Why we do what we do

If you've worked with therapists or been looking for a therapist for awhile, you may know that there are many different types and styles of therapy. Some of the more popular styles in Seattle right now are DBT (or Dialectical Behavior Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and of course Mindfulness Based therapy.

You may have come across this term as well - Evidence Based. What does that mean? Basically, it means that there has been research that demonstrates that a style of therapy is effective. The most notable research finding is that when we look at the metadata, the most important indicator of whether therapy is going to be effective or not is the relationship between therapist and client. 

So if that is true, why do we all learn specific types of therapy? Why did we all pick EMDR instead of some other kinds of therapy?

The reality is that we have all been trained in a few different kinds of therapy. Just like our clients have a multitude of different perspectives on the world, as therapists we have different experiences, world views and perspectives. We get trained in types of therapy that either fit with or expand our understanding of human experience and what helps to heal it. Sometimes we get trained in a style of therapy because we've seen how it has helped someone else, or because someone we trust and respect has recommended it. And sometimes it is because we've benefitted from it ourselves.

The healing and transformation we've seen from EMDR has encouraged us to focus our practice here. Whether it is some long ago trauma that is wreaking havoc on a client's current relationship, or a recent break up that is leaving someone feeling a little shaky when they are scrolling through Tinder, or even just a feeling that something is off and that life is hard, we've seen EMDR help. It is really exciting for us to see transformation in our clients and their lives. 

If you're thinking about contacting us, we hope you do! We'd love to help.