Injuries · The emotional aftermath
When an injury affects
more than your body.
Have you been injured in a car accident, at work or in another frightening experience? Perhaps your injury is receiving treatment, yet the memory still brings up fear, upset or a sense that you are not safe.
Counselling can address the emotional effects of an injury alongside the medical care and rehabilitation your body needs.
A few questions to consider
What is still difficult for you?
01 · Reminders
What brings it back?
Does a place, sound or situation bring back the feelings you had at the time?
02 · Daily life
What has become harder?
Is returning to work, getting into a car or attending an appointment difficult?
03 · Your goal
What would you like to do?
What matters to you that fear, upset or worry is getting in the way of?
These questions are for reflection, not a diagnosis. Every injury does not cause trauma, and every ongoing symptom does not come from a memory. Pain is real and deserves appropriate medical attention.
My approach
Working with
disturbing memories.
My practice is primarily based in EMDR. I begin by understanding your history, present concerns and readiness for the work. Preparation is part of treatment.
A reminder of an accident may bring back fear and physical sensations. You can know that the event is over and still feel frightened when you think about it. I want to understand what is happening for you before deciding how to work with it.
EMDR is an established treatment for PTSD, which can develop after a serious accident or another traumatic event. When this kind of distress follows an injury, EMDR may be an appropriate part of treatment.
EMDR works with a disturbing memory and its connected thoughts, feelings and body sensations. During part of treatment, we use guided eye movements or other stimulation that alternates from side to side. It is more than eye movements, and progress varies.
Care alongside recovery
Your physical care
still matters.
The aim of trauma treatment is to make the memory less disturbing and address the difficulties it creates in daily life. EMDR does not repair a broken bone or damaged tissue. It does not replace medical treatment, physiotherapy or rehabilitation.
Living with ongoing pain can bring frustration, worry and changes in daily life. Counselling can help you work with these difficulties as part of your care.
Researchers are studying EMDR for some chronic pain conditions. Findings from small studies are encouraging, but the evidence is still developing. I would not promise that EMDR will remove pain or speed physical healing.
A thoughtful first step
Before we meet.
If the emotional effects of an injury are interfering with your life, I invite you to learn about the enquiry process and tell me what you would like help with.
James MiklosRegistered Psychotherapist
Before We Meet
Read about the approach, then request the private details.