The ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study is one of the largest scientific research studies of its kind, with over 17,000 mostly middle income Americans participating. The focus was to analyze the relationship between childhood trauma and the risk for physical and mental illness in adulthood. Over the course of a decade, the results demonstrated a […]
Congratulations to Angi Smith, LMHC who has started the process of working towards her EMDR Certification! Angi is going above and beyond the basic training requirement for therapists trained in EMDR. Although, Angi has been a licensed therapist for the last 12 years and a trained EMDR therapist for 9 years she will be taking her […]
Trauma in young children is stored in a “baby state” in which there are no images or thoughts about the trauma, just a felt sense of terror, abandonment, hurt or shame that never seems to go away. Babies absorb everything around them including their mother and environment.
As we celebrate Memorial Day we remember those men and women who have lost their lives serving in the armed forces. But we also feel gratitude to those who survived. Sometimes surviving a military experience can be very difficult. The startle response, nightmares, anger and survivor guilt are just a few of the symptoms that […]
Adults with trauma can feel isolated and alone. There are many reasons why people isolate after trauma. Here are a few: Many people who have experienced trauma in their lives feel that others will not understand what they are experiencing. And sometimes they don’t share with others because they want to protect the other person […]
Angi is very down to earth, with a kind and compassionate heart for those who are hurting, and an experienced EMDR therapist. She has worked as a therapist for mental health agencies in the Portland/Vancouver area for the last 12 years. We are happy to have her join Vancouver EMDR therapy as she starts her private practice. She has been using EMDR to treat clients for the last 6 years. She specializes in working with the LGBTQQIA population, grief and trauma, geriatrics and end of life issues, and trauma related to medical issues and permanent disabilities.
Sexual abuse or child abuse survivors often report experiencing shame. If you are a victim of childhood abuse; physical, sexual abuse or neglect then you know about shame. A hallmark of shame is the negative thoughts and feelings that people are left with even after the abuse is over. Often times survivors think that they […]
