We know that trauma is often trapped in the body which is why sometimes "talk therapy" is not enough to get some people unstuck. That is when EMDR can be very useful. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from traumatic experiences. Many clients can find relief on average in 3-20 sessions. In simple terms, a psychotherapist trained in EMDR moves his or her fingers in a back and forth motion as the client follows the movement with his or her eyes. This is called bilateral stimulation. It is not hypnosis. The client is fully conscious throughout the process. Although not fully understood, it is believed that the eye movements mimic the state of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) that helps a person process the day's events while they are sleeping. During an EMDR session, the psychotherapist processes the client's distressing emotions and negative thoughts associated with the trauma, along with decreasing their physiological arousal upon conjuring up the image of the traumatic event. 

Attachment-Focused EMDR, developed by Dr. Laurel Parnell, is a modified EMDR protocol that is especially helpful for complex trauma, otherwise known as ongoing childhood trauma. It forms new neural networks in the brain which can reduce feels of low grade depression and emptiness often associated with childhood neglect. Dr. Rojas is one of a few EMDR therapist trained in this high level EMDR therapy.

One form of therapy is called Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). It is a form of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy that was developed in the late 80's by Dr. Marsha Linehan, a psychology researcher at the University of Washington. Interestingly, although DBT was originally developed for men and women who struggle with borderline personality disorder, research has demonstrated that DBT is also effective in treating anxiety, depression, anger, eating disorders, and substance abuse. DBT consists of four modules that are learned and implemented into daily life. They are 1) Mindfulness Skills (learning how to live in the present moment), 2) Emotion Regulation Skills, 3) Distress Tolerance Skills, and 4) Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills. Via DBT skills, clients are often able to self-regulate more successfully and stabilize enough to work through their problems.

Dr. Rojas uses the above trauma therapies depending on client’s needs and particular type of trauma.