For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call 323 422 2036
THERAPY IS A TEAM SPORT
What you bring to me and what I bring to you
What you bring to me and what I bring to you
Two Therapy Avenues:
Post Modern Approach or Trauma Informed Approach
(see below)
NUTS AND BOLTS
Examples of how you and I dislocate the 'Problem-Saturated' Story when you feel depression
--Post Modern Approach--
Families frequently 'construct' and live within self-defeating and failure-centered narratives, called Problem Saturated Stories. Change can be accomplished by gaining access to the multi-version story, or by allowing space for differing perspectives. As individuals, when we challenge an embedded and undisputed family story with our personal perspective, it allows us to 're-author' the experience with elements that were not considered by others, but that held meaning to us, personally. This 're-authoring,' allows us to affirm and empower ourselves and to genuinely be heard and understood.
Externalizing the Problem: Naming it
This helps you view the problem or symptom as occurring outside of yourself.
Example: “I’m depressed” to “I have depression."
When we change the position of a problem (such as altering the way we talk about depression) and we don't embody the words; problems become more manageable. Everything is easier to look at with a little distance, and this is what our therapy conversations create; some space between you and the problem so that you can get a better look at it.
WHERE ARE YOU STARTING FROM?
Mapping the Influence:
Building a 'single' story into a layered, multi-level account
Example: "I've feel as though I've always had depression"
How long would you say depression has been present in your life?
How long have you been struggling with depression?
Together, you and I find exceptions to this problem saturated story that tends to be generated from a 'single' idea, such as, "I'm depressed." Without further inspection, this example of depression is erroneously determined to be coming from a single source, such as you, the one who is experiencing the depression.
With depression, you and I are invited to explore how people, places, and situations might likely be contributing to that depression. The depression is something that you are experiencing and that is currently preventing certain choices from becoming fortified. The thing is, depression is not who you are.
The Person Is Not The Problem, The Problem Is The Problem
Mapping the Effects:
Building a 'single' story into a layered, multi-level account
Can you think of a time when your relationship with depression felt better?
Was there a situation where you felt that you couldn't do it, but you did?
By mapping, you and I locate unique outcomes and sparkling moments that appeared when you showed up for yourself differently and the depression subsided. This is what strength-based therapy looks for as opposed to looking for the problems that you are already experiencing. Our work together serves to assist you with a better understanding of your own insights, hopes, strengths and resiliencies. You are everything you need.
With unique outcomes, we might wonder: What you did at those times to keep depression at bay?
Or, with sparkling moments, we explore when you were able to function in spite of the depression.
Here's a question: What was happening, or not happening that allowed you to do that?
-Telling And Re-Telling-
Definitional Ceremonies: Decentered Sharing
Comprehensive understanding of a person requires what narrative therapy calls 'thick' descriptions. These come about through the telling of the story by the client -from their experience and own perspective- and then the re-telling of what the client related by the 'reflecting team' or by the therapist. With each pass, it thickens the story, thereby, challenging the single version or 'thin' story.
This is also called decentered sharing.
This technique when used, employs outside witness groups and helps to reinforce alternative narratives and affirm meanings.
Letters
Letter that are written by you, the client, include: Letters of Invitation for family members to attend sessions; Redundancy or Duplicate letters note when the roles of family members become duplicated, such as a sister behaving as a mother; Discharge letters relay to the person playing the duplicate role that they’re released from “duty;” Letters of prediction forecast continued success and new possibilities.
Supportive Leagues:
This technique changes the client to the consultant-
Based on the idea that people who have experienced similar problems have the experience and knowledge to help one another, this technique is used with the 'consultants' sharing their experiences, and then building upon each other’s skills to overcome the problem.
Goldberg and Goldberg (2008) write that “people who have experienced certain problems, such as anorexia and bulimia have the experience and knowledge about the problem to help one another by sharing experiences with others” (p. 379).
Externalizing the Problem: Naming it
This helps you view the problem or symptom as occurring outside of yourself.
Example: “I’m depressed” to “I have depression."
