Have you ever suffered from the memory of an awful event and just wished it would disappear? Have you felt the effects for weeks, months, and years afterwards and thought how great it would be if you didn’t have to deal with it anymore? Well, now there’s a new way to actually make this happen.
Our World and Trauma
Whether it’s weather events, human conflict, or all the losses people are experiencing from various causes, there is ample opportunity to suffer trauma. At least these days there is more awareness of it. Many people the world over experience this in one form or another. In any case, a terrible event stays with you in mind and body so that you just can’t shake it no matter what you try.
How Image Transformation Therapy Does Away With Trauma
Image Transformation Therapy, or ImTT for short, uses a breathing and visualization technique to help clear out unpleasant emotions and the memories that are associated with them. The emotions, which can range from shock and freeze, to terror and horror, are sequentially breathed out of different parts of the body after some preparation from the therapist. After this, you are asked to identify an image that’s related to the trauma you can repeatedly deconstruct in your mind’s eye until it either no longer can be brought into working memory or it is transformed into a positive-feeling image. In a similar way, you sequentially breathe out of your body the particles from the deconstructed image until there are no more of these particles left in your body.
Advantages of ImTT
One important thing to be aware of regarding ImTT is that you can treat your trauma for less than if you use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). There is less time spent gearing up for the treatment, and often less time working on a particular issue. Also, some people can’t do EMDR because of certain issues, like those that have dissociative disorders, or if they can they need to go a lot slower. That also increases the time factor, and if you’re paying full cost for your therapy without using insurance, that can save you a lot on your therapy.
My Experience with ImTT and Trauma
I’ve been using ImTT and EMDR for several years now with my clients, slightly longer with EMDR, and based on the feedback I get from my clients they both seem to get the same results. EMDR has been around much longer and has an excellent track record, but if you’re open to trying something newer to deal with trauma, you might benefit from ImTT. I use ImTT myself to help treat my own emotional issues, and have found it to be effective. The main thing is that I will work with you to find an approach that works best for you, and if you do nothing else than some really good coping and talk therapy, that’s better than not getting any therapy help at all. The main thing is having somebody you can trust, and I have made it part of my reputation to work with my clients in such a way that trust is the main ingredient in your healing. If you’re not sure if ImTT or I can help you with your trauma issues, I encourage you to give me a call at 512-648-3053, or fill out the form below. We can have a free 15-minute phone consult or you can get a free promotional guided imagery exercise that gets you familiar with how ImTT works and see for yourself if ImTT might be right for you if you request it below. In any case, take the first step towards dissolving trauma and it’s horrific effects on your life by reaching out for the help you deserve.
About the author: Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland. He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin. He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice.
Visit our page on trauma therapy to learn more about how Scott can help you with trauma.