What insurances do you take?
Currently, Vagus Counseling is in network with EMI(Network Care), Select Health(Except Signature Plan), Optum/UHC, Cigna, Aetna and Regency BCBS.
Optum: UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Shared Services (UHSS), GEHA - UnitedHealthcare Shared Services (UHSS), Oscar, Harvard Pilgrim, Oxford, UHC Student Resources, UMR, All Savers (UHC), Health Plans Inc, Medica (Eligible if the policy is commercial only), Surest (Formerly Bind)*
Aetna: Meritain: Nippon, Allied Benefit Systems, GEHA - United Healthcare Shared Services (UHSS), Trustmark, Trustmark Small Business Benefits, Health Scope, Christian Brothers Services.
Regency BCBS: All plans except SaveWell.
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELATION POLICY?
Because your hour is reserved specifically for you cancelations without a 24-hour notice will be charged full price. If an unforeseeable emergency arises, we can discuss waiving the cancelation/no-show fee. This policy is essential as to be truly effective at body based healing therapists need time to mindfully ground their energies outside of the office.
WHAT ARE PRIVATE PAY RATES?
Vagus counseling charges $125 an hour for private pay. Most goals are achieved in 12-15 sessions.
What research is there on Brainspotting?
People will say it does not have as much research as EMDR. Which is true because Brainspotting is a newer form of EMDR created as an adaptation of EMDR from the first EMDR trainer. Anything newer will of course have less research, so it is important to read what the research is finding. Please see the link below:
Brainspotting website:
https://brainspotting.com/about-bsp/research-and-case-studies/
National Library of Medicine found BSP and EMDR have similar Results: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8835026/
University of Maryland: Use of Brainspotting in reducing post COVID symptoms: https://archive.hshsl.umaryland.edu/handle/10713/12941
WHAT AGE RANGES DO YOU WORK WITH?
I primarily work with adults aged 18 and above. I take teenagers aged 13+ on a case-to-case basis. If a teen is struggling during a divorce it is usually more effective to work with the parents. I do not do custody evaluations.
WHAT ARE YOUR SPECIALTIES?
I specialize in trauma, codependency, major depression, anxiety, grief, self-harm, suicidal ideation, sports anxiety, and relationship/attachment issues. I work with dual-diagnosis substance abuse driven by grief, mood disorders, and trauma. I also have experience with mood disorders and schizophrenia. Religous trauma as well as somatic responses after a major medical event (Scroll to see more information on these topics).
HOW LONG DOES THERAPY LAST
Most conditions are addressed in 12-15 sessions. In the first session, I get a snapshot of your needs, the second is often educational on the modalities used, how trauma affects the brain, and subsequently a mix of Brainspotting, experiential therapy, and cognitive processing. This all depends on your needs. Many clients will later choose to stay in therapy once a month to maintain progress. My best compliment is when I am told “I don’t need you anymore.”
WHAT IS BILATERAL STIMULATION?
Bilateral stimulation is essentially the same as walking. In EMDR tappers are used to vibrate back and forth. In Brainspoting we use music. Remember the last time you were upset and went on a walk and were able to slowly look at the situation from different points of view? It works to create electrical activity in different parts of the brain and encourages better communication between the two sides of the brain. That inter-hemisphere communication holds the key to better emotional processing and regulation.
IS EMDR AND BRAINSPOTTING HYPNOTISM?
No, you will be fully aware of your actions and ability to stop processing at any time. Many clients enjoy Brainspotting and EMDR over talk therapy methods as you do not have to share every detail of your trauma to heal. In some sessions, you may say less than ten words and have profound change.
I’ve been told Brainspotting and EMDR will retraumatize you.
Yes and no, this can happen if not conducted properly! Some people report an increase in anxiety, heaviness and at times more vivid dreams a few days after the session; this is normal and is often your brain and nervous system still processing from the session. Processing can continue to occur for several days after a Brainspotting session followed by a comforting epiphany and a weight lifting. Most times this entire process will happen in the session itself.
