EMDR - Healing Trauma, Transforming Lives When Talk Therapy Isn't Enough
Change...Nurture...Grow through EMDR Therapy
ROB BENSON
Licensed Professional Counselor
Certified EMDR Therapy and DBT Treatment
Secure Video Counseling
EMDR, Your wellness, COVID-19 and Secure Video Counseling
We're open for business and working with you to remain healthy
What's Next...
Even after the stay-safe-at-home orders are completely lifted, each person and family will still need to determine what is best for their own situation.
And, as you adapt to change in your family and community, Altus Counseling Services is focusing on your health and welfare. Altus will continue to offer clients choices and treatment options: in-office and HIPPA-compliant telehealth video are available to you. In-office visits include a brief assessment of your wellbeing; an offer of masks and recognized effective sanitizers; and, continuous social distancing through modified therapeutic procedures. After each visit, Altus disinfects handled surfaces and porous seating fabrics.
A common experience related to social distancing and isolation from supporting communities is our feeling of anxiety. EMDR therapy is uniquely suited to treat and neutralize anxiety. Altus provides EMDR and other services proven to relieve distressing thoughts and feelings concerning specific life experiences.
To start, or continue therapy and resolve distress now, call me at 713.380.0859, or email robbensonlpc@gmail.com. You will also find answers to questions about counseling and specifically EMDR at robbensonlpc.com
Rob
From "Mind Cafe" March 31
"Everyone's reaction to an event, situation, stressor is different ... when you've felt frustrated, anxious, afraid, angry, heart broken, traumatized or alone. How did you handle it?"
Well...there's plenty of those situations and stressors going around whether related to overcoming challenges having to do with physical or emotional health, family, employment, finances or politics. And we want to make it through, to handle these things effectively, to manage our thoughts, emotions and behaviors, to live a life worth living. The following article, "5 Habits of Mentally Strong People Who Overcome Crisis and Stress" was recently recommended by a survivor and thriver who thought it helpful in this time of wide-spread need.
The attached article shares five ideas about choices we can make to develop better and bigger mental muscles to have the mental strength to know we'll be okay no matter what happens. These ideas include balancing emotion with logic; focusing on adapting rather than resisting; viewing hardship as an opportunity for growth; controlling what we can control; being conscious of sources of stress and choosing healthy coping. You'll find the complete article at:
https://medium.com/mind-cafe/5-core-habits-of-mentally-strong-people-in-times-of-crisis-858c1ce7c252
From NPR March 14 2020
"How long can the new corona virus live on a surface, like say, a door handle, after someone infected touches it with dirty fingers? A study out this week finds that the virus can survive on hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours.
In accord with CDC guidelines, when visiting Altus' office:
I wipe and spray through out the office right after each appointment: using ammonia or alcohol-based products on surfaces we may be touching including doorknobs, pillows, pens, and cell phones used in billing. Ultra violet cleansing lights to be used with cell phones in billing are on order.
I Wash. My Hands. Before and After Appointments. (Seriously!)
Hand sanitizer is available to all clients and used by me after all appointments .
Your appointment is offered at no charge if I offer to shake your hand, touch my face, or sneeze without covering into my arm during our time together.
From Houston Chronicle Opinion
March 14, 2020:
"With the past week’s new certainty that corona virus COVID-19 is loose and being transmitted in Houston, the region’s medical providers are bracing for the current handful of known cases to blaze into an outbreak like nothing in modern memory...By shutting down events and closing schools, officials aim to 'flatten the curve'— to stop too many people from getting sick at the same time and overwhelming the region’s hospitals and medical providers. Much about the highly contagious new virus remains unknown, and projections of its future behavior vary wildly..." For most people, the editorial continues, their physical responses to COVID-19 will be mild.
However, the changing landscape of our routines has greatly increased overall levels of anxiety that have led to social distancing and isolation from supporting communities.
In response, Altus Counseling offers specialized EMDR services uniquely suited to treat and neutralize these sorts of anxieties and concerns.
EMDR therapy specifically targets distressing thoughts, feelings and specific life experiences.
Altus offers regular face-to-face therapy and also on-line secure video counseling for those seeking treatment from the security of their homes. New or existing clients may start video counseling anytime after signing Informed Consent. Payment is manged through CashApp.
To start EMDR services, and resolve distress leading you to counseling now, call Rob Benson, MS, LPC at Altus Counseling Services, 713.380.0859, or email robbensonlpc@gmail.com. You may also seek answers to questions about counseling or specifically EMDR at robbensonlpc.com
Rob
Coronavirus, COVID 19 - Quarantine and Coping Tips
You've been told to quarantine. Now what? - Houston Chronicle
What we know from public health research is that it becomes especially important during this crisis to boost your immune system and pay attention to your mental and emotional health. Let’s focus on a few tips for each.
Immune system boosts
• Increase your physical activity — since you can’t go to the gym, use the many exercise routines on YouTube, or you can jump rope, do jumping jacks and practice yoga.
• Introduce more fruits and vegetables (antioxidants) into your diet.
