Description
At this point, functional dual attention is obtained and sustainable, leading to rapid and powerful healing processes commonly observed in the most successful and effective EMDR or IFS sessions; desensitization/reprocessing, retrieval, unburdening, etc.
Learn the details, observe the process being set up and carried through into healing with live volunteer demos, and practice the skills you will bring into your sessions with clients.
Discovery is a term taken from Coherence Therapy (Unlocking the Emotional Brain [2012], Ecker, et al). It means uncovering the emotional truth behind a symptom derived from implicit memory. It will make sense given the original context. Implicit memories are unconscious and reflexive, and they are at the heart of most of the symptomatic behavior and reactions we see in our clinical practices.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy guides us to understand that in healing work, we are almost certainly going to encounter protectors. These parts are responsible for what might otherwise be seen as resistance, acting out, etc., but they always have underlying positive intentions. They are embedded within an entire protective system of parts.
When we select a trauma target in EMDR, we necessarily activate this protective system, which can very often be complex and vigorous. Often, pushing forward with processing our selected target makes things worse. But backing up and doing intensive resourcing delays productive processing, sometimes indefinitely. This is the dilemma EMDR therapists routinely face.
These ideas from Coherence Therapy and IFS intersect at one point in the EMDR process, on the verge of the Assessment Phase. It is here that we can utilize sets of alternating bilateral stimulation in a new way to process protectors. A way that is in-between resource installation and desensitization, and has advantages of both.
The Discovery process is a bridge from the Preparation Phase of EMDR to the Assessment Phase and BEYOND. It will clarify the protector's positive intention, uncover the original problems the symptom is designed to solve, and stimulate emerging Self-Presence. All this clears the way for a conventional Assessment Phase and Desensitization with Functional Dual Attention. This culminates at the point where continued bilateral stimulation and attuned, informed curiosity, along with opportunistic and spontaneous Self-resourcing results in increasingly clearer differentiation of these components until a critical mass of Self-Energy flips the system into healing, as described above.
Bruce Hersey
Bruce Hersey, LCSW, is a Co-Founder of Syzygy Institute and the founder of emdrifs.com, a website for self-learning through prerecorded CE courses on IFS, EMDR, & Coherence Therapy integration.
Bruce is an experienced presenter, and workshop leader, known for his clarity, humor, warmth and humility. He has led and co-led numerous introductory IFS and IFS-Informed EMDR workshops, in-person and online.
An EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Level 3-trained Approved IFS Clinical Consultant, Bruce presented twice at the IFS Annual Conference, AASECT, and EMDR UK.
Bruce has also published short animated educational introduction videos on IFS (Finding Your Parts) and EMDR (EMDR at a Glance) on YouTube.
You can listen to Bruce taking about IFS-Informed EMDR on The Therapy Explained Podcast with James Lloyd, and The One Inside Podcast with Tammy Sollenberger.
Michelle Richardson
Michelle Richardson, MSW, LCSW is the Co-Founder of Syzygy Institute as well as the owner of Mindful Soul Center for Wellbeing, a thriving group practice located in southern New Jersey. There, she specializes in the treatment of complex trauma and dissociation in addition to providing clinical supervision and consultation to clinicians in varied stages of their professional journey.
As an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and IFS Level 1 & 2 Therapist, Michelle helps clinicians wade through the often murky and complex waters of psychotherapy towards clarity and confidence in their work. At Syzygy Institute, it is Michelle’s mission to introduce therapists to the place where IFS and EMDR meet to generate lasting healing for their clients. Michelle has additionally been a featured guest on both the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast and The Woman Worriers Podcast, where she speaks about Internal Family Systems therapy, anxiety, and the inner critic.
Elizabeth Venart
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and group practice owner, having founded The Resiliency Center of Greater Philadelphia in 2008 as a place for practitioners from diverse perspectives on healing to come together in community.
As a practitioner, I guide individuals and couples to develop greater compassion for themselves and heal the trauma at the root of where they feel stuck. What results is an experience of greater resiliency, freedom, and joy. My specialties include working with Highly Sensitive persons (HSPs), who are empathic, creative, and intuitive. I have a focus on trauma, anxiety, job burn-out and career transitions.
For nearly ten years, I've worked in non-profit crime victim centers providing individual and group counseling—as well as crisis intervention and critical incident stress management services—to women, children, and men impacted by traumatic grief and crimes of violence.
Through providing supervision and consultation as an LPC Supervisor in Pennsylvania and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, I have supported many therapists seeking to advance their skills and deepen their understanding of trauma and resiliency. Completing IFS Training Levels 1 and 2 has powerfully amplified my abilities in these roles, taking it to a new level just as in my therapy practice.
In addition I founded Montgomery-Bucks (Greater Philadelphia
region) EMDRIA Regional Network and served as Regional Coordinator from
2011 – 2020.
