“It’s only when therapy enlists deep emotions that it becomes a powerful force for change.”
~Irvin Yalom
I often hear my clients talk about feeling overwhelmed, stuck or lost. They can’t always put their finger on what is troubling them but they know something is missing in their lives. You might have felt like you were coping before, but now things seem like too much. You’ve been waiting for something outside of you to change.
Waiting for a new job…
Waiting for your partner to change…
Waiting for your kids to reach the next developmental stage…
Waiting until you feel better…
But the truth is, you just keep feeling more anxious while you try to keep it together for others. You might feel sad for no apparent reason, cry easily, anger easily, or find yourself withdrawing from friends and family.
Things don’t seem to be getting any better and you’re not sure where to turn or what to do next.
You might be having a hard time handling stress at work or making plans and following through with them. You find yourself cancelling plans you’ve made because you worry you will be judged for how you feel, you don’t want to bring other people down, and you’re afraid that other people won’t understand. It can be frustrating trying to please everyone, even though it seems impossible to say “no”.
Your relationships with your partner and loved ones are starting to suffer.
You don’t want to burden your partner and you want to be a better parent for your children, but trying to be perfect and having a hard time setting boundaries can keep you stuck in old patterns. You worry about things you’ve said or done, how you’ve failed yourself and others, and the ways you’ve let others down. Hurt and resentment have been building for a while now and you’re starting to feel like nothing you do is good enough.
You have a history of trauma. Trauma takes on so many forms… some are more obvious than others.
Trauma involves so much shame, self blame, guilt, a sense of terrible loss. It teaches you to hide to protect yourself but this only ends up blocking your way in life. Perhaps, you thought it was behind you only to realize it casts a long shadow and it’s hard to know how to release yourself from its grip. EMDR treatment can help.
The feelings described above are likely what brought you here.
In my work with clients, I create a safe, non-judgmental environment. You will find me easy to talk to, authentic, and honest. My job is to help you make sense of the thoughts and feelings you’ve been having and regain control over your life. Many people worry that by getting in touch with their emotions they will lose control over their lives, but the opposite is true (this is also supported by research!). When we begin to make sense of our emotions, they become less frightening, less distressing, and more predictable. We gain clarity, understanding, focus becoming more resilient and confident.
I draw from a variety of approaches including Emotion-Focused, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Mindfulness, and EMDR. You can read more about the approaches I use here.
Throughout our work together, you can expect to:
Improve self-awareness
Change negative thought patterns
Learn how anxiety & depression are linked
Reconnect to yourself
Learn to accept yourself as you are
Understand your emotions, thoughts & behaviours
Learn to prioritize yourself
Clarify your wants and needs
Find your voice
Learn how to express yourself
Take steps towards creating the life you want
Create more balance
Become more assertive
Develop self-compassion
Improve self-care
By the end of our work together, you will feel calmer, more confident, and even joyful. My goal is for you to see new possibilities and feel empowered to make different choices and create positive changes in your life.
I’m looking forward to meeting you and supporting you in your journey. Please, use the contact form below to reach out, or email me at lana@lanamamisashvili.com.
