Monique is a Clinical Psychologist with experience in both public, community, research and vocational settings. She works from a strengths based perspective using tailored evidence based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as well as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR - see below for more information) .
Monique is interested in vocational counselling where she assists people of all ages with an unclear vocational direction or who want to change career pathways by identifying vocational strengths, values and job-person fit.
Monique is also interested in treating Insomnia, Circadian Rhythm Disorders and other sleep disorders. She is trained in Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) which is the gold standard treatment for insomnia, as well as Mindfulness Based Therapy for Insomnia (MBT-I).
Along with psychology Monique is also a qualified yoga teacher.
EMDR Therapy
Why EMDR therapy?
As indicated in the WHO guidelines, EMDR therapy is based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours are the result of unprocessed memories from unpleasant experiences. The treatment involves standardised procedures that include focusing simultaneously on (a) spontaneous associations of traumatic images, thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations and (b) bilateral stimulation that is most commonly in the form of repeated eye movements. EMDR therapy aims to reduce subjective distress and strengthen adaptive cognitions related to the traumatic event.
In addition, unlike CBT with a trauma focus EMDR does not involve detailed descriptions of the event, direct challenging of beliefs, extended exposure or homework. Therefore, EMDR therapy is more direct over a short period of time and is less stressful for the client.
What is the evidence?
EMDR therapy has been validated by over two dozen randomised controlled trials (seehttp://www.emdrhap.org/content/what-is-emdr/research-findings) and numerous meta-analyses as an effective psychological intervention. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2013) Guidelines for the management of conditions that are related to stress, EMDR therapy and CBT trauma focused therapy are the only psychotherapies recommended for children, adolescent and adults with PTSD. EMDR therapy has been recommended as an empirically validated effective trauma treatment by a wide range of organisations including:
- Phoenix (The Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health)
- The National Health and Medical Research Council
- The Australian Psychological Society
- The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- UK Guidelines for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
- American Psychiatric Association
- American Psychological Association
- Dutch Guidelines for Mental Health Care
- Israel National Council for Mental Health
What can EMDR be used for?
What can EMDR be used for?
In addition to its use for the treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, EMDR has been successfully used to treat:
- anxiety and panic attacks
- depression
- stress
- phobias
- sleep problems
- complicated grief
- addictions
- pain relief and phantom limb pain
- self-esteem and performance anxiety
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