Mary S Reigel MS, LMFT

Mary S. Reigel MS, LMFT

Psychotherapist, Consultant & Trainer

3336 Bradshaw Road, Suite 340 Sacramento, California (916) 366-8026

On this page, I discuss: Who I Treat?, My Therapeutic Approach, and Therapy Modalities: EMDR, Hypnosis, Ego-State, and Gestalt

Who I Treat?
In my therapy practice, I work with both women and men providing confidential help in a safe, nurturing, and accepting atmosphere. I have a general practice but specialize in treating people who suffer from the following:

Blocking beliefs or negative cognitions (A good place to start when you don't know what is wrong with you
Complicated grief
Disturbing memories
Lifestyle changes - i.e., stop-smoking, exercise, diet, diabetes management
Performance anxiety
Phobias
Posttraumatic stress
Stress reduction
Victims of Crime

A Special Note About Blocking Beliefs and Negative Cognitions:

Blocking beliefs or negative cognitions are key to most therapeutic concerns including those also listed above. These critical elements can be conscious or unconscious; we may know about them or they can be hidden from our thoughts. Here are some examples of how blocking beliefs and negative cognitions can shape our lives:

Adults who behave with fear or have other problems which are not age appropriate and where there is no physiological explanation.
Parents who worry about their inability to nurture or bond with their children.
People who can't stop thinking about a disturbing memory, i.e., difficult childbirth or pregnancy, car accident, incident at work, memory from the past.
People who want to do or achieve something but no matter how hard they try, they cannot, i.e. spiritual practice, lifestyle, fly or travel, career goals, phobias.
People who find themselves over-reacting, even when they know better, i.e. road rage, low tolerances towards others, avoiding or attacking behaviors.
People who are very judgmental of others or people who feel very judged by others.
People who have performance anxiety, i.e., interviewing, public speaking, sports performance, acting.
People who want to believe in something but cannot.
People who find it hard to take care of themselves to reduce stress and health problems.
My Therapeutic Approach
Each client has their own unique path towards the resolution of their goals. It is my experience that after discussing your goals, history and concerns, the path to resolution begins to unfold. Whether the work we do goes deep into your past or stays focused on current issues, it is always in the service of your positive self-actualization.

I also have my own general goals as a therapist, which I strive to obtain for each new client. Some of these goals include:

Growing your sense of empowerment. You can make good things happen for yourself.
Increasing your skill mastery by strengthening positive resources and the uncovering of hidden talents.
Learning your intrinsic value. You are a precious gift, just because you are.

There are several beneficial modalities that I use in therapy. My main approaches include - EMDR, Hypnosis, Ego-state and Gestalt. These can be applied as stand alone therapeutic interventions, as in only wanting hypnosis and/or EMDR; or they can be interwoven to take therapeutic advantage of each method, as these therapeutic modalities are very compatible and potent.
Therapy Modalities
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful method of psychotherapy. This is a technique where therapeutic protocols, based on your own unique situation, are combined with a gentle bilateral stimulus via tapping, vibration, sound or eye-movement is used to stimulate our natural problem-solving abilities and to process stored memory.

EMDR works with our brain's information intake system. Our brain, using a very simplistic metaphor, is a bio-computer that gathers, stores and processes data for us. It gathers this information through our senses. Our eyes, ears, nose, sense of touch are the basic workhorses collecting this data from the world around us. Thus, in EMDR, they are the simplest avenues to get the brains' attention.

EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically based therapy that helps a person reprocess safely, disturbing information. Thus allowing he/she to think, feel and respond to life in healthier and happier ways.

One of the most unique aspects of EMDR is that it does not require a great deal of talking or verbalization in order for it to be helpful. From the participant it requires, generally, only a desire to process a problem to a more workable outcome. Thus making this an ideal therapy not just for those of us who are good communicators, but also for people who do not like to talk or who cannot articulate their problems.

EMDR also appears to work across cultural and language differences. Making EMDR one of the most dynamic therapeutic modalities to treat human suffering. Due to this, EMDR has become one of the most popular therapeutic interventions that are being taught to mental health professionals around the world.

What does EMDR treat?

