What kinds of therapy do you do at Arnica Mental Health?
The short answer is a few different modalities. I want to find the type of therapy that aligns with your needs, hopes, and areas you want to grow in. Sometimes one modality works great and you get what you need. Other times, we need to try something new. We work through it together. Below you will find information related to the therapy methods I often use.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps people heal from upsetting or overwhelming experiences. Sometimes when something hard happens, the memory can feel “stuck,” as if your mind and body are still reacting to it, even long after the event is over.
In EMDR, you don’t have to tell your whole story in detail. Instead, your therapist guides you to briefly notice the memory while using gentle bilateral stimulation (like moving your eyes back and forth, tapping, or sounds alternating from one side to the other). This process helps your brain reprocess the memory so it feels less intense and overwhelming.
Many people describe EMDR as their mind’s way of finally “filing away” the memory in the right place. The event is not erased, but it no longer feels as raw or triggering.
EMDR is evidence-based and has been shown to be especially helpful for trauma, anxiety, and other distressing life experiences. Clients often find that EMDR not only reduces symptoms but also strengthens their sense of resilience, calm, and self-trust.
You can read more about EMDR here on my blog. And if you want a few other resources, reach out to Jen and she can send you a further reading list.
IFS
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a type of therapy that helps you understand and care for the different “parts” of yourself. We all have parts , for example, one part of you might feel anxious, another part might try to keep everything under control, and another part might just want to relax. Sometimes these parts work well together, and sometimes they clash, leaving us feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
IFS doesn’t see any part of you as bad or broken. Every part has a reason for being there, often trying to protect you in some way, even if it doesn’t always feel helpful. In therapy, we gently get to know these parts, listen to their concerns, and help them find new, healthier roles.
At the heart of IFS is your core Self, the calm, compassionate, wise place inside you that can lead with clarity and confidence. By connecting with your Self, you can heal wounded parts, ease inner conflicts, and feel more whole.
Many people find IFS comforting because it doesn’t force you to get rid of parts of yourself. Instead, it helps you build a kinder relationship with your inner world, which can lead to greater peace, balance, and self-acceptance.
You can read more about IFS here on my blog or I would be happy to answer any questions you have.
Brainspotting
Brainspotting is a gentle but powerful type of therapy that helps your brain and body process unresolved stress, trauma, and emotions. The idea is that where you look can affect how you feel; certain eye positions, or “brainspots,” are linked to the way experiences are stored in the brain.
During a Brainspotting session, your therapist helps you find a spot in your visual field that connects with a troubling memory, feeling, or body sensation. While focusing there, you also stay connected with your inner experience, thoughts, emotions, and body signals, at your own pace. This process allows your brain to work through what has been “stuck,” helping the memory or emotion resolve more naturally.
Many people describe Brainspotting as surprisingly calming and freeing. You don’t have to go into detail or retell your whole story; instead, your brain does the healing work in the background. Over time, clients often notice less reactivity, less physical tension, and more emotional ease.
Brainspotting is used with trauma, anxiety, grief, performance blocks, and many other areas where people feel stuck. It’s flexible, non-invasive, and deeply supportive of your natural capacity to heal.
Jen can send you a reading list or answer any questions you may have. Take a look at her blog to learn more.
