Articles

EMDR

• WHAT IS EMDR?

  Sara Gilman, M.F.T., F.A.A.E.T.S.
  Marriage & Family Therapist
  Lifeforce Services, Inc.

  EMDR is an acronym for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a method of psychotherapy that has been extensively researched (See EMDR Resources) and proven effective for the treatment of trauma, specifically for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

• SHOTS FIRED, OFFICER DOWN: Recovering From the After effects of Traumatic Stress

  Sara Gilman, M.F.T., F.A.A.E.T.S.
  Marriage & Family Therapist
  Fellow, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
  Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists, Spring 2003

  A moving and informative case study, presenting the use of EMDR in the aftermath of a horrific shooting spree aimed at law enforcement in a large midwestern city. Those treated in the year that followed included police officers, their family members, dispatchers, citizens, eyewitnesses, children, the police officer's widow and her family.

• FAMILY MEMBERS AS SECONDARY VICTIMS OF TRAUMA

  "A FAMILY MEMBER RECALLS HER TRAUMA & RECOVERY" FROM POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS
  Sara Gilman, M.F.T., F.A.A.E.T.S.
  Marriage & Family Therapist
  Fellow, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress

  I felt incredibly blessed and at the same time selfish. My father's life had been spared during a shooting rampage in the town he policed. The first phone call I received was from my sister explaining one officer was shot, my father's dear friend. The men responsible had not been found yet and every officer was a part of the manhunt to find them, including my father.

RELATIONSHIPS

• TRUSTING THE ONE YOU LOVE

  Sara Gilman, M.F.T., F.A.A.E.T.S.
  Marriage & Family Therapist
  Fellow, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
  Living Better Magazine, June 2001

  Have you ever been betrayed? Have you betrayed the one you love. Most likely we have all been on at least one side of the coin. Betrayal may be a strong word, however, a break down of trust in an intimate relationship can ruin a good relationship. Trust and respect are the foundation upon which a good relationship is based.

TRAUMATIC STRESS & PTSD

• WHAT IS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER?

  Sara Gilman, M.F.T., F.A.A.E.T.S.
  Marriage & Family Therapist
  Life Force Services, Inc.

  PTSD is a serious, debilitating condition, which arises from exposure to very dangerous or life-threatening circumstances. The origin of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can be traced to a natural defense mechanism that all human beings share. It is referred to as "Fight, Flight or Freeze."

• TRAUMATIC STRESS: LISTEN TO AND WATCH FOR ITS SYMPTOMS

  Sara Gilman, M.F.T., F.A.A.E.T.S.
  Marriage & Family Therapist
  Fellow, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
  Living Better Magazine, May 2001

  Traumatic events in our lives come with no warning. As we all recover from the shock of our local school shootings, I thought it would be useful to understand the nature of "traumatic stress" and the negative effects it can have on someone's life. We may not be able to prevent life's traumas, but with greater understanding of how it affects our lives, we can grow beyond it.