as one of humans’ first evolving emotions, disgust is a natural response to poisonous stimuli like rotten foods, infectious diseases, and unsafe environments. In this way, disgust helps us ward off illness and danger. However, what many people don’t realize is that this emotion also arises when we’re violated, oppressed, and abused—all forms of trauma that can lead to anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

For trauma survivors, disgust exerts a force to be experienced (named, felt, listened to, and released). But when people come in for therapy, they don’t disclose their disgust by name. They can’t, because it’s buried by defenses to block it from conscious awareness. All that the survivors feel are symptoms like anxiety, depression, and low self-confidence.

Had Irene’s father or another close family member validated her anxiety by acknowledging her mother was wrong and had behaved in abusive ways, Irene may have felt seen. But victim blaming and “minimizing” can cause survivors like Irene to criticize and shame themselves, leading them to internalize disgust. Unlike discarding spoiled food, disgust-induced trauma cannot be escaped, and the unspeakable sense of disgust often shows up in the body. Like Irene, many patients exhibit the “gape face.” Others disclose distressing compulsions like repeated hand-washing or showering. Still others just show up with anxiety and depression.

In some cases, patients will project their disgust toward others onto their therapists with statements like “You’re probably so grossed out by what I’m saying,” or “I don’t want to say anything else, because I don’t want to traumatize you.” These words are clues that they perceive disgust coming from their therapist, rather than within themselves. Behaviors like these are emotional armor, which works to protect us from overwhelming emotions.

To help patients like Irene, we use a trauma therapy called accelerated experiential dynamic psychotherapy (known as AEDP). Developed in 2000 by psychologist Diana Fosha, this newer model of psychotherapy combines affective neuroscience, trauma theory, attachment theory, and rapid transformation theories. This type of emotion-focused therapy gets to the root problem, using the catalytic power of “core emotions” like disgust, sadness, anger, and joy to turbocharge brain change, also known as neuroplasticity. This stands in stark contrast with medicating symptoms of mood disorders or using behavioral tools to change thinking and behaviors.

Working with painful emotions can feel like being asked to touch a burning flame, which is why the first step in trauma therapy is to help patients feel safe and remind them that they’re in control. For instance, we say, “If there is something I ask that doesn’t feel right, will you let me know?”

To maintain safety, AEDP therapists watch for when anxiety is rising outside the patient’s “window of tolerance.” We track the patient’s physical movements, because as author and trauma psychotherapist Babette Rothschild says, “the body remembers.”

For instance, when patients like Irene sigh or wring their hands, we know anxiety is rising—and we need to bring it back down before continuing with any disgust processing. We might ask: “Can you tune in to that big sigh? What is it telling us? Can you notice your hands? If they could speak, what would they say?”

Trauma therapists listen with our eyes as well as our ears to seize glimmers of emotions and notice the defenses that patients are unaware of. When delivered with compassion and curiosity and without judgment, this type of emotional attunement fosters deep trust and confidence.

When patients like Irene share a painful memory, they may unknowingly laugh or talk very quickly. This is understandable; defenses like laughter helped us survive. Ultimately, though, processing the underlying core emotions can help people relinquish maladaptive—albeit protective—coping mechanisms.

To do so, we draw attention to patients’ nonverbal communication by gently pointing out the discrepancy between laughter and the upsetting memory. Then we invite them to slow down and notice the emotions that are rising to the surface. “As you slowly scan your body below the neck, what do you notice?” we ask.

Patients may point to their stomachs, aware that they’re nauseous or feel like throwing up. Such clues can help patients identify and name the disgust that’s driving their physical symptoms. Once the patient names a feeling like nausea, we ask, “Is there an emotion word that goes with that feeling?”

If the patient struggles to name the emotion, we thread together the clues they’ve provided by referencing how their bodies do the talking. We might say, “When you spoke about your mother, your nose wrinkled up like you were smelling something bad. It was a look of disgust on your face.” With prompting, patients can often uncover the emotion, arriving at an “aha” moment. “It is disgust!” they might say.