• Add in extra sleep.
• Consciously hydrate.
Mental and emotional support
• Establish new daily schedules and routines.
• Increase your communication with family and friends.
• Get out in nature daily. If you have a backyard, that works, or find a park that is not too crowded, maintaining at least a 6-foot distance from others.
• Meditate, garden, read, cook — do something pleasurable that calms you.
Tips for coping with Coronavirus - CNN
- Keep a routine
- Exercise
- Eat healthy
- Avoid alcohol and drugs
- Stay in touch
- Take your medication
- Get out of your head
The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. - Mark Twain
EMDR Experiences
Clients report significant relief from post-traumatic stress and other mental health challenges after one-to-three periods of EMDR treatment. EMDR treatment targets and relieves distress associated with adverse life experiences; bodily disturbances; disturbing, intrusive memories; present triggers and potential future challenges. Effective EMDR treatment is intended to treat psychological disorders at their roots, to alleviate suffering, leading to an improved view of self and opportunities to live a life worth living.
Approaches to Treatment
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing is extensively researched and proven effective for treatment of trauma by the American Psychiatric Association, World Health Organization, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, US. Department of Health and Human Services and others. EMDR is a non-drug, non-hypnosis therapeutic procedure to treat anxiety, depression, guilt, anger and post traumatic responses.
For more information about EMDR, please see the Treatment pull down menu atop this page, and black button below that will take you to expert testimony and resources. Check out Connections, also atop this page, and a Blog about What to Expect in an EMDR therapy session.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy services are skill-based and therapeutic treatments used to regulate emotions, tolerate distress, improve interpersonal effectiveness, increase awareness of physical and psychological influences. DBT promotes effective thinking, positively influencing emotions and behavior. When combined with Cognitive Processing Therapy and EMDR, these approaches help relieve emotions triggered by underlying trauma.
For more information about DBT, please see the Treatment pull down menu section atop this page and black button below that will take you to expert testimony and resources. Check out Connections, also atop this page, a Blog about approaches to and experiences with DBT.
Expert testimony on Trauma, Self Destructive Behaviors and Abuse
Marsha Linehan, PhD, ABPP is a developer of Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Dr. Linehan's contributions to suicide research and clinical psychology include evidence-based treatments for people experiencing trauma, self destructive behaviors and abuse, with high suicide risk and multiple, severe behavioral health challenges.
"As someone once said to me, "Aren't these skills your mother was supposed to teach you?" I always say yes, but for many people their mother just did not or was not able to get around to it." (Linehan, 2015, p. vii)
Lane Pederson, PsyD, LP, DBTC is a Dialectical Behavior Therapy practitioner, consultant, speaker and trainer of more than 7,000 professionals. Dr. Pederson describes himself as a proponent of "a broader form of evidence-based practice that recognizes the importance of therapist experience and judgment balanced with client needs and preferences." (Pederson, 2015, fourth cover)
Qualifications
Licensed Professional Counselor
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
EMDR Certified (EMDRIA)
Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy Professional
VA Certified – Post Traumatic Stress
Rob Benson
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Personal Experiences
The focus of my Masters of Science from Concordia University was on the growth of the individual and development of the family. At the University of Michigan, I completed an Advanced Human Resource Executive Program and worked in related corporate areas for 30 years.
Outside counseling, I retired as a 37 year commercial airline pilot captain. A 10 year veteran of the US Air Force, I served as
pilot of the C-5.
Professional Client Focus
Healing is possible through hopeful, future-oriented counseling. Client results emerge cumulatively, continuously. My practice is focused on treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma and instability in moods, behavior and functioning often associated with Post Traumatic Stress and Borderline Personality.
Initially, my approach to psychotherapy is to work together with the client to find solutions that support client growth. Then, to select best practices in counseling theory. In my experience, DBT and EMDR are two of the most researched and helpful therapeutic resources in my practice. Through DBT, we work to relieve distress and dysregulation; and through EMDR, we are resolving emotional challenges associated with past crisis and trauma.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor working in Spring TX, my proficiencies include certifications from the Veteran's Administration to treat Post Traumatic Stress; the DBT National Certification and Accreditation Association; the International Association of Trauma Professionals; and, I am Certified by the EMDR International Association.
Professional Client services are available to individuals age 15 and older.
Privacy
In a peaceful, secure, comfortable setting focused on Client privacy and personal welfare assured through Informed Consent.
Finances
Professional Fees and Services
Initial consultation and assessment: 60 minutes -$150
Treatment and ongoing appointments: 50 minutes - $130/session
You may want to talk with your insurance company to determine whether out-of-network services are available when working with Rob Benson, MS, LPC and Altus Counseling Services PLLC..
Honoring members of Active Duty Military and Veterans, Altus accepts TriCare/TriWest insurance.
Payment Methods
American Express, Discover, Master Card, Visa, Health Savings Accounts, Cash, Check to "Altus Counseling Services"
When we have learned in our hearts what fear and trembling means, we are safeguarded by any terror produced by outside influences
--Ancient Chinese Book of Changes