Suzanne Walton MSW, LCSW

I see chronic anxiety as a state of alarm going off in the body, a smoke detector that detects a threat that feels like it is still there, even when the danger has passed. How do you reset that false alarm? There are many approaches to this, including top-down, cognitive approaches that help us cope. Perhaps more effectively, bottom-up approaches address the stored overwhelm in our bodies. Somatic practices, time in nature, self-compassion practices, and EMDR therapy can help us get there.

I see chronic anxiety as a state of alarm going off in the body, a smoke detector that detects a threat that feels like it is still there, even when the danger has passed. How do you reset that false alarm? There are many approaches to this, including top-down, cognitive approaches that help us cope. Perhaps more effectively, bottom-up approaches address the stored overwhelm in our bodies. Somatic practices, time in nature, self-compassion practices, and EMDR therapy can help us get there.

EMDR is a powerful somatic psychotherapy technique that facilitates the processing and healing of traumatic memories. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or self-tapping, to activate the brain's natural healing mechanisms. This helps individuals reprocess distressing memories and release associated negative emotions, beliefs, and sensations. It is known as an effective and evidence-based treatment for various forms of trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Trauma is defined as anything our brain is not prepared to handle and exceeds our ability to cope with at the time. It is not only experienced by war veterans or those who have been abused. In fact, there are many types of trauma that consist of subtle, repeated interactions and experiences that leave a person feeling unseen, unheard, uncared for, neglected, or forgotten. Any situation that leaves a person feeling overwhelmed and alone can be traumatic, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm.

I work with depression from a trauma-informed, compassionate perspective, particularly when it is connected to shame, attachment wounds, difficult relationships, or longstanding patterns of putting yourself last. Using IFS and EMDR, I help clients understand the parts of themselves that feel hopeless, numb, critical, or overwhelmed and address the experiences underneath those patterns. We work toward healing what’s driving the depression—not simply managing the symptoms.