Empowering Mind-Body Change with Dr. Ioana Marcus

Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) is based firmly in neuroscience and clinical experience. In this method, clients don’t need to talk about the traumatic event in detail, but access a small part of the memory or even a more general symptoms such as anxiety.

I am trained in this new psychotherapeutic approach developed by Dr Frank Corrigan, a psychiatrist in Scotland. 

With a strong research background that explores the intersection between neuroscience and the science of healing, he has published many papers. He has co-authored several books including the Neurobiology and Treatment of Traumatic Dissociation, and the Comprehensive Resource Method.

In a DBR session the client and therapist track, or follow, a distinctive neurophysiological sequence of sensations, emotions and movement impulses arising from the deep brain regions involved in trauma responses. DBR accesses and embodies a natural healing process that is understandable in the context of the evolution of the brain and nervous system, and also of the developmental stages of the infant and child.

People often find a DBR session to be more gentle and less distressing than some other psychotherapy approaches, while for those who have a tendency to dissociate, the particular steps we use help people to stay more present, so that the neurological traces of the past experience can resolve.

At the end of a session the client may often have a more positive perspective on life, or over the following days may notice a shift in how they feel overall. However, like all forms of therapy, DBR may not work for everyone. At times the shift away from old familiar patterns can be unsettling, but this usually clears as the new perspective settles in, and the higher cognitive parts of the brain adjust to the changes that have occurred deep down.

Recent research into DBR by Ruth Lanius and her team in Toronto, show impressive results. The study looked at people diagnosed with PTSD who received 8 sessions of DBR. By the end of the study their symptoms were significantly reduced, and nearly half of them no longer met the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. More research is being done, and the results are awaited with interest.

Gestalt Equine Therapy was developed by Duey Freeman and Joan Rieger with the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies. GEP is defined as the process of exploring our experience in and of relationship while in relationship with the horses. 

Holding ‘I-Thou’ with the utmost respect, working to support growth in relationship, deepening contact, and inspiring creative choice are core tenants of this therapy. Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy (GEP) holds the above definition as fundamental as we integrate horses, and therefore nature, into the therapeutic process. Horses bring desire for relationship without prejudice, seeking contact and congruence as the only criteria for the creation of emotional intimacy. 

Nature exemplifies awareness and presence, providing an opening for us to move into contact and connection in the way in which we are designed - unburdened by layers of familial, societal, and systemic introjects. Horses and nature therefore allow the opportunity to re-create our original attachment with ourselves, the environment, and others when we have experienced emotional injury, relational rupture and/or loss. 

Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy is our journey into land/nature/equine- based relationship which provides the foundation to heal the nature of our being.
(Written by Duey Freeman and Kimberly Rose).

Animal Assisted Play Therapy (AAPT) is a full integration of play therapy with animal-assisted therapy, primarily for mental health/psychotherapy and education purposes. It is valuable in helping children, adolescents, and adults, and can be provided for individuals, groups, and families. It has been developed by Dr. Rise VanFleet the founder of International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy TM.

AAPT has been defined as “the integrated involvement of animals in the context of play therapy, in which appropriately-trained therapists and animals engage with child, family, & adult clients primarily in play interventions aimed at improving the client’s psychosocial health, while simultaneously ensuring the animal’s well-being and voluntary engagement in the process. Play and playfulness are essential ingredients of the interactions & the relationship” (VanFleet, 2013). The feature that most distinguishes AAPT from other forms of animal assisted therapy (Chandler, 2012; Fine, 2010) is the systematic inclusion and encouragement of play and playfulness as the primary means of expressing feelings, developing relationships, and resolving psychosocial problems (VanFleet, 2008; VanFleet & Faa-Thompson, 2010, 2014).

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy originally used for veterans and first responders who were experiencing PTSD symptoms in response to trauma. This treatment enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of overwhelming life experiences or trauma.

The brain’s desire for balance does the work for the individual. This is a treatment where you are not talking about the events in detail, but through dual attention stimulation (right brain, left brain exercises), so the brain and the body can start to heal.

EMDR may be a good fit if you are navigating symptoms associated with past trauma that may or may not be contributing to anxiety, eating disorders, dissociation, substance abuse, and/or emotional dysregulation.

EA-EMDR is an animal-assisted approach to EMDR therapy. EquiLateral® involves partnering with horses as sentient beings and in a manner that is supported by training, qualifications, ethical practice, and a keen awareness of client and animal welfare.

Equilateral: The Equine-Assisted EMDR Protocol® was authored by Sarah Jenkins, MC, LPC, CPsychol, in 2011.  Her integration of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) with EMDR Therapy led to her creating Equine-Assisted EMDR Therapy (EA-EMDR).

Through the protocol, therapists and their clients are offered an experiential approach to EMDR therapy, where the integration of EMDR therapy with equine-assisted interactions is rooted in the Adaptive Information Processing Model (AIP).

DBT is an evidence-based treatment approach, developed by Dr. Marsha Linehan, and designed to help people with mental health conditions who have problems regulating emotions. It is most commonly used to treat people with borderline personality disorder, though it is also used as a treatment for several other conditions, including people with substance use disorders, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and eating disorders. 

People who may benefit from DBT include those struggling with emotional regulation, self-destructive behaviors, and interpersonal difficulties, and those who have not found success with other therapeutic approaches.

In DBT, the term “dialectical” refers to finding a balance between two seemingly opposing concepts: acceptance and change. DBT patients learn to accept themselves and their emotions and thoughts as they are, without judgment, and work toward making positive changes to build a life worth living. DBT treatment involves teaching people skills to learn acceptance and to help them make changes. The term “behavior” is used because DBT aims to help people identify problematic behaviors and replace them with new, more effective ones.

The various modules taught and practiced in DBT are Mindfulness, Emotion regulation, Distress tolerance, and Interpersonal effectiveness skills.

Attachment-based therapy is a brief, process-oriented form of counseling. The client-therapist relationship is based on developing or rebuilding trust and centers on expressing emotions. An attachment-based approach to therapy looks at the connection between an infant’s early attachment experiences with primary caregivers, usually with parents, and the infant’s ability to develop normally and ultimately form healthy emotional and physical relationships as an adult. 

Attachment-based therapy developed from the 1960s work of British psychologist John Bowlby, who first proposed that strong early attachment to at least one primary caregiver is necessary for children to have a sense of security and the supportive foundation they need to freely interact with their environment, to explore, to learn from new experiences, and to connect with others.” Based on his work, Bowlby described four different attachment styles: secure attachment, anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, and disorganized attachment. His work has sparked tremendous interest and exploration into attachment styles and how they may inform individuals’ relationships in adulthood.

Relational-cultural therapy (RCT) is a therapeutic approach that underscores the significant role of relationships in mental and emotional well-being. Originating in the 1970s, RCT emerged from the work of psychologist Jean Baker Miller and her colleagues, who focused on how cultural factors—such as power dynamics, gender, and race—impact relational experiences, particularly for women. 

This therapy emphasizes the interdependence between relationships and mental health, suggesting that broken connections can lead to psychological distress, including conditions like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

In RCT, therapists prioritize building a supportive therapeutic relationship, which serves as a foundation for exploring the client's relational patterns and experiences. This exploration often includes examining past relationships to understand how they influence current dynamics. 

By identifying unhelpful habits and thought processes, the therapist aims to foster healthier ways of engaging in relationships, ultimately enhancing the individual's emotional resilience and overall mental health. RCT is culturally sensitive and respects diverse perspectives, making it an inclusive option for individuals seeking therapy that recognizes the complexities of their relational worlds.