Elizabeth Gershman

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.

Parts Work Therapy is an approach that helps individuals understand and heal from trauma by recognizing and working with the different “parts” of themselves that hold various emotions, memories, and coping strategies.

It is based on the idea that the mind naturally organizes itself into different aspects, or parts, especially in response to overwhelming experiences. These parts may hold pain, fear, or protective roles, and therapy helps integrate them into a more cohesive sense of self.

Grounded in the theory of structural dissociation, parts work is a non-pathologizing approach. It views symptoms as expressions of divided parts—not as signs of a flawed self, but as strategies shaped by trauma.

Narrative Exposure Therapy is a trauma-focused, evidence-based approach that helps individuals process and integrate traumatic memories into a coherent life narrative. Using a chronological “lifeline,” clients recount their experiences in detail, reducing PTSD symptoms by anchoring fragmented memories within their broader life story. Originally designed for survivors of war and violence, NET is structured, brief, and adaptable across diverse populations and cultural contexts.

Dissociative disorders involve a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions, and identity. They often stem from trauma and can manifest in various forms such as amnesia, fugue states, and identity fragmentation. Treatments include phases of establishing safety, processing traumatic memories, and integration or functional integration of identity parts.