It is essential to feel discomfort at times for growth but should never feel terrifying or significantly disruptive to your life. If it is terrifying your therapist is pushing you into the spot without you seeing or establishing the benefit first, pushing agendas on you, or wanting you to heal faster than what your nervous system is telling you is safe. The therapist may also not be attune with you(or themselves), established trust/safety, or does not have other tools to help you ground. EMDR and Brainspotting are not end all modalities and a therapist should have other tools. Another common issue is your therapist is a travel agent(because EMDR has become a catchy marketing term) and not a tour guide, they have never actually gone there themselves to be able to guide you in the process.
Experiential Therapy is like going on a trip! It is important your therapist knows how to navigate the waters!!! They drive the boat but you tell them where you want to go and how fast.
WHAT OTHER MODALITIES DO YOU USE?
I am also trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy which focuses more on emotional regulation skills and distress tolerance. I also enjoy Somatic Experiencing which helps you tune into and listen to your nervous system and mindfully release tension stored by trauma. Bowinian Family Systems Therapy, Gestalt, and Psycho/Sociodrama which are therapies that morphed into modern day Internal Family Systems therapy. These old school therapies bring IFS back alive!!
DO YOU TREAT FIRST RESPONDERS?
Yes!!! As a former firefighter/emt, I understand the culture and cognitive distortions first responders go through. Please see the First Responders page for more information.
WHERE DO YOU GET TRAINING?
I primarily train with the International Society of Experiential Professionals; and am CET level 1 certified. In addition the Center for Creative Arts Therapy; Downers Grove, IL. and Pacific Counseling and Trauma Center; Folsom, CA.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TO USE COGNITIVE PROCESSING VERSUS BRAINSPOTTING/EXPERIENTIAL?
I have so many clients that have completed EMDR say, “I feel calmer, but I still wonder why after I have done everything perfectly it still happened?” These clients might need some additional cognitive talk therapy processing or a deeper look at their family systems. Vice versa I will hear clients say, “When I have memories my heart races and I can’t concentrate,” this client may need Brainspotting or experiential methods.
DO YOU PROVIDE CHRISTIAN-BASED COUNSELING?
I do not provide Christian counseling as it may interfere with the therapeutic process although religion is often discussed and peoples higher power frequently joins in on sessions. Brainspotting and experiential techniques help unblock your connection with your higher power that may have been blocked due to trauma or family dynamics. My goal is to help you align with your beliefs to whatever they might be. Experiential therapy is known to quickly resolve trauma induced by those who use religion to exploit and suppress peoples’ true selves.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE VAGUS NERVE!!
Damage or displacement of the vagal nuclei may cause blocked pathways designed for learning, communication, heart rate, and the brain-gut axis via communication through the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve tells blood to slow to your stomach and increased heart rate to move blood sugar during fight or flight. Cortisol is dropped by the Hypothalamus/Pituitary to unlock adrenalin and increase blood sugar. Escpecialy since us humans are sedentary and don’t move during fight or flight responses excess cortisol is stored in the gut for quick use in another fight or flight reaction.
Messages we receive from outside of our body may impact our heart rate, i.e., trauma and complex trauma.
Heart rate may decrease due to dissociation-a relationship may exist between the heart and dissociation symptoms.
Trauma memory leads sometimes to the production of excess stress hormones that lead to physiological effects (e.g., thyroid, gastrointestinal issues, and asthma symptoms).
Many clients with trauma will complain of stomach pain and or tooth pain. I have had tooth pain and stress headaches diminish in sessions with stomach pain lowering over time.
Somatization after Medical Trauma
I tell clients your nervous system does not know that the miracle of modern medicine exists. Whatever medical event you went through it believed you would die and activated the dorsal(backside of the) Vagus Nerve. The dorsal side moves us away from connection and into protection. Disasocation and numbness was activated to help you emotionally and physically endure the pain of the event. You survived but your family might say they lost you. At Vagus Counseling we use techniques that allows your nervous system to tell your body and mind that it is ok to live again.