Psychotherapy

“The past affects the present even without our being aware of it.”
– Dr. Francine Shapiro

The heart of therapy is support that helps an individual surpass psychological limitations and become more conscious of their highest potential.

Questions about the human condition engage the therapeutic dialogue: What is our life purpose? How do we find our authentic voice? How do we respond to adversity? To loss? How do we experience abundance, joy and balance in our lives? How can we create beauty and express ourselves fully? How can we be of service to humankind? How do we love?

Psychotherapy is a journey that begins with the individual and touches society at large. It is taught in Eastern philosophy that the most powerful and beautiful states of consciousness are: love, compassion, joy and equanimity. Through cultivating these qualities, one can live more harmoniously, relate better to others and develop a greater sense of connectedness with the world.

As an EMDRIA Accredited Trainer, Facilitator, Approved Consultant and Certified Therapist, EMDR Therapy is central to Cheryl's approach. Its speed, efficacy and versatility in resolving a wide range of researched clinical presentations are unparalleled in metabolizing trauma's wounds. EMDR Therapy is a potent antidote to the longstanding and often crippling effects of trauma. Most importantly, EMDR Therapy assists psychological recovery by catalyzing the brain's own innate healing potential.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is an evidenced-based, comprehensive method of psychotherapy that harnesses the body's natural healing mechanisms to reduce the effects of trauma and restore a person to higher levels of coping and competency. It is an approach for the treatment of emotional difficulties and a wide variety of clinical applications including: traumatic events in childhood or adulthood, problematic behaviors or compulsions, depression, phobia, anxiety, panic attacks and grief and loss. More recent research points to EMDR Therapy's efficacy in the treatment of Personality Disorders, CPTSD and Dissociative Disorders.

The methods in EMDR therapy seem to stimulate the brain's intrinsic capacity to resolve emotional disturbance and obtain adaptive insights much like what occurs spontaneously during dreaming REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. EMDR reprocessing combines many different components, including maintaining dual attention to a traumatic memory while utilizing bilateral eye movements, sound or tactile stimulation.

 

Based on the available theory and research, it is believed that during EMDR reprocessing, paying dual attention to both the traumatic memory and to alternating bilateral stimulation (BLS) promotes an innate "investigatory response" in the brain that create neurophysiological changes that are adaptive. 

Cheryl completed her training in Deep Brain Reorienting with Dr. Frank Corrigan. Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is a gentle, neuroscience-informed therapy designed to help the brain process and release the emotional and physiological effects of past stress or trauma. It works by safely activating the brain’s natural orienting response—the same mechanism we use instinctively to scan and settle after a startling event—so deep healing can happen without needing to relive painful memories in detail.In a DBR session, we start with a calm discussion of your current concerns. You remain fully present and in control while we guide attention to subtle body sensations and orienting movements linked to stored stress. This allows the brain to complete unfinished responses and restore a sense of safety and balance. Sessions are usually relaxing and can lead to reduced reactivity, greater emotional freedom, and improved well-being. DBR is a trauma therapy that works not by talking about a memory.  When the natural sequence of processing a experience is interrupted by intense feelings such as shock, pain, or high emotional distress. DBR returns to that moment where the sequence was interrupted, and that often is prior to when narrative memory comes on board.  

Your body’s built-in survival mechanisms activate automatically — you don’t consciously choose them. When something overwhelming happens, your system may release endocannabinoids to blur and numb the intensity, or endogenous opioids to shut everything down. These deep, ancient brain structures operate entirely without words. They communicate instead through tension, movement, breath, and silence. Beneath your awareness, the superior colliculus continuously scans for danger, the periaqueductal gray (PAG) quickly chooses whether to fight, flee, freeze, or collapse, and the dorsal raphe nucleus registers the profound pain of isolation and disconnection.

 

Cheryl is trained in Clinical Hypnosis through the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Clinical Hypnosis is a safe, evidence-based therapeutic approach that uses guided relaxation and focused attention to help you access your subconscious mind, where lasting change can occur. In this relaxed state, you remain fully in control and aware, while becoming more open to positive suggestions that support your goals, like reducing anxiety, managing pain, improving sleep, or breaking unwanted habits. Many clients describe it as a deeply calming experience similar to mindful meditation.A typical hypnosis session begins with a conversation about your needs and goals. You’ll then be gently guided into a relaxed state through calming words and breathing techniques. While in this focused state, we’ll work with tailored suggestions and imagery to reframe thoughts or behaviors. Most people find sessions pleasant, empowering, and highly effective.

Clinical hypnosis can be highly effective for a wide range of concerns, including:

  • Mental Health: Individuals seeking relief from anxiety, phobias, PTSD, stress, and related challenges.
  • Behavioral Change: Those wanting support to quit smoking, manage weight, or overcome other unwanted habits.
  • Medical Conditions: Patients dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), menopausal hot flashes, or certain skin conditions.
  • Pain Management: People experiencing chronic pain (such as fibromyalgia or cancer-related pain), procedural pain (dental or surgical), migraines, or tension headaches.

Providing psychotherapy services out-of-network. Not paneled with insurance.

To locate an EMDR Therapist in Connecticut and beyond, please visit www.ctemdrtherapists.com 

www.emdria.org

 

Cheryl has over 35 years of experience as a trauma informed psychotherapist specializing in the treatment of complex PTSD. She has certifications in EMDR, Deep Brain Reorienting and Clinical Hypnosis, Cheryl focuses on identifying the core root of psychological problems and delivering results as efficiently and effectively as possible. Because EMDR is a proven, evidenced-based approach, many major international mental health organizations promote and endorse EMDR therapy.

What is EMDR? Courtesy of EMDRIA

Please note I am unable to accept new patients at this time.