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 Julie Luscombe Trauma Informed Psychotherapist and EMDR Practitioner

Julie Luscombe Trauma Informed Psychotherapist and EMDR Practitioner



THERAPY, COUNSELLOR, PSYCHOTHERAPIST, EMDR


My journey towards hope



Hi, my name is Julie


I am an Integrative Counsellor. Being integrative means I draw on a range of psychological theories and techniques to offer a bespoke therapeutic approach to match my client’s needs. Underpinning all my work is a focus on the client/therapist relationship; I offer empathy, non-judgement and the understanding that my clients must work at their own, manageable pace.


I am passionate about offering hope to adults who are struggling with mental health challenges and often with trauma.



Trauma is defined by the Oxford Languages Dictionary as:


“ a deeply distressing or disturbing experience”



We all have our own stories to tell but I often find that so many of my clients have been exposed to trauma in some form. Understanding trauma-related symptoms goes hand in hand with providing a therapeutic space to process the pain of past experiences. My aim is to empower clients; I offer hope, a place to grow, and a supportive, trusting relationship to motivate change.


I have extensive experience working with a wide range of psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, anger, self-harm, suicidal ideation, loss and bereavement (for a full list of the areas I cover, please visit my Who I Work With page). I am also a specialist in the field of abuse and work rigorously alongside men and women who have been abused as children and adults.


Perhaps the Universe was guiding me but, when I later set up a private practice, I was determined to continue supporting people whose lives had been impacted by abuse. I understand the need to retrieve some sense of security – to be able to find a strong footing on otherwise shaky ground.


In addition to my therapeutic work, I offer professional advice and support on PTSD. I have developed a training program to teach others about the impacts of PTSD; particularly geared towards helping front-line workers understand the risks associated with their industry. I have presented extensively in this area highlighting key risks, symptoms, and subsequent coping strategies in hospitals, the Police and doctors’ surgeries. 


I work with the Victims First Specialist Counselling Service to provide therapeutic interventions to victims of crime across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.


To help you decide if I am the right person to help you, I offer an initial 50-minute session so you can meet me and ask any questions. We will then decide what your goals are and how we can move forward together.


EMDR Therapy


As a specialist in trauma, it seemed logical to me to explore EMDR therapy in more detail. Over the last few years, prevalence has grown rapidly in therapeutic circles.


Research showed positive results in a short space of time but, most importantly for me, it was heralded as successful for clients presenting with debilitating symptoms associated with trauma. So, I began to explore. Below I share some of my knowledge with you. My aim is to inform and, above all, to share hope. 


How is it different to traditional therapy?


Psychologists and mental health professionals are united in the understanding that it is the relationship between client and counsellor that facilitates healing. Trust between client and therapist, the connection within the relationship; both are paramount and embarking on any type of therapy requires faith.


There is no doubt in my mind that over time, traditional therapies allow the natural healing process to occur. Some clients take months, even years, to allow me even a glimpse of their inner world and that is ok, that is therapy. 


Because I knew this, when I began researching EMDR, I wondered if my clients would trust me to probe such tender memories so directly. What I found was that EMDR doesn’t negate the need for a strong therapeutic relationship, nor does it replace traditional therapies, it works alongside them. Sometimes our internal wounds are so great, so deep, that surviving our symptoms is all we can manage. I often tell my clients that EMDR is like disentangling the intolerable anchor from their bodies so they can gasp at the surface once more – they might have some way to go to make it to shore but at least they can swim again. 


So where did it all begin?


EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Developed in the late 1980’s by psychologist Francine Shapiro, it uses rapid eye movement alongside cognition to allow the brain to process traumatic memories coherently.


Shapiro was intrigued to discover that moving her eyes rapidly from left to right significantly reduced distressing emotion attached to her own childhood memories (Shapiro,1989). Although alone moving the eyes was not conducive to healing, alongside other cognitive interventions, Shapiro noted a stark reduction in anxiety among clients. She went on to establish EMDR as a therapy.


So how does it work?


Many of our memories are stored in our brain’s cortex and largely associated with language. Trauma, however, can unbalance the brain’s natural way of processing information effectively. Tightly packaged away in the limbic system, trauma memories are stored as emotion and often triggered by events that remind us of the past. Feelings of anxiety, anger and panic become sadly commonplace as our brain is reminded of painful events and memories that have yet to be processed (EMDR Institute,2020).


EMDR works to restore the balance, encouraging our brains to store the memories more effectively in the cortex, allowing the mind to begin healing naturally.


What can I expect from a session?


Before we start any treatment, we will confirm which memory you’d like to process. There might be multiple memories and that’s ok too. During a session, I will ask you to recall an experience and question you about associated thoughts and feelings. As we talk, I will encourage you to move your eyes from left to right rapidly in short bursts, regular intervals in between bursts allow us to discuss thoughts and sensations before moving on. We are aiming to store these painful memories alongside more natural memories, not tangled up with distressing emotion. 


How many sessions are needed?


I usually offer between 10-18 sessions per client but everyone is different; some people may require longer intervention and effective grounding can form part of the early sessions. Although EMDR can be intense, it is also very targeted and can produce positive results in a short space of time.  


Is it right for me?


