Lynda Smith, LPC is a counselor in Eagle, ID specializing in counseling.
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of therapy that helps people recover from distress resulting from past trauma. Founded in the late 1980's, EMDR is most commonly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, although it may treat other mental health conditions as well, such as:
During an EMDR therapy session, patients are encouraged to access upsetting memories and to reprocess them. Reprocessing is achieved by repeated and rapid bilateral (side to side) eye movements, tapping one's chest and face, and auditory and visual stimulation. These techniques can desensitize patients to their traumatic memory. By reframing how a patient interprets a memory, EMDR is believed to weaken the fight-or-flight response and to rebalance the nervous system. For patients with PTSD, EMDR can treat recurring flashbacks and triggers by reducing the hyperarousal response and promoting emotional regulation.
EMDR patients are first asked to identify a specific memory to reprocess, called the ?target event.? Patients can discuss their feelings, sensations, and beliefs about the event, and may share a picture or use descriptive imagery. Therapists usually employ a set of measurements called the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scale to assess the patient's distress. Later on, therapists and patients may compare the patient's initial SUD score to their score following an EMDR session. Unlike other forms of therapy, EMDR patients are not prompted to analyze and reflect on details of their traumatic memory at length.
With a target event having been selected, therapists may begin the desensitization process. They instruct patients to perform eye movements, body taps, or sounds while capturing the target event in their mind. These techniques are called dual attention bilateral stimulation (BLS) and can help a patient feel calm and aware, while simultaneously invoking the brain's processing system. Patients may continue these techniques until their SUD distress level has decreased. Patients are then asked to derive a positive thought or affirmation about the target event, and to repeat or strengthen it until it feels sincere. A final ''body scan'' is where patients focus on both the target event and positive cognition to evaluate their physical response and identify any remaining distress. If the traumatic incident is not fully processed in one session, patients are asked to contain the memory and to avoid returning to it until their next EMDR session.
EMDR may greatly improve quality of life in people who suffer from latent trauma and adverse life experiences. EMDR may also be effective for those whose prior experience with talk therapy was unsuccessful.
Family Therapy Services
Family therapy is sometimes also called family counseling or marriage and family therapy. It is a form of mental health care and therapy that treats a couple or entire family as a unit, paying special attention to how the members of the family interact with each other. Each family has a unique personality, communication style, and unique problems they face together. In family therapy, all members of the family attend counseling sessions as a group, and together they learn how to identify conflicts within and without the family, as well as how to communicate better and problem-solve together.
Some topics commonly addressed in family therapy include:
Family therapists may work in group practices, private practices, schools, or hospitals. They work with families of all different kinds to help them live together as a stronger unit.
She is certified by the Board Certified Sex Therapist and has a state license in Idaho.
Board Certification: Board Certified Sex Therapist
Licensed In: Idaho
Lynda Smith, LPC has an average of 1.0 out of 5 stars based on 1 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Lynda Smith, LPC from all over the web to help you find the right in Eagle, ID.
WOW. I DO NOT RECOMMEND EVER! My appointment was double booked. My insurance was processed by the office incorrectly. They refused to resubmit the paperwork as per AETNA's request. From there, they sent me to collections. Read all their paperwork. They are not an upstanding counseling center. Rude and uncaring. NOT what most people are looking for when seeking help. STAY AWAY!
Ms. Lynda Smith practices counseling in Eagle, ID. Ms. Smith has obtained a license to practice in Idaho.