Not even all therapists receive a formal education in how emotions work in the mind and body, much less your average patient—so it’s unsurprising many patients believe that feeling sad, angry, or disgusted means they’re weak in some way or hurting the person responsible for their trauma, whom they may also love. However, the process of naming and describing emotions and sensations, which scientists call “affect labeling,” calms the nervous system, research has found. In one study, participants were shown various photos of people expressing negative emotions, and researchers used brain imaging to examine the impact of participants naming these emotions. The result? Labeling helped temper immediate emotional reactivity. Emotions researchers have also found that putting words to feelings fosters long-term benefits. For instance, people who completed 16 sessions of AEDP therapy had fewer symptoms—such as depression—and more positive emotions—such as self-compassion—and these effects held steady 12 months after treatment ended.

[flowerrivers]

Expert Online Therapy for Relationship & Anxiety Issues

Struggling with relationship challenges or anxiety? We provide online individual therapy for relationship issues for personal growth. Specializing in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), we offer personalized care that helps individuals heal and strengthen their connections. Explore a compassionate approach to therapy, designed for those seeking meaningful change.

Call us at- 646-492-3408

Mail us at- yuko@flowerrivers.com

Visit us- https://www.flowerrivers.com/

[mendedmomentstherapy]

Positive Emotional Focus with AEDP Therapists

AEDP therapists emphasize the importance of building positive emotional experiences. By focusing on joy, connection, and love, clients can develop a more balanced and fulfilling emotional life.

To know more:

[emergentcounseling]

Relationship and Conflict Management Therapist In Oakland Park, FL

We have a history of igniting hope and creating safe spaces for our clients to heal!

A statement that best describes me: a native of Guyana, a lover of Soca, travel and food. Therapy does not have to be a task, it can be creative, empowering and supportive. I work with individuals who are struggling with anxiety because of life changes and they looking for support to either save their relationship, process separation, or re-enter the dating world. I also work with couples who need support to find the root of conflict in their relationships, and eradicate it so they can restore intimacy, trust, and a form healthy secure bond.

I am a graduate of Florida International University, where I obtained a Masters in Social Work. My experience is diverse and spans 14 years in the field of mental health and ranges from case management, substance abuse treatment, to program management, individual and family therapy. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Therapist; I am trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals and couples. I am also trained in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy for trauma, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) for couples, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

I can help you find your way through the storm of insecurity, mistrust and conflict so that you can learn to love and appreciate each other all over again.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please contact us.

[y2ksnowglobe]

*working on a fic* Hmmm, I like this idea, but I’m not quite sure what my “in” is. *Keeps messing around with it* Oh...is my “in” Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy? I think it might be Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy

[confidentmanproject]

The Healing Power Of Emotion: Affective Neuroscience, Development, and Clinical Practice by Daniel J. Seigel, Marion Solomon, Diana Fosha et al

The Healing Power Of Emotion: Affective Neuroscience, Development, and Clinical Practice by Daniel J. Seigel, Marion Solomon, Diana Fosha et al

This fantastic book on affective and interpersonal neuroscience reads like a who’s who from many of the leaders in the field on the cutting edge of neuroscience-based psychotherapy. Big-name contributors include Jaak Panksepp (Affective Neuroscience), Stephen Porges (The Polyvagal Theory), Daniel Siegel (Interpersonal Neurobiology), Pat Ogden (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy), Diana Fosha (Accelerated…

[fatfemmefreaquency]

Hey dear I read this. And I just might be in need of what you been through. It would be so kind of you if you share the name. Thanks.

Hi! Thanks for reaching out.

The movie is called Thanks For Sharing and it’s one of my favourite movies of all time.

Here’s a streaming/ piracy site where you can watch it easily for free: https://fmovies.to/film/thanks-for-sharing.o1o8/vvkj3q2

I’d recommend using a good VPN and adblocker while streaming on fmovies. I personally recommend uBlock Origin as an adblocker or using Firefox (on mobile or on a computer) as a browser for privacy and security.

Beyond that: if you are looking to recover from sex addiction, I’m not sure I have a great recommendation on that front.

