Three Phase Model

Tamie Pushlar follows the ISSTD (International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation) phase-oriented approach.    

Phase One: Developing Safety and Stabilization

The therapeutic relationship is an important tool for your healing journey.  Tamie will take her time to build a relationship with you that ensures your safety (emotional and physical safety).  The process of developing a relationship is individualized based upon your needs.  As the relationship is built, you will develop a plan with Tamie that gives you the tools and resources you need to stabilize and create an environment that helps you look at your past lived experiences and work toward understanding, healing, and acceptance. Tamie draws on her 30 years of therapeutic knowledge and multiple treatment techniques, which may include: Grounding and Self-soothing Techniques, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR Resourcing, Psychoeducation, Bibliotherapy, Somatic techniques, Parts Work, and many more.  Once again, everyone's stabilization journey is individualized to their needs.  

Phase Two: Processing

Processing uses therapeutic approaches to process past lived experiences and trauma to lessen the emotional impact on current daily life.  Tamie mainly uses EMDR and DBR as psychotherapy models to help you process past lived experiences.  These models are considered bottom-up processing.  At times, Tamie will also integrate top-down processing, including psychodynamic therapy.  You, the client, will choose which processing model you prefer to use.   The goal of phase two is to safely revisit the past lived experience, reintegrate it, and resolve the memories.  The end result is that you will be less emotionally charged and physically reactive to events that may remind you of the past traumatic memories.  
 

Phase Three: Reintegration and Connection

Phase three is when you reintegrate and connect with your environment based on what you have learned to accept about yourself and your environment.  The focus is to rebuild self-identity and personal values, strengthen and build connections with a support network, practice the skills you learned in session in the community, and actively engage in the new resources to help you manage everyday stressors.  

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you” -Maya Angelou  

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same.” -Flavia Weedn

*Disclaimer: Sometimes the phases are not progressive, and you may need to return to an earlier phase if needed.