Becoming a “Green Thumb” Through EMDR Therapy?

"To see things in the seed, that is genius" ~ Lao Tzu

To see things in the seed, that is genius.

~ Lao Tzu ~

 

I have been told I have a “Green Thumb” …I laugh a bit at this, don’t get me wrong, I love plants, flowers, trees, etc.  I do enjoy planting them and watching them grow, if they cooperate.  Turns out plant life ends up being a lot of responsibility.  I mean, you are supposed to keep them alive!  Plants need the “right” amount of water, the “right” soil, the “right” amount of sunlight, the “right” amount of fertilizer, the “right” sized pot, the list goes on!  Turns out plant life needs nurturing, the “right” nurturing.  I am not sure I know much of anything about giving plants the right nurturing.  Quite frankly, most of my experience with plant life has been complete trial and error.  I planted a vegetable garden once from seeds, it was a disaster!  I haven’t attempted it again, why? fear maybe.  Have you ever been too scared to grow?  I don’t think plants are…they are plants!  I do think they will die off or become stagnant when they have outgrown their environment but, too scared to grow…I don’t think so.

Writing this blog was scary for me, I have been putting off writing another blog for over a year and it has been hindering my growth.  Why would I do this to myself?  Why would anybody fear a seemingly simple task they know deep down was holding them back from their awesomeness?

Telling another human, sometimes yourself, how to grow or change is about as effective as telling a plant how to grow or change! Our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual bodies have the capability of holding more information than we are capable of comprehending.  This information can help and hinder our growth.  How do we find the information and decide what is hindering or helping?  Plants don’t have to decide, if in the right environment they just adapt and flow naturally if they have all the necessities, they can flourish if given the opportunity.

Our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual bodies have the capability of holding more information than we are capable of comprehending. ~ Cheryl Vaudt, LICSW, PLCC

Our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual bodies have the capability of holding more information than we are capable of comprehending.

~ Cheryl Vaudt, LICSW, PLCC ~

 

We as humans can also grow, adapt, flourish. Sometimes we just need a hint, or 100 hints, or for me a gigantic push! Or just one of those beautiful moments when something you have heard thousands of times suddenly makes perfect sense in so many ways, when before it was just a cliché. The cliché that inspired this blog, “all you’ve got to do is plant a seed.”

When it was hinted to me that I was a “green thumb” it was also explained that learning how plants grow and working with their energy would transfer and relate to my knowledge of working with humans.

I have been a therapist for over 10 years, a social worker since 2002, and prior to 2002 worked in customer service.  I feel like I know a lot about humans, how they work/grow… what could plants teach me about humans? I write this now and laugh at my ignorance.

I was replaying a conversation I had with my father a few days earlier and the thought popped in my head that he probably thinks I am a crazy dreamer, then the next thought that followed was “all you did was plant a seed” …the realization hit me so hard in that moment!  Followed by joy, laughter at myself, then an astounding “DUH”!!

Plants and humans do grow in a similar fashion. You can’t tell a plant where to grow, when to grow, how to grow, why to grow, you can’t reason with them, you can’t lecture them, educate them, intimidate them, or just plain tell them the best ways to grow! They just do their thing if given the right environment and elements. They will flourish if nurtured and needs are met. The person taking care of the plant is to become a student of the plant. This information absolutely transfers to humans!!

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR Therapy) is a therapeutic modality that allows human healing and growth to happen naturally, occurring through a holistic, natural, energetic flow. It assists in releasing all the yucky, stagnant information stored in the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual bodies when ready and when given the right environment and foundation to do so.

My hope today is to “plant a seed.”  Barb Maiberger from the Maiberger Institute provided me the “right” environment and foundation to become an EMDR Therapist.  She believed in me, saw my potential, and despite my fears to grow, nurtured me, encouraged me, applauded me, celebrated me as I shared the miracles I witnessed in my office every day.  She provided me with just the right elements…she might just be a “green thumb” herself!!  I am now an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant.  And today, today was the day I moved through one more fear or hinderance to my own growth.  Barb Maiberger helped me to see the importance of addressing my own “yuck” participating in my own EMDR therapy sessions, planting a seed in relation to other modalities of energy and body work.

EMDR therapy has molded me into a "green thumb" of human healing and growth, removing "yuck" and nurturing the human potential. ~ Cheryl Vaudt, LICSW, PLLC

EMDR therapy has molded me into a “green thumb” of human healing and growth, removing “yuck” and nurturing the human potential.

~ Cheryl Vaudt, LICSW, PLLC ~

 

I am honored to announce that Barb Maiberger is bringing the EMDR Therapy Training back to North Dakota, and this time to my hometown of Minot. My hope is that this seed I have planted today grows into a flourishing garden of EMDR Therapists in Minot, ND and our surrounding area. EMDR therapy has molded me into a “green thumb” of human healing and growth, removing “yuck” and nurturing the human potential.

Will you allow this opportunity to pass you by? Hope to see your beautiful face in the garden!!

 

🌸

 


This blog post was written by guest blogger, Cheryl Vaudt, and was originally posted on her website


About Guest Blogger Cheryl Vaudt, LICSW, PLLC

Cheryl Vaudt, LICSW, PLLC

Cheryl Vaudt, LICSW, PLLC is a psychotherapist in Minot, North Dakota; she maintains a small private practice. Cheryl is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist in EMDR Therapy and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Cheryl has over 10 years of experience as a mental health psychotherapist with a mission to guide individuals and families on their journey of healing, recovery, and resilience. Cheryl approaches individuals and treatment through a Trauma Informed Care perspective. Cheryl’s primary modality used in treatment is EMDR Therapy; Cheryl’s prior training and experience included modalities of treatment in CBT, TF-CBT, and DBT.

Cheryl Vaudt’s Website

EMDR Therapist Directory Profile

EMDRIA Member Profile

 


 

EMDR Training in Minot, North Dakota - April and July 2020

 

Learn EMDR Therapy

Heal PTSD and Trauma and See Real Change in Your Clients Today

 

As clients struggle with not making the changes they are longing for in therapy, many therapists become frustrated and feel helpless that they are lacking the skills to help their clients make lasting change and transformation. If therapists only pay attention to what the client is saying, and the client is struggling to make lasting change, then something is missing in the therapeutic process. The solution may be a somatic approach to healing trauma using EMDR therapy.

This evidenced based, integrative modality, is a recommended treatment of choice by several international mental health organizations for healing PTSD and trauma. Millions of people around the world have transformed the negative impact experienced from traumatic events into more adaptive ways of living by increasing their confidence, sense of joy and feeling more at peace. Real change is possible!

 

EMDR Training in Minot, North Dakota

Complete EMDR Training Program

 

Part 1: April 17, 2020 to April 19, 2020

Part 2: July 24, 2020 to July 26, 2020

10 Hours of Group Consultation Included

EMDRIA Approved Provider

APA and NBCC CE Credit Hours Available

 

EMDR Trainer for this EMDR Training:

Barb Maiberger, MA, LPC

EMDRIA Approved Consultant for this EMDR Training:

Cheryl Vaudt, LICSW, PLLC

 

Click to Learn More

 




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