Educational Blogs from Our Mental Health Therapists

Learn about common challenges, including depression, anxiety, relationships,
trauma, and more, written by Monkton, MD therapists!

Anxiety, COVID-19, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner Anxiety, COVID-19, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner

Re-Entry Anxiety. The Struggle is Real!

With advancements in medicine, vaccines for COVID-19 are now available and have been distributed to more than 87.6 million Americans. This means more people are venturing out and enjoying the people, places, and things they have missed out on for the past year. But for some, the idea of leaving the comfort and safety of home is stressful. The idea of moving around in the world in the midst of an unseen virus can be daunting and debilitating.

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Brainspotting, Trauma and PTSD, Resources Melissa Wesner Brainspotting, Trauma and PTSD, Resources Melissa Wesner

Brainspotting vs. EMDR: How They’re Similar & How They’re Different

Mental health providers and potential clients often ask us about Brainspotting and how it’s different from EMDR. As someone who is trained in EMDR and Brainspotting, I am happy to answer. I want to be up front that I have a personal preference for Brainspotting, and I’ll make note of some of the reasons throughout. As you read, however, please make note that both treatment modalities are effective. There are many paths to healing, so it’s important that you find the one that fits for you. As a mental health counselor, the same is true, and Brainspotting is the modality that is a better fit for me.

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Brainspotting, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner Brainspotting, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner

I’ve Heard of EMDR. What’s Brainspotting?

Learn more about Brainspotting (BSP), a really powerful treatment modality that was discovered by David Grand in 2003, used by the clinicians here at LifeSpring!

Melissa Wesner discusses how it began, how it has evolved, what to expect, and how to prepare for a Brainspotting session - all long awaited answers to your most asked questions!

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What to Expect from a Brainspotting Session

Brainspotting is definitely not talk therapy as usual.  For this reason, people are often unsure of what to expect.  I find that it’s helpful to be as clear as possible about what to expect during a Brainspotting session.  For many, knowing what to expect can alleviate any nervousness or uncertainty.  At the same time, it’s important to know that the content that arises in each Brainspotting session will be unique.  

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Resources, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner Resources, Trauma and PTSD Melissa Wesner

Trauma Pot Pie

Sometimes we crave creature comforts, and often this means comfort foods because they provide psychological comfort and are often associated with positive memories from our life. It got me thinking about chicken pot pie. I know you must be wondering β€œwhy on earth chicken pot pie?”. Simple....because who among us doesn’t need to feel encapsulated or protected at times by a thick shell? I often use this analogy with my clients when we talk about trauma and grief, anxiety and depression.

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