Cristina Mardirossian

The realization that even the parts of ourselves that cause us the most distress, disturbance, and guilt have a positive and protective intention quickly begins to foster increased self-compassion and reduce shame. From a parts perspective, these parts have been forced into extreme (burdened) roles as the result of traumatic experiences and in their roles, make every attempt to protect us from being harmed again. Embracing the protective function and positive intention of our parts offers a new understanding of our current circumstances and ways in which we can begin to promote self-led change.

The overall goal of parts work is to unburden these “protector” parts from their extreme roles, heal the “exiled” parts (the parts of us that have experienced trauma), and offer all parts the opportunity to choose new and more adaptive ways of functioning. Parts work is a non-pathologizing modality, meaning that it addresses symptoms and many mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance use, eating disorders, and more as parts that are attempting to protect us rather than labeling them as a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy that has been successful in helping people who suffer from trauma, anxiety, panic, disturbing memories, nightmares, etc. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements or tapping) while the client attends to memories and triggers to decrease or eliminate emotional distress connected to the memory.

Brainspotting is a somatic therapy that helps clients access the subcortical (non-verbal) part of the brain, where trauma is typically stored. According to the creator of Brainspotting, David Grand, “Where you look affects how you feel.” Since our eyes give us access to the subcortical brain, Brainspotting uses the visual field as a way to help release stored memories.

The Trauma Resiliency Module is a somatic approach that helps clients with traumatic stress reactions by learning skills to help stabilize the mind and body. Clients will learn to track body sensations and bring balance back to the nervous system. I am a Certified TRM practitioner.

The Havening Techniques® are powerful tools that can be used to treat the consequences of encoded traumatic or stressful memories. It is designed to change the brain to de-traumatize memory and remove its negative effects from both our psyche and body. I am a Certified Havening Techniques Practitioner.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based treatment approach shown to help children, adolescents, and their caretakers overcome trauma-related difficulties.

Course with Janina Fisher (specific training to treat Trauma, Complex Trauma, and Dissociative Disorders). This modality includes Sensorimotor, Internal Family Systems (parts-work), and mindfulness strategies that help clients connect to their minds, bodies, emotions, and traumatic events without feeling overwhelmed and avoidant. Parts work makes space for the conflicts between parts of the self. For instance, there are times when you might be attempting to work through a challenging or traumatic memory within therapy.

Although you feel ready to heal, there might be a part of you that interferes with the process to protect you from vulnerable feelings that threaten your sense of self. Parts work can also look at the “inner child” part(s) that still carry pain that is stuck in time. Parts work is very effective in making clients feel seen, heard, and attuned. This may be a modality to consider if you have been in therapy for many years without much success.

Level 1 actively incorporates awareness of the body, targeting the habits of physical action, autonomic dysregulation, and posture. By addressing the physical as well as the psychological effects of adverse experiences on the mind and body, SP supports a deep, effective, and unified approach to healing. SP for the treatment of trauma equips therapists to better understand the symptoms and issues related to trauma and traumatic attachment and to work with them more effectively.

The T.R.I.P approach involves working with trauma and its impact on the person as a whole. This approach recognizes that frequently memories are implicit and stored at a body level. The assumption of T.R.I.P is that the body, brain, emotions, beliefs, sensations, and relationships need both regulation and integration for the person to feel alive, and live in the present.

The T.R.I.P model has been influenced by the ideas, theories, concepts, and practices of the following therapies and seeks to integrate key aspects of each of these therapies:

1. OEI – One Eye Integration/Observed & Experiential Integration
2. IFS – Internal Family Systems
3. SP/SE – Sensorimotor Psychotherapy/Somatic Experiencing
4. EFT – Emotionally Focused Therapy
5. Developmental Attachment theory – Dr, G. Neufeld (Neufeld institute)

When addressing dissociative disorders such as OSDD and DID, I use the Phase Oriented Treatment of Structural Dissociation model. Dissociative disorder treatment involves communication and collaboration, both within the system and the therapeutic relationship.

With the knowledge that every system is highly unique, I use the phase-oriented approach as a general guideline to treatment while focusing on collaborative treatment planning by hearing the wants, goals, fears, and needs of each part of the system.