Therapy can help a lot but it is expensive, and it isn’t easy to find a therapist who is a good fit for you.

But I would recommend any therapeutic model which focuses on attachment theory and how you relate to other people.

Examples include:

AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy), learn more here: https://aedpinstitute.org

IFS (Internal Family Systems Theory) learn more here: https://ifs-institute.com

Here’s a place to learn more about attachment theory and therapy that helps heal how you relate to other people: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/attachment/types-of-therapy-for-adult-attachment-issues/?

Outside of private therapy, you could try going to a 12 step program or group therapy like the one that is shown in Thanks For Sharing.

I personally didn’t find that the 12 step for sex addiction was a good fit for me, but Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous has helped many people heal and recover from sex addictions.

You can learn more about SLAA and find a support group here: https://slaafws.org

[dvdregionseven]

Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Adlerian Therapy, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis, Art Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, Bibliotherapy, Biofeedback, Brain Stimulation Therapy, Christian Counseling, Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Culturally Sensitive Therapy, Dance Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eclectic Therapy, EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Equine-Assisted Therapy, Existential Therapy, Experiential Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Expressive Arts Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Feminist Therapy, Forensic Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Human Givens Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Imago Relationship Therapy, Integrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Jungian Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, Mentalization-Based Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Multicultural Therapy, Music Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming Therapy, Neurofeedback, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Person-Centered Therapy, Play Therapy, Positive Psychology, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Psychoanalytic Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Psychological Testing and Evaluation, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, Reality Therapy, Relational Therapy, Sandplay Therapy, Schema Therapy, Social Recovery Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, The Gottman Method, Therapeutic Intervention, Transpersonal Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy

SANITY BY COMBAT FUCK YES

[shareyrheart]

Healing and transforming are the two motives of Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy. With this the therapist helps the patient discover a brave new confident self

[ulrichfoester]

Building Tolerance to Find Comfort in Discomfort

“To stay with that shakiness—to stay with a broken heart, with a rumbling stomach, with the feeling of hopelessness and wanting to get revenge—that is the path of true awakening.” 

-Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart

It has been a challenging time. Quarantine, necessary civil unrest, loss of norms, loneliness, lack of alone time, and financial concerns are just a few examples of the things we’ve  scrambled to cope with this year. We’re rattled. This is a once-in-a-century crisis that’s provided us with as much discomfort as we usually encounter in a few decades. You’ve likely found yourself, at one time or another, pinned against the wall by a pandemic moment. This sticky spot – this window into our unfinished business – is our chance, our opportunity, to know more. This place we hate is where we can heal and begin to befriend ourselves when we need it most. We can practice finding comfort in the discomfort.

This blog will explore the biological and cultural reasons we tend to stay away from difficult emotions. It will also offer an exercise that enables us to drop into our experience just when we want to flee.

LEARN MORE: myTherapyNYC clinicians address how to manage pandemic stress.

The biology of avoidance

“Social rejection and grief have effects visible in the brain’s anterior cingulate cortex, which is also involved in physical pain, and both types of pain affect the heart and hormonal systems. This is why we say ’it hurts’  when we feel rejected or unloved.” 

-Kenny Lomas, Science Focus

Have you ever stopped in the middle of a psychologically difficult moment to notice what’s going on in your body? Most of us are aware when we dislike what’s happening, but our frantic minds usually take center stage. Because unwanted emotional moments frazzle us, we’re distracted from messages coming from our bodies. These messages often cause us to run without realizing it. Imaging has shown our brains look similar when we’re experiencing bodily and psychological pain.

Alan Fogel, professor of psychology at the University of Utah, points this out in the article “Emotional and Physical Pain Activate Similar Brain Regions.” He explains that a person shown a picture of a partner they recently broke up with had activity in the same part of their brain as if they had been physically harmed. Mind and body pain are so neurologically entwined, Fogel reported, that patients who suffered psychologically negative events were able to diminish their hurt feelings with Acetaminophen. It turns out our evolutionarily-efficient bodies use the same neural system to notice physical and psychological stimuli. 

