Bloom Psychology & Yoga Therapy
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If the answer to your question is not below, please contact us here.
I use EMDR in an intensive format (i.e., sessions conducted over a 1–2 week period) as it has become clear to me over my 20 years of experience that the traditional model of therapy is not for everyone. It can be hard to prioritise therapy over the weeks (and months) it often requires.
The intensive approach to therapy essentially condenses the treatment period, enhancing focus on core issues, which may accelerate results.
The intensive format also enables me to provide the best service possible. Because I see only a small number of clients each week, I can be more attuned to each individual.
I am a full member of the APS (Australian Psychological Society) and EMDRAA (The EMDR Association of Australia). As well as EMDR, I draw from a number of other therapeutic approaches for which I have undertaken advanced training. These include CBT, ACT, Ego-state Interventions, neuro-psychological frameworks, Mindfulness-based interventions, Motivational Interviewing, Gottman Therapy.
I offer EMDR intensives in person and via Zoom, so you don’t have to be living close to benefit from this therapy.
We only work with individuals 18 and over.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (in the form of eye movements, sounds or body tapping) to activate the brain’s natural healing capacity. Adverse experiences tend to impact on our wellbeing and psychological health because of what we believe that event says about us or the world we live in. EMDR enables us to process these past events and arrive at more adaptive conclusions about what those events actually mean about us.
Research in neuroplasticity demonstrates that our brain has the ability to change, create new neural pathways, and produce new neurons. Because the brain has this ability to change, we have the ability to change our way of thinking and improve our mood.
EMDR utilizes our brains’ neuroplasticity to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, which allows the brain to compensate for injury and adjust to new situations.
For more information on the benefits of EMDR, please click here.
- Twenty-four randomized controlled trials support the positive effects of EMDR therapy in the treatment of emotional trauma and other adverse life experiences relevant to clinical practice.
- Seven of 10 studies reported EMDR therapy to be more rapid and/or more effective than trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy.
- Twelve randomized studies of the eye movement component noted rapid decreases in negative emotions and/or vividness of disturbing images, with an additional 8 reporting various other memory effects.
- Numerous other evaluations document that EMDR therapy provides relief from a variety of somatic complaints.
EMDR research
More on the extensive body of research that supports the effectiveness and efficiency of EMDR can be found here.
Think about this – you go and see your therapist. You are the 6th and final 50-min consult that day. Your therapist has seen 20-35 clients before you this week. That means she has kept up with 20-35 other life stories this week, all with their own highly detailed twists and turns, all while assessing for their symptoms, treatment and personal safety and make decisions about the next step in their therapeutic plan. How might this impact on your therapists’ capacity to show up for you with a clear mind and total presence?
Now imagine this – You are one of only 2 or 3 people she will be seeing this week. 2-3 life stories to follow. Beyond this she doesn’t have to hold (or respond to) anyone else’s therapeutic needs. How might this way of conducting therapy improve how well she can show up and treat you.
Which feels better?
Research shows that EMDR intensives allow you to progress through symptoms in a more succinct and focused way without the inefficiencies of a 50-minute session. Bloom EMDR Intensive Therapy may decrease treatment time because:
- As sessions are close together, much less time is needed to have a general “catch up” on life events that have occurred in between sessions. As there is less need to address any crises & challenges that have arisen between sessions, we can remain focused on trauma treatment and addressing treatment goals.
- As sessions are close together, much less time is needed to prepare you for managing life in between sessions
- You don’t have to regularly organise appointments across the year (or cancel/ reschedule due to life events). Intensives are very short and can therefore be easier to build into your schedule. Traditional 50 min sessions can go on for months, even years.
- The preparation is done in Stage 1 of treatment . Therefore a lot of this is done in your own time at your convenience and saves time in Stage 2 of treatment
Although I feel very enthusiastic about the benefits of EMDR intensive therapy, I also recognise that it is not for everyone. EMDR may not be a good fit for you if:
- You are currently taking Benzodiazapines.