When we change the position of a problem (such as altering the way we talk about depression) and we don't embody the words; problems become more manageable. Everything is easier to look at with a little distance, and this is what our therapy conversations create; some space between you and the problem so that you can get a better look at it.
WHERE ARE YOU STARTING FROM?
Mapping the Influence:
Building a 'single' story into a layered, multi-level account
Example: "I've feel as though I've always had depression"
How long would you say depression has been present in your life?
How long have you been struggling with depression?
Together, you and I find exceptions to this problem saturated story that tends to be generated from a 'single' idea, such as, "I'm depressed." Without further inspection, this example of depression is erroneously determined to be coming from a single source, such as you, the one who is experiencing the depression.
With depression, you and I are invited to explore how people, places, and situations might likely be contributing to that depression. The depression is something that you are experiencing and that is currently preventing certain choices from becoming fortified. The thing is, depression is not who you are.
The Person Is Not The Problem, The Problem Is The Problem
Mapping the Effects:
Building a 'single' story into a layered, multi-level account
Can you think of a time when your relationship with depression felt better?
Was there a situation where you felt that you couldn't do it, but you did?
By mapping, you and I locate unique outcomes and sparkling moments that appeared when you showed up for yourself differently and the depression subsided. This is what strength-based therapy looks for as opposed to looking for the problems that you are already experiencing. Our work together serves to assist you with a better understanding of your own insights, hopes, strengths and resiliencies. You are everything you need.
With unique outcomes, we might wonder: What you did at those times to keep depression at bay?
Or, with sparkling moments, we explore when you were able to function in spite of the depression.
Here's a question: What was happening, or not happening that allowed you to do that?
-Telling And Re-Telling-
Definitional Ceremonies: Decentered Sharing
Comprehensive understanding of a person requires what narrative therapy calls 'thick' descriptions. These come about through the telling of the story by the client -from their experience and own perspective- and then the re-telling of what the client related by the 'reflecting team' or by the therapist. With each pass, it thickens the story, thereby, challenging the single version or 'thin' story.
This is also called decentered sharing.
This technique when used, employs outside witness groups and helps to reinforce alternative narratives and affirm meanings.
Letters
Letter that are written by you, the client, include: Letters of Invitation for family members to attend sessions; Redundancy or Duplicate letters note when the roles of family members become duplicated, such as a sister behaving as a mother; Discharge letters relay to the person playing the duplicate role that they’re released from “duty;” Letters of prediction forecast continued success and new possibilities.
Supportive Leagues:
This technique changes the client to the consultant-
Based on the idea that people who have experienced similar problems have the experience and knowledge to help one another, this technique is used with the 'consultants' sharing their experiences, and then building upon each other’s skills to overcome the problem.
Goldberg and Goldberg (2008) write that “people who have experienced certain problems, such as anorexia and bulimia have the experience and knowledge about the problem to help one another by sharing experiences with others” (p. 379).
TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH
We’ve all said, “A part of me thinks ‘this,’ while another part of me feels the complete opposite.”
-
So here’s a question for you:
Do any of these features sound familiar?
Numbing, avoiding, pushing through, minimizing, shaming, ruminating/perseverating thoughts, faulty beliefs, emotional suffering.
Yes? Read on.
‘Giving yourself permission’ is about Comfort. ‘Asking yourself for permission’ is about Discomfort.
But do we ever ask ourselves if we are truly okay doing or not doing something? Do we really ever ask for permission from the Part that is passive, withdrawn, apprehensive, or reticent? If you ask and your answer comes back as a somatic activation, or you feel a weakened or fervent "I can’t/don’t want to engage,” then do you have compassion for those types of feeling responses? That is, will you accept the tiny voice, without actually forcing that Part into engagement or action or shame?
Asking is a game changer
♟️
You’ll be surprised how you begin to
feel, think, and behave once you shift from
‘pushing through’ or pushing back on yourself--
to practicing
the permission process.
It all begins with a simple question first:
Is this activated Part okay to even talk about ‘___’ when other Parts are aggravated or exhausted?