Handling your body’s response to stress

Knowing that rejection or loneliness can feel as alarming as an actual gut-punch, our conscious or unconscious desire to wiggle away from life’s less desirable moments makes perfect sense. All living things avoid pain.

In order to be effective amidst our brain’s aversion-carnival, it is usually helpful to slow down when we get a dose of unease. Doing so enables us to notice what’s actually going on. This helps us make good use of the information that’s waiting for us underneath our resistance. Of course, when we’re already feeling miserable, it can feel counterintuitive to say, “I’m in agony, I’d love to slow down and get closer to this seemingly unbearable experience.” You may find, however, after knowing the pleasure of not running, and finally riding the wave of your emotional encounter to its calm end, that your “instincts” change.

READ MORE: Pema Chodron on our emotional reaction to life’s unknowns.

Cultural emotion-phobia

“Emotion-phobia dissociates us from the energies of these emotions and tells us they are untrustworthy, dangerous and destructive. Like other traits our culture distrusts and devalues – vulnerability, for instance, and dependence – emotionality is associated with weakness, women, and children. We tend to regard these painful emotions as signs of psychological fragility, mental disorder, or spiritual defect. We suppress, intellectualize, judge or deny them.” 

-Miriam Greenspan, “The Wisdom of Dark Emotions”

Our society is built upon the concept of our unbridled agency. The “American Dream” purports that, with willpower, the sky’s the limit. Movies, music, social media, and advertising promises us that if we just try hard enough (and buy this product), we will live a life entirely on our terms; We won’t age, lose our health, or feel sorrow. These messages are not all bad. Being tuned into our agency can be very helpful. But hard power alone will not deliver wellbeing. Effectiveness looks different in different circumstances.

To be truly constructive we need to understand that a little receptivity and acceptance of the moment can deliver significantly better results than avoiding, fighting, or denying an experience. A culture that teaches you to avoid discomfort is not giving you the tools you need for the truth of life. Despite what the zeitgeist tells us, there are a few things we simply can’t elude in life; One of those is our inner world. So, having a plan for how to find comfort in discomfort, and finally beginning an effective conversation with our own minds can be a huge relief.

Let’s imagine…

Let’s imagine you’re back in the middle of quarantine homeschooling your six-year-old. You haven’t been outside in ten days, you lack the Master’s in Education necessary to teach common core math, and you want to throw your computer against the wall. Or you’re living alone in a studio, you haven’t been outside in ten days, you haven’t touched another human being in months and the loneliness may or may not remind you of how alone you felt as a child. Right in the moment of feeling terrible, whether you’re surrounded by children, a roommate, a partner, or your plants:

An exercise

Close your eyes and slow your mind by breathing deeply.

Get curious about what’s happening in your body. Where are you feeling discomfort? What is the nature of the sensation? Is it sticky? Does it have a color? If you could assign it a name would it be “shame” or “grief” or “anxiety”? What else might it be? It doesn’t have to make sense. Free-associate.

Ask yourself if you’ve felt this before? When was the first time you felt it?

If the first time you felt this was when you were eleven, try to imagine that eleven-year-old you in your mind.

Begin to talk with your eleven-year-old self (this is merely a way of interfacing with your mind so you can parse out your hidden emotional world). Ask questions like, “why are you worried/ashamed/shut down?” Or, “what do you need?” Or, “what would you like to tell me?”

Listen and be present to the emotional experience this elicits by staying with your body. Breathe deeply and feel the sensations of the emotion.

If the eleven-year-old you has a fantasy, allow your mind to play it out. Maybe that part wants to be held or to yell at someone. It’s only in your mind, so really indulge. Follow your fantasy through, until something inside you shifts.

If your body delivered a sense of settling or relief, honor it, however long it graced you with its presence. That moment is a “muscle” that you can grow by exercising it. The “muscle” is you staying with yourself when you’re vulnerable. It’s also you having the nerve to be present to the full range of your life’s experience. Beyond that, it’s you memorizing the payoff of allowing your emotions to flow naturally.  

LEARN MORE about self-care.

On being mammals

“When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed,

The sturdy seedling with arched body comes

Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.” 