- You are in a state of active substance addiction (and cannot refrain from using substances on the days of your Intensive treatment).
- You suffer from a neurological disorder or illness. For example, if you have a history or seizures you may need clearance from your neurologist before the commencement of treatment.
- You wish to address an event that is the current focus of a police investigation or court proceedings. As EMDR may alter the way you store and retrieve specific memories, it is recommended that you seek this form of treatment once any pending legal proceedings have concluded.
- You are currently experiencing family violence or living in circumstances that are unsafe
- You are seeking therapy for support more than change and you are wanting to establish a long -term therapeutic relationship.
- In person at our rooms at 7 Marlin Rd, Port Willunga, South Australia or
- Online via Zoom in conjunction with a unique interactive software that enables a far more effective online EMDR experience.
Therapy can be sourced in 2 ways:
- Personalized treatment programs for individuals (see list of Intensive programs including retreats on our website).
- Adjunct EMDR intensive therapy in collaboration with your primary therapist.
With a valid Mental Health Care plan from your GP, Medicare rebates are available which can reduce the total cost of therapy. You may also be eligible for Health Insurance rebates. Please check with your Health insurer for details as rebate levels vary between insurers.
Important Note: Only one can be used to claim per appointment i.e. you cant claim a Medicare rebate and Health Insurance rebate on the same appointment. You also cant claim the gap between the fee and Medicare rebate from your Health Insurer. Please check your specific circumstances with your Insurer and Medicare if you have any queries.
Firstly, please thoroughly read these FAQs and especially refer to our Services & Fees page for a detailed explanation of our fees and the time commitment required by you to participate in an EMDR intensive. This information and the FAQs may help you decide if this therapy is for you.
If you need more clarity, then the next step is to call us on 0459 631 897. Nicholas, the Practice Administrator, is available to respond to any questions you may have.
From that discussion, if it looks like we are a fit, Nicholas will send you a brief questionnaire (at no charge or obligation) that helps me screen for certain conditions which, if present, could limit the effectiveness of EMDR.
If, after completing the questionnaire the result indicates you are suited, Nicholas will assist you in scheduling your EMDR intensive sessions.
If after speaking to Nicholas and completing your questionnaire you still have questions or concerns, I am available for a free 15-min phone consultation.
Please refer to the Services & Fees page for a complete list of EMDR Intensive Treatment Packages available and our fees.
Once the initial screening outlined above is finalised, a deposit of 20% of your total fee is payable upfront at the time of scheduling your appointments in order to secure appointment times. This fee is not refundable and pays for the 4 week Stage 1 (preparation phase) of your program and also secures your EMDR Intensive session times.
Full payment of the balance of your treatment program is required no later than 1 week before the commencement of the first Stage 2 intensive session. Stage 2 of treatment can only commence after full payment is received. One-off follow up sessions (if required) are payable the day before the session.
All payments can be made only via funds transfer.
Payment plans are available but also must be finalised 1 week before the commencement of Stage 2 (2hr EMDR Intensive sessions). Any unused component of your fee is fully refundable (ie in the unusual event that I find that you don’t require the full allocation of intensive sessions).
While the upfront cost is much more that what is typically experienced when seeing a psychologist, it is important to note that:
- there may be fewer appointments required than under the traditional therapy model therefore the total long-term cost may be less.
- additional resources are provided that are not included in the traditional model (including important Psycho-educational audios, video recordings and other practices) to support your wellbeing.
- The Standard Treatment program is the equivalent of approximately 11 x 50 minute sessions, or approximately 5 months of therapy (based on fortnightly attendance).
- The Extended Treatment Program is the equivalent of 18 x 50 min sessions or approximately 8 months of therapy (based on fortnightly attendance).
- These comparisons are conservative. In reality it’s usually longer than this due to occasional client need to reschedule, illness or finding suitable therapist appointment times.
