About Sonya
Sonya's books are now open.
Sonya has worked as a Psychologist for 35 years During these years she has collected skills and knowledge from many treatment strategies. This has tailored her unique, eclectic, therapeutic style. In 1992 she attended the first EMDR training in Australia, conducted by Francine Shapiro and went on to be a facilitator, and then to train other EMDR practitioners over a number of years. She has spent many years in Private Practice, EAP, running community based workshops and providing consultative services to organisations, covering topics ranging from stress management to parenting skills, from Anxiety management to Life Coaching. Sonya has experience working with Emergency Service workers for the management of stress and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
What I can do for you
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. The EMDR Association of Australia explains EMDR :
“Often disturbing events happen in our lives that stay with us. The brain cannot process information as it ordinarily does. One moment can become ‘frozen in time’ and remembering the trauma may feel as bad as going through it for the first time. This is because the images, sounds, smells and feelings still seem to be there – they haven’t changed. Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way a person sees the world and the way that they relate to other people.
EMDR has a positive effect on how the brain processes information. Following an EMDR session, the person no longer relives the trauma. They still recall that an incident happened, but it no longer feels upsetting.”
(From the EMDRAA website : emdraa.org)
EMDR may be best known for its efficacy with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, however it is also useful for working with Grief and Depression, relationship and communication blocks and setting positive templates for future thoughts and actions.
EMDR and Trauma
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is characterised by an overloaded nervous system which can be activated by the simplest of everyday tasks. This activation sets off distressing emotional and physical alarms in the body. Sleep is no safe haven, when plagued by nightmares. Looping negative thoughts and images, intrude in the mind and avoidance of symptoms leads into corners of isolation where simple pleasures seem impossible to access. The ‘bodymind’ is not the enemy, but it can feel that way. The loss of connection with self and others can lead to feelings of loneliness and separateness.
EMDR can assist in opening the doors to healthy brain processing in a way that facilitates the interpretation of body, emotion, thoughts and sensory experience. Removing the blocks of unprocessed traumatic experience enables the nervous system to recognise that the crisis is over and to move towards balance and holistic well-being.
“EMDR is one of the most researched psychotherapeutic approaches for PTSD. Since 1989 over 20 controlled clinical studies have found EMDR to effectively decrease or eliminate the symptoms of PTSD for the majority of clients and it is more efficient.
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has recently noted EMDR as a Level 1 treatment for PTSD in their recent published results for ‘Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions: A Literature Review’ (2010) for both young people and adults. This is the highest rating that can be applied to a specific therapeutic approach. Additional research has focussed on use of EMDR for Depression and Anxiety and numerous other issues with extremely good results.”
(From the EMDRAA website : emdraa.org)
Sessions and Rebates
Booking Appointments
Sessions can be booked by calling 0435 861 692 and leaving your details for a call-back, or you can make contact by email here
A session is 50 minutes long. Payment options include cash, and online funds transfer. All phone calls, reports and information sheets are free of charge.
Session times: Mon, Tues, Wed, (First appointment 9.30, last appointment 2.00pm)
Rebates
Clients who have a Mental Health Care Plan and are referred by a doctor are able to claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 consultations in a year (Jan-Dec). Please be aware that reports are required as part of the Medicare system.
If you have private health cover, you may be eligible for a rebate, without a doctor’s referral, however you cannot claim from both Medicare and your Health Fund at the same time. Contact your fund for information.
Confidentiality
All client information collected is strictly confidential and held in accordance with Australian Psychological Society guidelines.
Contact me
This practice has moved from East Victoria Park to
Suite 7/21 Railway Road
Corner of Railway Road and Burt Street
Kalamunda WA 6076
Email: admin@sonyapsych.com
Phone 0435 861 692
Directions for Parking
Free parking is available off Railway Road and Burt Street. Enter the building from Burt Street, and be seated in the waiting room.