EMDR

Last week i traveled to #milwaukee to be trained in using EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing  .  This technique is a quicker version of psychotherapy.  When i went to the training, i was open to the process because i have heard so many success stories.  I did not believe it actually worked, i was channeling the "placebo effect" - give a sugar pill but the person thinks its the real medication and it works  (mind over matter).  Part of this training though was me therapying myself and it was amazing the difference i felt and am still feeling during the after effects (processing continues after therapy session ends)

This training was a small group of therapists from around the midwest and first half of each day was learning a portion of the technique, and the second half was us going in small groups of three (observer, client, therapist) and practicing the technique on eachother so that we could each experience being the client and practice using the technique as the therapist.

We picked "smaller issues" to work on over the 3 day period so that we could still notice if the technique worked and maybe feel better about something that was bothering us.  To start we learned a general overview of the technique, history and such. We each created a "safe place" to go to if the technique brought up intense emotion and this would help us relax through it.  We then placed our issue with negative and positive thoughts and used the technique which is the eye movement, to help re organize the thoughts and feelings connected to that experience which in effect affected how we feel today in similiar situations.

Day two was going in depth with our situation, the negative and positive cognition and hopefully overcoming that initial experience.  This was where the intense emotions would come up, between "feeder memories" (similar experiences).  My working issue was my fear of public speaking. we "floated back" by imagining the experience (speaking in public), taking those physical sensations, and allowing ourselves to go back to previous times where we felt that sensation and recording the memories down to the earliest memory.  we had to think about that memory and as we processed it with the eye movement, we were incorporating what we know now, into that memory until our image of that memory , not necessarily faded, but didn't "feel " as strong. This is where feeder memories came in , different situations that were simliar to the memories / feelings.  Our brain is basically a filing cabinet - We experience a situation and our body and mind connect to create sensations - positive and negative.  With my experience i brought up shame - or negatively "im not good enough, im not worthy".  My positive was " i am worthy".  I would think the positive with the situation until my mind was able to make connections from all the experience that ive learned, (they call this adaptive information processing) with that situation and re organized the internal filing cabinet so that yes i still had the memory, but the feelings were normalized, that memory was categorized properly in the cabinet and the part that connects now is no longer negative.  yes i remember the feelings i had associated, but now its more, "yes it happened, im over it, i remember how i felt about it but now that intense show of emotion is gone becuase the filing cabinet is organized'.

Day three was going over what happened since the last session.  Normally these sessions are a week apart, and they dont always complete themselves in one session.  This should also be done with a professional to help process memories and emotions that come up.  The processing as i said continues after the session.  I had strange dreams that normally i would consider nightmares over the weekend. i was also completely drained and fatigued.  I had new memories come up that , werent repressed but i had forgot  about them ( which is normal).  the connections i was able to make between experiences and similiar experiences was amazing.  I had gone to counseling all through college for my fear of public speaking and confronting people , or feelings of nervousness when the boss called me in.  Nothing ever made me feel good, i always left each session in tears and felt like crap.  This weekend was a big breakthrough, i feel like a giant weight has been lifted.  Granted other things came up that i now will have to process in therapy, but its a good thing. I was able to move past that initial young memory.  Im still feeling the fatigue even 4 days later, but i also feel a sense of motivation to do things that i havent felt in a long time.  Anyway - day three, how have things been, has anything changed, any new memories come up.  If anything has, we repeat day two with the new items, negative and cognitive, and repeat safe place.

Emdr isn't for everyone, but it may help you.  Emdr has been mainly used and researched with veterans and ptsd, however it has been used with other populations experiencing different types of trauma.   Trauma has been defined as any situation that caused negative feelings.  I felt intense emotion at different times, however with us being trained before we started , my acting therapist was able to help me through them properly. That is very important because not being able to process feelings properly can lead to deeper emotions and actions.  Safe place is made to help cushion, but to have a therapist guide to the safe place feeling and through the steps is important in case we "fall off the tracks" and cant pull up that cushion.

To find a EMDR trained therapist near you, checkout the emdria website

http://www.emdria.org/search/custom.asp?id=2337

Firepit ramblings

Fall is almost here!  the warmth has turned to chilliness.  I have a fireplace in my apartment, so tonight i threw in some logs and some junk mail and roasted marshmellows!  now im curled in my fuzzy soft plink blanket and writing to yall :)  nothing like a warm toasty room and soft blanket to welcome in the chill.  Its great to reboot the senses once in a while.  light some candles, soft fuzzy blanket or fuzzy warm socks. throw a blanket in the dryer for about 20 minutes and curl up with a good book.  warm cup of tea or chicken broth. mmmm the things we can do for self care!  Totally important in todays busy lives.   My nephew whos 12 mind you, just started 7th grade, says "hes too busy to check his email".  if hes too busy now, wait till hes in his 20s working and paying bills!  needless to say, its good to take time to yourself and reboot.

im super excited to share!  Not only do i have my new website sharing general art therapy services:
www.samanthahanson.weebly.com

and my facebook page:
www.facebook.com/shanson.atpy

i have a new pinterest page!!!!!!!
https://www.pinterest.com/shansonatpy/

The clinic and i have been busy doing vendor events on weekends inluding the Autism Speaks walk in Green bay,  the NAMI walk also in greenbay, and i shared our booth at a small breastcancer fundraiser in appleton!   We have more vendor events coming soon and we are working on mailing out info packets for our clinic to local businesses, so if you are within driving distance of Greenbay and want our packet, let me know! our clinic offers EMDR (which im getting trained on later this week), Brain Spotting, Art Therapy, Pet Therapy and more :)

www.spectrumbh.com For more information on our therapists and the clinic. ( the contact us button on my personal website will also take you to the clinic website)