EMDR is used to treat a wide variety of trauma-related symptoms, including PTSD, panic attacks, anxiety and depression. However, it is also highly effective in treating a range of other symptoms synonymous with emotional distress. I work alongside clients struggling with phobias, OCD, addiction, intense anger, grief and trust issues. Some clients are struggling to manage daily lives due to profound fears – a fear of flying for example. Perhaps some of these complex behaviours have their roots in early trauma, but a lot of my clients do not directly attribute their presenting issues to a particular traumatic event.


Resurrecting painful memories is never easy. Like all therapy, EMDR requires courage. I believe making that commitment to healing is the first step. If you are suffering with any of the above symptoms because of trauma, or other psychological distress, I hope this article reaches out to you with hope. 


Please contact me to discuss EMDR in more detail. It might also be helpful to watch this short animation or visit the EMDR Association website. Together we can decide if this is the right approach for you and put a plan in place to move forward. 


Please contact me on luscombejulie6@gmail.com to discuss. 


The history of EMDR (n.d), https://emdr.com/history-of-emdr/ (Accessed 21/06/2023)


What is EMDR )n.d) https://emdr.com/what-is-emdr/ (Accessed 20/06/2023)


 


Please contact me to book an initial consultation.

Email: luscombejulie6@gmail.com 

Tel: 07703850840

https://www.julieluscombecounselling.com

Email Julie Call Julie for a consultation or to book an appointment

Sue Perry
Integrated Manual Therapist

BA(hons), IAHP, FHT, CNHC

Nerve entrapment

Back pain

TMJ, headaches and neck pain

Myofascial release

Visceral manipulation for digestive issues

 Scar tissue release

About Sue Perry

Sue owns and runs Two Nine O Five Pain Relief Clinic, using her eigheen years of experience in a range of therapies to deliver a tailored service for her clients. She specialises in advanced clinical soft tissue therapy which includes myofascial release, visceral and neural manipulation and cranio sacral therapy.


Sue's training includes the Upledger Institute and continuous training with the Barral Institute for Visceral Studies. She constantly updates her skills and travels widely to attend conferences and cutting-edge workshops. 


She aims to deliver the treatments that are right for each client, providing effective pain relief and a newfound sense of general well-being for sufferers of a variety of pain issues.

Contact Sue

Visceral manipulation

Restrictions of the viscera (internal structures) can be important in musculoskeletal pain conditions. If they are not addressed, treatment progress can be slow or fail to improve at all. Restrictions can also affect a range of non-musculoskeletal conditions such as breathing pattern disorders, abdominal disorders and pelvic pain.


Every patient is different and although patients may have similar symptoms, these symptoms may have different causes for each individual. Having a wide range of approaches and techniques for all the tissue in the body makes for potentially, a much more effective treatment.

 

The aim of soft tissue therapy (myofascial release and visceral manipulation), is to separate the layers of fascia to release tightness and restrictions which in turn, can assist in improved mobility and general well being.


Treatment

When you book a treatment with Sue, she will take the time to discuss your pain issues and work out a personalised treatment programme to meet your needs. Please contact her today to find out more and arrange your initial consultation.

Treatments for:

  • Fibromyalgia/ME
  • Tension headaches
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Back pain
  • RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Tennis elbow
  • Golfers elbow
  • Nerve entrapment
  • Carpal tunnel
  • Hip, pelvis (sciatic) pain
  • Leg and calf pain
  • TMJ pain
  • Scar tissue
  • Post-operative pain
  • Women's health
  • Men's Health
  • Sports injuries


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"Current scientific study now realises that the fascia is very active mechanically, neurologically, hormonally and is also important in relation to the immune system's efficiency.."

Myofascial release

What is Myofascial release?

Fascia is an unbroken structure which covers our entire body and is located between the skin and the underlying muscle and bone. As well as connecting and supporting organs, muscles and bones, it acts as a transportation system carrying blood, nerves and lymph. In terms of appearance, it can be likened to a spider’s web covering and connecting each part of the body.

 

When healthy, the fascia is supple and unrestricted. However, if physical trauma such as a sports injury, car accidents or falls are experienced, the fascia tightens and becomes constrained. Long-term trauma to the body, including poor posture and repetitive strain injuries, can have the same effect. Emotional trauma and stress also place restrictions on the fascia. When the fascia is hindered in its normal function, a range of symptoms can be experienced including pain and limited movement, which affects our everyday lives. 


The entire fascia structure is interrelated, over time, the pain and restrictions may spread to other parts of the body. 


Patients can experience a range of symptoms resulting from myofascial restrictions including, deep-burning, sharp and heavy pain, pins and needles and numbness; it is also common to feel pain similar to that of a dull, throbbing toothache. Often, due to the original cause not being treated, fascial restrictions spread to other areas of the body and pain becomes generalized. This is known as referred pain. 


In the West, referred pain is frequently ignored, with traditional practitioners assuming that the problem lies solely where the pain is. This in turn leads to misdiagnosis and the failure to discover the cause of the pain.


Myofascial release and visceral manipulation are techniques which can be employed to manipulate the fascia and viscera (internal organs), enabling pain to be relieved and the fascia to be returned to its’ proper function.

 


There are major new understandings and changes in physical therapy and Sue keeps abreast of these through regular postgraduate courses held both in the UK and internationally. 


One very important such area is the fascia which mechanically integrates the whole body and was previously thought to be a passive structure. Current scientific study now realises that it is very active mechanically, neurologically, hormonally and is also important in relation to the efficiency of the immune system. It is therefore vital to consider the fascia (deep and superficial) if a treatment is to give good results.

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