Accredited EMDR Practitioner & Mental Health Occupational Therapist
What Is Emdr Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy
When we experience a traumatic or disturbing life event the usual way our brain processes information can get disrupted. This results in the traumatic material getting ‘stuck’ in the brain’s neural networks in fragments such as the image of the event, a sound or the associated emotions or physical sensations you experienced at the time or after the event.
Often these events have an associated negative belief about ourselves, other people or the world e.g. “I’m not good enough”, “I am worthless”, “The world is unsafe.”
When we are ‘triggered’ – if an event in our current life has associations with the original (and unprocessed) traumatic event images, emotions, physical sensations and negative beliefs can show up resulting in distress and symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
EMDR therapy applies both dual attention and bi-lateral stimulation to ‘kick start’ the natural, adaptive processing of the traumatic information that got blocked at the time of the original event. Dual attention and bi-lateral stimulation techniques might include the therapist moving their fingers back and forth moving your eyes left and right, wearing headphones that provide alternating left/right auditory tones, self-tapping or holding a gently vibrating device in each hand called a ‘tapper’.
Once a traumatic event has been successfully processed using EMDR therapy the event will no longer feel disturbing. People often report that images appear ‘hazy’ or are no longer accessible; upsetting emotions and uncomfortable physical sensations are neutralised with reports the event doesn’t bother them anymore; and negative beliefs that person had are replaced with healthy, positive beliefs such as “I am good enough just the way I am”, “I am a worthwhile person”, “I can keep myself safe in the world”
My name is Sam. I am a Mental Health Occupational Therapist (OT), Accredited EMDR practitioner and EMDR Consultant-in-Training with over 20 years’ experience in the field of mental health, both in the UK and Australia.
My specialist interest and area of clinical expertise is in complex trauma, PTSD and Dissociative Disorders. I have extensive experience working with adult survivors of childhood trauma, as well as first responders and combat veterans.
My will help you understand what happens in your mind, brain and body when your environment (internal and external) triggers a traumatic memory. This insight provides you with a greater understanding of not only what is happening when you react, but why, giving you more confidence when applying the learned strategies in order to heal.
I will work with you, not your diagnosis or ‘personality disorder’ to support you to better understand how past adverse life events can continue to impact your current daily life. Research shows that issues such as low mood, depression, panic, anxiety, poor quality sleep, negative and unhelpful thinking as well as low confidence and poor self-esteem often have origins in earlier life experiences. Drawing from a range of therapeutic approaches, together we can identify and resolve these events to help you move from the past and into a more positive future.
Utilising my unique combination of psychotherapy skills and many years working as a mental health OT, I am able to guide you through psychological healing alongside more practical goal-orientated approaches to optimise your overall wellbeing,
My approach is respectful, honest and supportive and my utmost priority is to create a safe, trusting space to enable you to develop a deeper understanding of yourself and move towards recovery and post-traumatic growth
I have specialist training and am experienced in providing the following therapies.
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
- Schema Therapy
- Imagery Rescripting
- Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR)
- Dissociative Disorders and Ego State/Parts Work
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Neuropsychotherapy
- Mindfulness Meditation
I have guest lectured at Edith Cowan University (ECU) and was a presenter at the inaugural International Neuropsychotherapy Conference in Brisbane.
Professional Memberships
- Occupational Therapy Australia
- EMDR Association of Australia
- Complex Trauma WA
Get In Touch
Email:shewlett_therapyservices@outlook.com
Phone: 0458 580 474
Samantha Hewlett 