This is so exciting to be taking this journey! im loving it up here in greenbay and the clinic is wonderful, family based entrepeneurs looking to make a difference.

birds are singing and the sun is out

My apartment is more or less together :) and im now accepting clients!

www.samanthahanson.weebly.com - for an idea about what Art Therapy is and services offered

my new supply cabinet unfortunatly came dented, so once the new one comes ill take pics of my office and give you a tour!  I have officially started seeing clients, its nervewracking and exciting at the same time!!! i know with time the nerves will go and the excitement of helping others will only grow.  in between clients i get to go through my stack of art therapy / counseling directives and figure out potential treatment plans to share with clients. I will most likely use a mix of dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive approache ( which technically they are a part of eachother, but some clinicians keep them seperate - depends on where they went for formal training ).  however in the end after i share my ideas with the clients we will work together to compromise and change according to the clients wishes and goals.  i offer a sketchbook to clients for homework use in between appointments.  the client is then able to record issues and feelings brought up throughout the week and help become aware of of them so that we have a better idea of what to work on.  being a sketchbook the client is able to write, or collage, or draw / doodle.   a private space that they can share with me or keep to themselves but a tool to seperate and confront thoughts on.    The narrative approach is better for some clients as its a retelling of their story, and changing the next chapter.  its more in depth and focused on the past then the present, but as the story is retold comes into the present and considers the future.  

Food for thought :

what do you do to relax ? what do you think art therapy is?  what is your favorite season?

Check out my new website!

Thanks to #weebly I now have a general art therapy services business website!  Tells a little about me, what art therapy is and the services offered - brief synopsis of what we can work with.  A contact us page is available and tales you to our clinic website for scheduling.

Http://samanthahanson.weebly.com 

New adventures

I'm slowly getting settled into my new apartment!  And thanks to my "psychology today" profile, I have received two client requests! I'm so thankful that I've been able to get the schooling and experiences I've been given so that I can help people who are in need.  I have worked in medical settings with art as healing, behavioral health residential and inpatient settings as a support staff- counselor, and an art therapist in open studio format /outpatient basis (come and go as you please) through a hospital as well.  I'm looking forward to joining my new clinic. I officially start next week as we are currently going through all the insurance paperwork so I can expand my system of who I can see.  I am hoping to be able to start an open studio for the community by fall if not group sessions by then with interested clients.  

Please feel free to follow my Facebook page which I offer articles on mental health /art therapy and other creative ways that people incorporate music, art, drama and dance together for healing . 

https://www.facebook.com/shanson.ATPY/

My thoughts are with Orlando, please donate blood if you are able to.  I would however I don't know if I can because of my medical history. 

over the river and through the woods

this last few weeks have been flying by!  i have been working almost every day since the road trip, and the few days i didnt i spent packing!  so many boxes of text books and art supplies. whew.  this next week is the official move to my new apartment!  the pool is open :)

 im nervous becuase as a new professional, im new. however i am confident that i will know what im doing when the time comes.  my last official day at open studio was sad and exciting. ive been there about 3 years so i've gotten to know many of the clients and seen many interns go through the program.  i would like to stay where i am, however the problems with scheduling errors has become to stressful, in an already high stress work environment, so i am ready for a change.  while  i am nervous, i am excited to finally be an official art therapist / counselor! I went through many interviews being told "you are too new of a professional" and to finally be told " you are new, and that is ok, you can grow with us" from a small yet growing outpatient counseling facility is wonderful! working inpatient and residential has been a learning experience. I am looking forward to working outpatient and hopefully starting an open studio in that location as well :)  i love helping people, offering a tool or support to help them help themselves, and seeing them grow!  Changing their story, helping them move forward the way others have helped me in the past.  I went through counseling during stressful times in undergrad, and again after treatment for my cancer. and again during the stress of gradschool.  time to pay it forward and help others going through a rough and difficult time :)

summer fun

OMG all. this last week i was on an amazing road trip with my dad!  we drove to vegas, however we stopped at Grand Canyon, Hoover dam , Zion , Bryce and Arches national parks!!!!!! it was amazing and beautiful. I posted a bunch of photos and videos on my facebook page and one of these days ill post some highlights on here :)  We spent a few hours hiking through Arches National Parks, so glad that i had my hiking sticks from last summer. ( when i was with First Descents and we hiked up Grand Tetons National Park to view the waterfall on our day off of kayaking) .  I told my group we need a kayaking reunion somewhere along the colorado river. amazing parts of the river which would be perfect for beginner / intermediate kayakers!!

I am now working my butt off on my current job as i will be transitioning the next two months into my new Art Therapy / Counselor position!  In between the many hours i have picked up as a residential counselor i will be packing to move to #GreenBay area. My new Team is The "Spectrum Behavioral Health" Center on the West side of town. I am very excited to share Art Therapy with those who are in need.  For those not interested in Art Therapy i will also provide traditional counseling. Each treatment is individualized with the client :)

I will be moving my Marykay up north so if you know anyone wanting to try skincare / play with the makeup please send along my website! www.marykay.com/shanson  ;know anyone interested in my "jewelry in candles " - (soy , usa made, essential oil fragrance - https://www.jewelryincandles.com/store/shanson_candles