Catherine Johnson M.Ed., LPC, EMDR Trained, CISM

Trauma comes in many forms and each is important to acknowledge and attend to. I utilize an EMDR Therapy approach to engaging the brain and body to work together to release stored-up physical symptoms, open up neuropathways in the brain, explore self-compassion, gain understanding, and take steps toward healing parts of self that carry the heavy weight of distress.

Anxiety is the alarm system in our bodies that helps to protect and communicate discomfort/distress. We tend to get stuck in our thoughts, trying to problem solve/fix. I choose to believe that healing through anxiety comes from somatic experiencing, working through the body. My hope is to not help client get rid of anxiety. My hope is to help clients understand the parts of themselves that have taken on the role of anxiety to build understanding, compassion, and take steps to heal at the root.

When working with clients suffering from depression, I hope to help them view their symptoms as normal reactions to stressors or trauma, rather than a singular diagnosis. Depression in its own way is a job, or a role that a part of oneself took on to survive or cope the only way it knew how to at a specific time. Exploring depression takes a compassionate approach to self, and patience in learning to find internal safety.

Our sensations create our beliefs about the world. The body has such capacity for healing and we often forget that distress is stored in the body. Using somatic interventions such as Somatic Experiencing and Polyvagal practices will allow for the mind and body to connect in order to heal at the root.

Holistic Therapy is a lens through which a therapist views the client. The mind-body connection is key, as is viewing an individual as more than just a symptom. Holistic Therapy takes into consideration environmental factors, lifestyle, etc.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories, to help reshape the way our brains process the trauma. EMDR's goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences. It engages the brain and body in a way that allows for stuck symptoms to release and healing at the root to begin.