The literature is full of reports of positive treatment outcomes using EMDR for an array of issues that impede personal growth. EMDR may be used exclusively or occasionally as a treatment modality. EMDR can be viewed as one of the fastest therapies to assist change.

EMDRIA, the international association for EMDR, states that there has been reported success using EMDR in the treatment of the following conditions: Addictions, Body dysmorphic disorders, Complicated grief, Dissociative disorders, Disturbing memories, Eating disorders, Pain disorders, Panic attacks, Performance anxiety, Personality disorders, Phobias, Posttraumatic stress, Sexual dysfunction, Sexual and/or physical abuse, and Stress reduction.

It was announced in 2006, that EMDR is the most researched treatment for trauma in the world and has been proven to be successful when used correctly. (For more information contact: www.EMDRIA.org)

What to expect ?

In EMDR therapy, after a thorough discussion with me about the problem and desired outcome, you will be asked to focus your attention in your minds eye or in your thoughts, on some aspect of your situation, as gentle bilateral prompting begins.

There is no right or wrong, good or bad when it comes to how or what you think or feel in therapy. This simply is about "what is". We look at what authentically comes to your thoughts during therapy and your job is to notice what happens.

The initial focus of EMDR will vary with each person and circumstance. With many people we can begin on the core goals of treatment right away. However, for others, we will need to strengthened or find positive resources before we do anything else. Thus developing a safe, supporting and encouraging environment for the processing of any disturbing content.

At some point we will focus attention on issues concerning your body. Such as: physical aches and pains, tension, headaches, and nervousness. This is one of the basic ways that EMDR helps us understand how our brain takes care of us. Most people find that EMDR triggers a natural relaxation response. Giving us insight in how to help our bodies.

As stated before, one of the most unique aspects of EMDR is that it does not require a great deal of talking or verbalization in order for it to be helpful. From the participant, it generally requires only a desire to process a problem to a more workable outcome.

EMDR is a treatment modality where success is easy to measure. From the beginning I will keep tract of your level of disturbance regarding the subject matter. We will use the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS), developed by Joseph Wolpe, M.D., to measure how therapy is doing. This is a 0-10 scale where 0 represents no disturbance and 10 represents the worst disturbance you can imagine.

I will also keep tract of any negative (i.e. I hate myself.) and positive (i.e. I love myself.) beliefs or cognitions during treatment. How we think about ourselves usually changes as disturbing memories are processed. I will use the Validity of Cognition (VoC) scale, to measure cognitions and beliefs. This was developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D, the founder of EMDR. This is a self-report scale that runs from 1-7, where 1 represents totally unbelievable, to 7, which represents totally believable.

How long is treatment?

It may take one or more sessions for me to understand the nature of your problem. Sometimes we can take care of an issue in as little as 3 or 4 sessions but in other instances it may take longer. For some problems such as childhood trauma, PTSD or profound self-hate, many sessions over a longer period of time and combined with other treatment modalities will be needed.
Current research suggests 90-minute sessions are the optimum length for therapy. However a good deal of work can be accomplished in the more traditional 45-50 minutes session.
As with all therapy modalities I cannot guarantee outcome; I can guarantee that I will work diligently in our time together. Please note I am always willing to talk about any issues or concerns you have regarding therapy.
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Hypnosis:

What is Hypnosis?

As the oldest mental health therapy recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA, 1958), hypnosis has many powerful applications. When hypnosis is understood and used appropriately, it becomes an inviting therapeutic modality to use in our exploration, empowerment and personal evolution towards more satisfying lives.

Though some people worry that hypnosis means being controlled by someone else as portrayed in old movies, television and stage shows, this is far from the truth. Be assured that no one can get you to do something you do not really want to do using hypnosis. If hypnosis could be used this way every politician would be a master hypnotist.

