Do you ever feel haunted by past experiences, no matter how much time has passed? Stress Talk is not your typical psychology practice; it's a safe shelter for expats seeking relief from stress rooted in past traumas through the power of EMDR therapy.
Learn more about how Stress Talk can help you
Meet Theodora, a health psychologist specialising in EMDR therapy. Her mission at Stress Talk is to guide individuals through the intricate journey of understanding and addressing their deep-seated traumas.
With a focus on abuse survivors and those suffering from excessive stress and anxiety, Theodora aims to educate people on mental health and empower them to address their past.
Ever wonder why past traumas continue to cast a shadow on your present? EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing - is an evidence-based therapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s. According to the American Psychiatric Association, EMDR is "a structured psychotherapy that primarily focusses on treating individuals who have experienced distressing, traumatic events."
The main idea behind EMDR is that when an individual experiences a traumatic event, the memory of this event "gets stuck" in brain areas, causing emotional and psychological difficulties. Through unique techniques, EMDR helps you access the core memories of your trauma and find healthier ways to cope.
EMDR was initially tested on war veterans suffering from PTSD, a disorder occurring from the highly stressful conditions experienced during warfare. At the moment, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed EMDR in the proposed types of treatment not only for PTSD, but for trauma and excessive stress in general. Consequently, EMDR is now applied in clinical practice for a variety of mental health issues: from phobias and anxiety disorders to depression, addiction, panic attacks and chronic pain.
However, it is important to note that you don't need a diagnosis to start EMDR. You can benefit from EMDR whether it's a single incident affecting your mental health or a persistent memory disrupting your daily life. Whether it's a car accident haunting your every drive or a traumatic surgery lingering in your thoughts, Theodora is willing to help you unburden yourself from the effect of these stressful memories using the power of EMDR.
Whether it's a car accident haunting your every drive or a traumatic surgery lingering in your thoughts, Theodora from Stress Talk is willing to help you unburden yourself from the effect of these stressful memories using the power of EMDR through guided sessions.
The initial sessions are used to understand your background and history in an attempt to lay down the main goals and create a personalised roadmap to your well-being. Together with your therapist, you come up with a treatment plan that aligns with your own needs and goals.
The following sessions include traditional "talk therapy" and relaxation techniques to help you manage negative emotions stemming from triggering experiences. This will build a solid foundation for what's to come in the next stages of EMDR: with bilateral eye movements, you are guided to access the core of the traumatic memory, process it and connect it with the tools you need to heal from it.
An important takeaway is that EMDR is not a quick fix. Each phase of EMDR peels back layers and it is therefore paramount that the process is not rushed. It is about your individual needs and goals, as well as the complexity and amount of the traumatic memories that burden you.
That is why it is important to go with a therapist like Theodora from Stress Talk who is trained in EMDR and trauma-informed therapy.
Reach out to Theodora and schedule a free online 15-minute introduction call. It's your chance to ask questions, discuss your concerns and embark on a journey towards emotional freedom with Stress Talk, taking it one session at a time.