I'm an experienced leader of workshops, trainings and retreats. In these, I've sought to inspire resiliency, healing, growth and laughter. Teaching Laughter Yoga, IFS, EMDR, and IFS-Informed EMDR renews my spirit.
Beau Laviolette
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Baton Rouge, LA, where I happily reside with my wife and two sons. Along with my family, I have counted on my spiritual faith and love of nature to support me in my journey.
As a former United States Marine, I am proudly passionate about serving fellow military veterans on my current path as a professional healer. I co-founded the IFS Healing Corps, an organization that brings IFS (Internal Family Systems Therapy) to veterans and active duty military, previously co-founded the Student Veteran Association at Tulane University
(SVAT), and served as president of that body.
Being an EMDR Approved Consultant, Certified IFS Therapist, and IFS-Informed EMDR teacher, trainer, and consultant has enabled me to better help clients and therapists alike to advance in their personal and professional growth and healing. Nothing is more rewarding for me than helping people discover their true potential through education and counseling.
I also have a background as a certified addictions counselor (previously) and am familiar with the burdens those afflictions impose on the addict and their loved ones.
Crystal Whitlow
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in South Bend, Indiana where I reside with my husband, two sons, and three rescue dogs. There, I have a private practice focused on helping adults suffering from complex trauma.
As an experienced EMDR Trainer and EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, I've been passionate about teaching advanced trauma therapy skills to mental health professionals. With a background in IFS (Internal Family Systems Therapy), I offer IFS-Informed EMDR training and consultation to advanced professionals.
I consider myself a lifelong learner and passionate educator and connector. I attend advanced trainings whenever possible, seeking the most cutting-edge treatments for my clients and to pass along through teaching to my colleagues and community of therapists around the world.
My background includes significant experience in assisting sexual abuse and domestic violence survivors. I've also served as EMDRIA Regional Coordinator for State of Indiana, 2012-2018.
Erik Anderson
I have a small private practice and have worked since 2016 at the University of Michigan's academic medical center, Michigan Medicine, providing counseling services to medical faculty, staff, and their families. Working in this medical environment has yielded unique insight into factors impacting clients working in the medical field and especially common job-related psychological conditions such as burnout, moral distress, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, & suicidality. Helping helpers has its challenges and rewards.
While I am trained in both traditional talk and cognitive behavioral therapies, over the past 8 years I have been drawn towards transformational psychotherapies, particularly Internal Family Service(IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP). These models with the right therapist invite a deeper level of healing and change.
Becoming an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Certified IFS Therapist have both contributed to the advancement and fulfillment of my trainer and presenter parts, who keep me nourished and refreshed professionally.
Sam Johnson
I live in central Pennsylvania with my wife and two children. At 4C LTD (my private practice in Clarion, PA), I take pride in Igniting Passion, Manifesting Purpose, & Fostering Growth. The four C's here are (above all) Christian, plus Counseling, Coaching and Consulting. There, my passion and drive is motivating and helping people sharpen and hone in on their goals to make them specific, measurable, and achievable and most importantly attainable. I intend to have a bit of fun along the way.
I have been a mentor and supervisor as an Approved Clinical Supervisor, IFS and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Additionally, I've been assisting with numerous advanced clinical trainings, even internationally, in IFS, EMDR, Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO), while providing independent workshops in these areas as well. I love combining IFS and EMDR in my practice, consultation and training.
I'm a Master Addiction Counselor,and I have some additional professional expertise in Neurofeedback, EFT, Progressive Counting and Brainspotting, among others.
My pursuits include vigorous exercise, reading, and keeping myself spiritually connected and grounded. I am an occasional blogger. I listen to BBC World News regularly and I have been AMAZINGLY blessed to have traveled to every continent except Australia and Antarctica. They are both on my bucket list.
Nancy Simons
From my solo private practice as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Western Massachusetts, I have been providing trauma treatment, training, and consultation for over 30 years.The resiliency of the human spirit is what inspires me most. I engage in treatment through the combined lenses of EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Self-Compassion Training and the neurobiology of trauma and attachment. Currently, I use IFS-informed EMDR as my primary therapeutic modality. My areas of focus include the treatment of depression and anxiety, dissociative disorders, attachment issues and medical trauma.
I'm a Clinical Supervisor for an In-home therapy program supporting refugee families, with expertise working with refugee communities, utilizing translators to coordinate the delivery of services for trauma treatment and emotional wellness.
I had been the Clinical Director at Trauma Recovery Humanitarian Assistance Program, overseeing the development of a National Trauma Recovery Network with EMDR clinicians. Additionally, I worked as a clinician in an Integrated Primary Care Practice developing a protocol for treating medically related stress.
I have advanced training in Cultural Competency, Somatic Experiencing, Structural Dissociation and IFS-Informed EMDR.
I am an EMDRIA Approved Consultant & EMDR Trainer, and also offer my own EMDRIA-approved trainings in Self-Compassion for Trauma Treatment. Most recently I have been assisting with IFS-informed EMDR trainings.