-Robert Frost, “Putting in the Seed”

As much as we think, achieve, build, and work to differentiate ourselves from the grass and dirt and bugs and apes, we are nature. Mammals, to be exact, and mammals feel as a means of survival. Diana Fosha, creator of the experiential therapeutic modality AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) explains, “each categorical emotion prepares the body for a different kind of response. Emotions are in essence impulses to act, the instant plans that evolution has instilled in us.” So those times that feel dark, dully-negative, gnawing, or searing aren’t indications of some kind of failure. They may simply be your beautiful, deeply wired, essential messengers asking for your ear.

Using your feelings as a guide

Contrary to what our culture may have told you, feeling badly can be you, your body, and your mind working properly. Fosha emphasizes, “nothing that feels bad is ever the last step.” So, while it’s natural, normal, and sometimes helpful to experience negative feelings, they are not a destination. They are the launching point for your journey towards living solidly in your own skin, no longer skittish around your own mind. 

Finding comfort in discomfort is a tall order, but attempting to do so offers agency in a time when it feels like we have so little say. It’s not easy to stay with our experience when our bodies are flooded with a physiological response to negative thoughts. But, in doing so, we are building a tolerance. Now that we understand a bit more about what’s happening in our bodies, how normal it is to want to run, how to stay if we want to, and why our emotions are valuable and inevitable, we can rewire our response in a way that makes feeling less scary.  

READ MORE: Why Feeling Bad is Good.

Are you interested in learning more about how to explore your emotions and build tolerance for discomfort? Many of myTherapyNYC’s staff therapists are trained in AEDP therapy. Reach out today to find out which of our therapist is the right fit for you.

When was the last time you felt an emotion you wanted to avoid and how did you handle it? Join the conversation in the comments below!

The post Building Tolerance to Find Comfort in Discomfort appeared first on myTherapyNYC - Counseling & Wellness.

Building Tolerance to Find Comfort in Discomfort published first on https://familycookwareshop.tumblr.com/

[flowerrivers]

 Best Therapy for Anxiety: Expert Tips for Managing Your Symptoms

Discover effective strategies for managing best therapy for anxiety with expert tips on the best therapy options. ADEP [Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy] is a proven method for addressing negative thought patterns. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques can complement therapy, helping to reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being. Explore these expert-recommended approaches to find the most suitable therapy for your anxiety symptoms.

For more information-

Call us- +1 646-492-3408

Mail at-  yuko@flowerrivers.com

Visit at- https://www.flowerrivers.com/

[mendedmomentstherapy]

Emotional Healing with AEDP Therapists

Achieve emotional healing with AEDP therapists, providing a safe and empathetic space for your therapeutic journey.

To know more:

[emergentcounseling]

Relationship and Conflict Management Therapist In Oakland Park, FL

We have a history of igniting hope and creating safe spaces for our clients to heal!

A statement that best describes me: a native of Guyana, a lover of Soca, travel and food. Therapy does not have to be a task, it can be creative, empowering and supportive. I work with individuals who are struggling with anxiety because of life changes and they looking for support to either save their relationship, process separation, or re-enter the dating world. I also work with couples who need support to find the root of conflict in their relationships, and eradicate it so they can restore intimacy, trust, and a form healthy secure bond.

I am a graduate of Florida International University, where I obtained a Masters in Social Work. My experience is diverse and spans 14 years in the field of mental health and ranges from case management, substance abuse treatment, to program management, individual and family therapy. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Therapist; I am trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy for individuals and couples. I am also trained in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy for trauma, Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) for couples, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

I can help you find your way through the storm of insecurity, mistrust and conflict so that you can learn to love and appreciate each other all over again.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please contact us.

[mylatherapy]

Brooke Sprowl speaks about AEDP Experiential Therapy on the renowned Broken Brain 2 documentary.https://youtu.be/Kp07c7aqF_U

#aedp #acceleratedexperientialdynamicpsychotherapy #dynamicpsychotherapy #experientialtherapy #brokenbrain #brokenbrain2 #brookesprowl #mylatherapy