EMDR Therapy by Louise Monsour, MFT Licensed Therapist Bay Area, Berkeley

People who live balanced in mind, body, and spirit are people who are happy with their lives regardless of the immediate circumstances in which they find themselves. People who are out of balance in any way are less content and have more difficulty finding satisfaction in their work and in their relationships. Understanding how we are balanced and what imbalances us and learning our options can take some time and guidance to know. This is one of the benefits of therapy over a period of time with the same person. In a trusting relationship with a skilled therapist, healing and growth occur.

Of special interest to me are people who are in transition, either personal or professional. Change can be very complicated and yet is a very simple process. It is the natural process of our lives. Human beings are the very embodiment of change; from the moment we come into being we are a mass of cells that are dividing, growing, changing, and even dying without any conscious effort. Yet change feels difficult and challenging when we resist change or when it seems unwelcome or out of our control.

I work with adults of all ages. I also provide EMDR as an adjunctive therapy for those who may already be working with another therapist. We may agree upon a solution-focused approach for short term work or a more depth-oriented approach may be appropriate for some issues. It is one of your rights as a client to determine how long you stay in therapy.

I work with couples, both those in monogamous relationships, as well as those who identify as polyamorous. There is no one best method for working with all couples because relationships have stages just as individuals do. At our first few meetings we will determine what each of you feels is happening in the relationship and some possible approaches.

While I often work with family members, I must limit that part of my practice to small numbers because of the size of my office. Of special interest to me are relationships between adult children and their parents, or relationships between siblings.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a technique developed for treating trauma survivors; it helps to relieve psychological stress related to the trauma. I have been certified through Level II training and use EMDR with clients for whom it is appropriate. I also provide EMDR to those working with other therapists not trained in its use, as an adjunctive service to their work in therapy. Check out the EMDR International Association on their website at www.emdria.org for more information and FAQs.

People in a personal or professional transition
Anyone who is tired of repeating the same old mistakes in relationships
Those who want to understand themselves better
Anyone who wants to make more conscious choices in life
People with a history of physical or emotional trauma
People who feel “stuck” in any part of their lives
Couples who want to deepen their intimacy
Individuals who are trying to decide whether to stay or to go
Anyone who has done some initial work in therapy and would like to go deeper

I have many years of experience working in the non-profit world, and have founded and operated a non-profit. I offer my services to the Boards of Directors and to those in management who need or desire an outside perspective. I also offer my organizional skills to those non-profits who need to create or improve their forms and work-flow, their instructional manuals, or their training materials.