Welcome to Trip
-kj
Trauma Regulation and Integration Process (TRIP)
TRIP was created and developed by Dutch psychotherapist Monique Hoving-Smeets who currently practices in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. She deepened and synthesized her vast trauma knowledge by focusing on clients with complex trauma. Hoving-Smeets posited that by engaging past and current experiences of Parts along with their related feelings and activations in the body, that the client would generate clearer connections between five distinctive areas to generate better self-understanding. TRIP invokes Parts work, eye-brain techniques, emotion focused work, attachment theory, and somatic strategies.
Trauma Regulation and Integration Process
is the amalgam of multiple theories and practices:
(1) One Eye Integration/Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI)
(2) Parts Therapy: Structural Dissociation and Internal Family Systems
(3) Somatic Therapies
(4) Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
(5) Developmental Attachment theory, specifically, Dr. G. Neufeld
is the amalgam of multiple theories and practices:
(1) One Eye Integration/Observed and Experiential Integration (OEI)
(2) Parts Therapy: Structural Dissociation and Internal Family Systems
(3) Somatic Therapies
(4) Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
(5) Developmental Attachment theory, specifically, Dr. G. Neufeld
Bi-lateral Processing
In this modality, trauma experiences are processed one eye at a time (bilaterally), utilizing the application of three specific core processes: Projection, Permission and Compassion.
In this modality, trauma experiences are processed one eye at a time (bilaterally), utilizing the application of three specific core processes: Projection, Permission and Compassion.
3 TRIP Processes:
(1) Projection is how we see and experience others as (un)safe or (un)trustworthy. Attachment security is adjusted via proximity.
(2) Permission is asked of Parts to evaluate their willingness to move forward on a chosen experience.
(3) Compassion facilitates a healthy internal attachment between the Parts and focuses on integrating the trauma experience.
Note:
The word compassion is a combination of passion and the Latinate prefix-com meaning “with”; literally, the word means “suffering with.” Its use in this modality helps illustrate how a Part is moved by the suffering or distress of another Part. With compassion, Parts experience other Parts, assisting with pain or injury and bearing it with them. This is the luminosity of attunement.
(1) Projection is how we see and experience others as (un)safe or (un)trustworthy. Attachment security is adjusted via proximity.
(2) Permission is asked of Parts to evaluate their willingness to move forward on a chosen experience.
(3) Compassion facilitates a healthy internal attachment between the Parts and focuses on integrating the trauma experience.
Note:
The word compassion is a combination of passion and the Latinate prefix-com meaning “with”; literally, the word means “suffering with.” Its use in this modality helps illustrate how a Part is moved by the suffering or distress of another Part. With compassion, Parts experience other Parts, assisting with pain or injury and bearing it with them. This is the luminosity of attunement.
The exact nature of TRIP works in real-time for both the client and the therapist, so managing the window of tolerance for a client is collaborative but always determined by the client. This illustrates the importance of the projection process, as it is the client who reports their needs via each Part, and that is extremely useful information, in itself.
This modality is not interested in “exposing” people to their fears or concerns, nor is it interested in forcing people to "confront" those fears or concerns. It is a real-time method that draws from the person as a whole, and leads to the reduction and elimination of many presenting trauma symptoms at somatic, emotional, cognitive, and relational levels.
Through utilization of varying integrative titrations between the "coping eye" and the "trauma eye," the client is able to harness, process, and work to integrate succinct meanings and felt experiences in a holistically more synthesized working system (see switching below). The bilateral eye application works as an efficient contiguous method, by drawing data up from the felt experiences and then honing in on cognitive, emotional, somatic and relational information. The results are rife with fresh meaning, clearer understanding, and updated contextualization. This work summons and activates post traumatic growth.
When language alone feels too limiting, we can utilize this approach to unlock problematic or sticky areas that are both historic and current
.......
Parts Work
Eye Brain Techniques
Emotion Focus
Attachment Theory
Somatic Strategies
.......