“Hypnosis” is simply a word used to describe a process that takes advantage of something we actually do with our brains all the time. This is our ability to focus or concentrate to such a degree that we get absorbed. We do this, for instance, when we watch a good movie, or read great book. In hypnosis we add a few more ingrediants

...Work In Process

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Ego-State Therapy
Work In Process

Gestalt Therapy

Work In Process

e-mail Mary at mary@maryreigel.com

California Licensed Marraige, Family Therapist # MFC31887
Copywrite ©2006 Mary S. Reigel
3336 Bradshaw Road Suite 340
Sacramento, CA 95827


	Mary S. Reigel MS, LMFT

Psychotherapist, Consultant & Trainer
		`3336 Bradshaw Road, Suite 340 Sacramento, California (916) 366-8026`
		On this page, I discuss: Who I Treat?, My Therapeutic Approach, and Therapy Modalities: EMDR, Hypnosis, Ego-State, and Gestalt *Who I Treat?* In my therapy practice, I work with both women and men providing confidential help in a safe, nurturing, and accepting atmosphere. I have a general practice but specialize in treating people who suffer from the following: Blocking beliefs or negative cognitions (A good place to start when you don't know what is wrong with you Complicated grief Disturbing memories Lifestyle changes - i.e., stop-smoking, exercise, diet, diabetes management Performance anxiety Phobias Posttraumatic stress Stress reduction Victims of Crime A Special Note About Blocking Beliefs and Negative Cognitions: Blocking beliefs or negative cognitions are key to most therapeutic concerns including those also listed above. These critical elements can be conscious or unconscious; we may know about them or they can be hidden from our thoughts. Here are some examples of how blocking beliefs and negative cognitions can shape our lives: Adults who behave with fear or have other problems which are not age appropriate and where there is no physiological explanation. Parents who worry about their inability to nurture or bond with their children. People who can't stop thinking about a disturbing memory, i.e., difficult childbirth or pregnancy, car accident, incident at work, memory from the past. People who want to do or achieve something but no matter how hard they try, they cannot, i.e. spiritual practice, lifestyle, fly or travel, career goals, phobias. People who find themselves over-reacting, even when they know better, i.e. road rage, low tolerances towards others, avoiding or attacking behaviors. People who are very judgmental of others or people who feel very judged by others. People who have performance anxiety, i.e., interviewing, public speaking, sports performance, acting. People who want to believe in something but cannot. People who find it hard to take care of themselves to reduce stress and health problems. My Therapeutic Approach Each client has their own unique path towards the resolution of their goals. It is my experience that after discussing your goals, history and concerns, the path to resolution begins to unfold. Whether the work we do goes deep into your past or stays focused on current issues, it is always in the service of your positive self-actualization. I also have my own general goals as a therapist, which I strive to obtain for each new client. Some of these goals include: Growing your sense of empowerment. You can make good things happen for yourself. Increasing your skill mastery by strengthening positive resources and the uncovering of hidden talents. Learning your intrinsic value. You are a precious gift, just because you are. There are several beneficial modalities that I use in therapy. My main approaches include - EMDR, Hypnosis, Ego-state and Gestalt. These can be applied as stand alone therapeutic interventions, as in only wanting hypnosis and/or EMDR; or they can be interwoven to take therapeutic advantage of each method, as these therapeutic modalities are very compatible and potent. *Therapy Modalities* EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing *What is EMDR?* Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful method of psychotherapy. This is a technique where therapeutic protocols, based on your own unique situation, are combined with a gentle bilateral stimulus via tapping, vibration, sound or eye-movement is used to stimulate our natural problem-solving abilities and to process stored memory. EMDR works with our brain's information intake system. Our brain, using a very simplistic metaphor, is a bio-computer that gathers, stores and processes data for us. It gathers this information through our senses. Our eyes, ears, nose, sense of touch are the basic workhorses collecting this data from the world around us. Thus, in EMDR, they are the simplest avenues to get the brains' attention. EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically based therapy that helps a person reprocess safely, disturbing information. Thus allowing he/she to think, feel and respond to life in healthier and happier ways. One of the most unique aspects of EMDR is that it does not require a great deal of talking or verbalization in order for it to be helpful. From the participant it requires, generally, only a desire to process a problem to a more workable outcome. Thus making this an ideal therapy not just for those of us who are good communicators, but also for people who do not like to talk or who cannot articulate their problems. EMDR also appears to work across cultural and language differences. Making EMDR one of the most dynamic therapeutic modalities to treat human suffering. Due to this, EMDR has become one of the most popular therapeutic interventions that are being taught to mental health professionals around the world. *What does EMDR treat?