Payment plans are available to enable you to pay in instalments prior to commencement of your treatment program. Medicare rebates apply and so a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP will help reduce the total outlay. You may also be able to claim some of your treatment program from your Health Insurer (please check with your Insurer).
- It helps me to assess and prepare ahead of seeing you for your EMDR Intensive Treatment. Minimal time is therefore needed for assessment during the EMDR Intensive treatment. As such, maximum time in your EMDR Intensive Treatment can be spent progressing through the other phases of EMDR.
- It helps you to learn and digest key psychological and neurobiological information and directs you to gather helpful information about yourself that we will draw upon during your EMDR Intensive Treatment.
- As these resources are yours to access for 6 months, you can complete these tasks at your leisure and refer back to them as required.
EMDR is a therapy that helps the brain process information more adaptively, enabling it to integrate difficult experiences and resolve negative emotions and body sensations. People typically seek EMDR treatment to heal from past traumas, change negative patterns of thinking and behaviour, reduce triggers in relationships, and change no longer helpful survival mechanisms learned in childhood. It can be a powerful tool to help individuals let go of unhelpful beliefs and live more fulfilling lives.
Stage 1
The aim during Stage One of Bloom EMDR Intensive Therapy is to do as much groundwork as possible, thereby enabling maximum focus to be applied to a critical issue during Stage 2 – the intensive stage of treatment. After you complete the initial assessment, I will start to plan treatment for you. We will explore treatment goals and identify potential EMDR targets (areas of trauma) to focus on. We will also commence the resourcing process.
Resourcing is an essential part of the EMDR process and involves developing personalised tools and techniques that can assist in maintaining emotional stability, promoting a sense of safety, and enhancing the ability to stay present when processing past events. These techniques will be taught via the recordings available in the Preparation Pack and during our initial 60 min consultation. These resources will help you to regulate you nervous system during and after therapy.
Stage 2
During Stage two of treatment,
- We will work through the remaining phases of EMDR.
- We will apply maximum focus on one or two key issues during the intensive sessions, with a view to processing related experiences.
- During reprocessing, people often make new connections and gain new insights about past experiences.
- People will sometimes recall experiences that they had previously forgotten.
When we work with disturbing memories, you may re-experience physical sensations, emotions, images, or sounds from the original experience. These can sometimes be vivid. However, with reprocessing, these tend to fade until they are no longer disturbing. After reprocessing is complete, the story of what happened remains without the associated body discomfort or emotional distress.
What happens after the Stage 2 Intensive sessions?
It is common for reprocessing to continue after the session is over, meaning that these new insights and recollections may continue in the hours that follow the session. This is a good sign that the brain is continuing to heal itself, however it can cause distress. To help you cope with this, you can practice the resourcing strategies learned in Stage One of treatment. You will also have access to recordings of gentle yoga practices to assist you to stabilize and to support your sleep following each EMDR session.
This session gives an opportunity to review the impact of your EMDR Intensive Treatment after some time has passed. This enables a greater opportunity for you to observe the positive benefits across aspects of your life that are attributable to the EMDR Intensive Treatment.
During this session we will also discuss services, activities, practices and lifestyle factors that can support you to integrate these benefits further.
It is not designed to solve all problems. However, it is a focused and efficient alternative to the traditional model of therapy. It supports maximum attention to be applied to one or two key issues so that they can be addressed in a comprehensive way. How much progress is made depends on many individual factors and not possible to pre-determine. It may also be beneficial depending on the outcome of your Intensive program to have an additional one-off 2 hour intensive session, complete another intensive program in the future, or connect with other forms of therapy.
It may help to think of EMDR Intensive Therapy as being like a root canal surgery as compared to general dentistry. We are going to focus on one or two teeth that are creating pain and work in a focused way with a view to addressing the issue at its root. Other teeth may still need some attention at a later time should they also be a source of pain .