Parts Work
Eye Brain Techniques
Emotion Focus
Attachment Theory
Somatic Strategies
.......
Monique Hoving-Smeets on 'Switching'
"Trauma research shows us that memories are not only kept in our brain, they continue to reside in our body and often present themselves in the form of physical and psychological complaints combined. In addition we know that the brain “splits” into parts upon engaging in dissociation (at different levels) in order to survive. This becomes very obvious when we engage in the eye-brain technique called “Switching”. This original OEI technique has been adjusted, and separated into three separate techniques in the T.R.I.P process for enhanced regulation and integration purposes."
"T.R.I.P delineates 1) Regular Switching, 2) Quick Flash, 3) Slow Switch, each of these techniques have been designed and intentionally connected to several therapeutic elements that allow for the three processes to take place.
With one eye open only, it becomes obvious that our brain and body respond differently as they are wired to different experiences of the past or the here and now. This switching technique helps demonstrate fairly quickly that our brain, eyes and body hold very different (at times conflicting) views, feelings, cognitions, perceptions as well as physical responses"
--
This Treatment is excellent for Developmental Trauma
as well as
Attachment and relationship ruptures and Distress
Complex Trauma, PTSD
Anxiety, Depression, Somatic Symptoms
Traumatic Grief and Loss
Some Benefits of TRIP
Please Note: Having access to explicit memory of a traumatic experience is not
required
We apply consistent regulation during the process, so as to stay within the
'window of tolerance.'
A compassionate relationship with self develops and improves, in addition, to improved attachment dynamics with others
TALK THERAPY
Eye Positions tap specific parts in the Brain that activate
(1) Construction of ideas
(2) Recall of Visual, Auditory, or Kinesthetic experiences
(1) Construction of ideas
(2) Recall of Visual, Auditory, or Kinesthetic experiences
Study on Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
Where we look helps us with clarity and meaning-making. So paying attention to the position of your eyes can help if you're problem solving. First, summon up the experience looking (forward then somewhere to the left) in order to remember. And then look (forward and somewhere to the right for solutions).
Looking up and left:
Visual Recall: These eye movements indicate the person is remembering something they’ve seen and are picturing it in their mind.
Looking up and right:
Visual constructed image: According to NLP eye movement theory this indicates that the person is imagining something they’ve never seen before and is creating a picture of it in their mind.
Staring ahead with eyes appearing unfocused and unmoving can also be a sign that your brain is accessing the visual parts of the brain. In other words, you are literally day dreaming and imagining some kind of picture or movie in your mind, even if you’re not consciously aware of the images you are seeing.
Looking to the left:
Auditory recall: Eye locations going to the left indicate the person is remembering a sound they’ve heard and are hearing it in their mind.
Looking to the right:
Auditory constructed sound: The meaning of eye movements to the right is that the person is imagining something they’ve never heard before, creating and hearing that sound in their mind.
Looking down and left:
Internal dialogue: If you track a person’s eyes to the lower left side, it is likely they are talking to themselves because this is where your eyes look when have an internal dialogue.
Looking down and right:
Kinesthetic: Eye movements to the lower right indicate the person is imagining what something feels like when they touch it, smell it or taste it, or what a feeling is like in their body. When the eye direction turns here it could also indicate the person is in touch with a certain emotion and what it feels like in their body.
I utilize therapy as a client, myself. My own weekly application in personal therapy is valuable in the same way that writers are understood to be habituated readers. It’s walking the talk… practicing what one preaches… putting words into action. Self-examination by means of honest and genuine disclosure (as a client myself) serves to inform my practice of being an engaged therapist. It helps me to more fully understand the importance of relational dynamics — and is similar to how I feel in nature when immersed in exploration. It’s respectively, finding and being found.
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My TRIP training blends Core Foundations and Advanced Training of Somatic Symptoms, Parts & Eye Movements with over 180 hours of education, practicum, and consultation.
My TRIP training blends Core Foundations and Advanced Training of Somatic Symptoms, Parts & Eye Movements with over 180 hours of education, practicum, and consultation.