* The literature is full of reports of positive treatment outcomes using EMDR for an array of issues that impede personal growth. EMDR may be used exclusively or occasionally as a treatment modality. EMDR can be viewed as one of the fastest therapies to assist change. EMDRIA, the international association for EMDR, states that there has been reported success using EMDR in the treatment of the following conditions: Addictions, Body dysmorphic disorders, Complicated grief, Dissociative disorders, Disturbing memories, Eating disorders, Pain disorders, Panic attacks, Performance anxiety, Personality disorders, Phobias, Posttraumatic stress, Sexual dysfunction, Sexual and/or physical abuse, and Stress reduction. It was announced in 2006, that EMDR is the most researched treatment for trauma in the world and has been proven to be successful when used correctly. (For more information contact: www.EMDRIA.org) *What to expect ?* In EMDR therapy, after a thorough discussion with me about the problem and desired outcome, you will be asked to focus your attention in your minds eye or in your thoughts, on some aspect of your situation, as gentle bilateral prompting begins. There is no right or wrong, good or bad when it comes to how or what you think or feel in therapy. This simply is about "what is". We look at what authentically comes to your thoughts during therapy and your job is to notice what happens. The initial focus of EMDR will vary with each person and circumstance. With many people we can begin on the core goals of treatment right away. However, for others, we will need to strengthened or find positive resources before we do anything else. Thus developing a safe, supporting and encouraging environment for the processing of any disturbing content. At some point we will focus attention on issues concerning your body. Such as: physical aches and pains, tension, headaches, and nervousness. This is one of the basic ways that EMDR helps us understand how our brain takes care of us. Most people find that EMDR triggers a natural relaxation response. Giving us insight in how to help our bodies. As stated before, one of the most unique aspects of EMDR is that it does not require a great deal of talking or verbalization in order for it to be helpful. From the participant, it generally requires only a desire to process a problem to a more workable outcome. EMDR is a treatment modality where success is easy to measure. From the beginning I will keep tract of your level of disturbance regarding the subject matter. We will use the Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale (SUDS), developed by Joseph Wolpe, M.D., to measure how therapy is doing. This is a 0-10 scale where 0 represents no disturbance and 10 represents the worst disturbance you can imagine. I will also keep tract of any negative (i.e. I hate myself.) and positive (i.e. I love myself.) beliefs or cognitions during treatment. How we think about ourselves usually changes as disturbing memories are processed. I will use the Validity of Cognition (VoC) scale, to measure cognitions and beliefs. This was developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D, the founder of EMDR. This is a self-report scale that runs from 1-7, where 1 represents totally unbelievable, to 7, which represents totally believable. *How long is treatment?* It may take one or more sessions for me to understand the nature of your problem. Sometimes we can take care of an issue in as little as 3 or 4 sessions but in other instances it may take longer. For some problems such as childhood trauma, PTSD or profound self-hate, many sessions over a longer period of time and combined with other treatment modalities will be needed. Current research suggests 90-minute sessions are the optimum length for therapy. However a good deal of work can be accomplished in the more traditional 45-50 minutes session. As with all therapy modalities I cannot guarantee outcome; I can guarantee that I will work diligently in our time together. Please note I am always willing to talk about any issues or concerns you have regarding therapy. (back to top of page) Hypnosis: *What is Hypnosis?* As the oldest mental health therapy recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA, 1958), hypnosis has many powerful applications. When hypnosis is understood and used appropriately, it becomes an inviting therapeutic modality to use in our exploration, empowerment and personal evolution towards more satisfying lives. Though some people worry that hypnosis means being controlled by someone else as portrayed in old movies, television and stage shows, this is far from the truth. Be assured that no one can get you to do something you do not really want to do using hypnosis. If hypnosis could be used this way every politician would be a master hypnotist. “Hypnosis” is simply a word used to describe a process that takes advantage of something we actually do with our brains all the time. This is our ability to focus or concentrate to such a degree that we get absorbed. We do this, for instance, when we watch a good movie, or read great book. In hypnosis we add a few more ingrediants ...Work In Process (back to top of page) Ego-State Therapy Work In Process Gestalt Therapy Work In Process e-mail Mary at mary@maryreigel.com California Licensed Marraige, Family Therapist # MFC31887 Copywrite ©2006 Mary S. Reigel 3336 Bradshaw Road Suite 340 Sacramento, CA 95827