This is How Positive Change Happens...

The day after the Stanley Cup hockey riot in Vancouver this past June, a visibly shaken client arrived at my office for a counselling session. He had been in the epicenter of the riot and had witnessed significant violence. He spoke about what he had experienced with much anger, disappointment, and despair. As he was sharing with me, I began to sense that he was feeling a deep feeling of powerlessness. I asked if the statement "I am powerless" rang true for him. He said it did in a strong way. I let him know that it would be most beneficial if we worked directly with this deep cognition or belief about himself that had been triggered by this recent violent event. With some hesitation, he agreed to go to that deeper, more painful, yet true place within himself.

We began to work with his current suffering using the intervention of EMDR. This is a treatment that engages our whole nervous system with bilateral stimulation which allows us the opportunity to process our experiences in way that is deeper and hence, more transformative than just sitting and talking. This client had already experienced much positive change in his life by participating with EMDR treatment in our previous sessions. With that foundation in place, we proceeded to work with his current suffering. I asked him what the worst part about his experience of the riot was for him. He told me about an incident that was captured in his mind like a photograph. With my guidance, he then focused on that image and held that with the thought/feeling about himself of "I am powerless". With trust and bravery, he began to go through the layers of his pain. As he faced his real emotions and physical sensations, he was able to authentically challenge the idea that he was powerless. He began to see and most importantly, to feel, the healthy power he did have. He realized that he did have the power to take good care of himself. He also remembered that he could be part of helping positive social change to occur in the midst of crisis by effectively communicating his knowledge to relevant people. By the end of our session, he reported that he felt much more calm and relieved. The improvement was also evident in his body language, facial expression, and tone of voice. He said he had regained a connection to his power. Importantly, he did so by allowing himself to admit to an initial feeling of powerless. His courage and ability to allow healing to take place was beautiful and inspiring.

For information on the EMDR treatment click here.

Positive Change Counselling Services | Suite 421 - 119 West Pender St Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1S5