Life Renewal Counseling

A trauma treatment, called Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T) is showing promise for improving troubling symptoms that last beyond the initial Covid infection. A.R.T. has proven effective for many difficulties[AP1]  like anxiety, panic, depression, trauma, phobias, pain and other issues. The therapy creator, Laney Rosenzweig, LMFT, applied the protocol with COVID sufferers and found it is successful for reducing the lingering symptoms.
 
The lack of data about the COVID-19 virus side effects and recovery can make “long haul” ongoing symptoms feel overwhelming.
For those having residual effects from having COVID-19, living a ‘new normal’ can be a struggle each day.
 
Some of these symptoms can include*:
 
- Coughing
- Ongoing fatigue
- Body aches
- Joint pain
- Shortness of breath
 
- Loss of taste & smell
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headaches
- Brain fog
- Anxiety, depression
 

 
The combination of the initial experience contracting COVID-19, followed by ongoing symptoms post-recovery exhibits in the body as a traumatic event.
It makes sense then, that a “trauma” therapy is a promising treatment for COVID 19 “Long Hauler” symptoms.
 
Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a proven, non-medication treatment for trauma that can improve or eliminate negative symptoms, memories and sensations from this traumatic experience. This brief, powerful intervention has been effective in reducing the persistent symptoms of COVID for many “long-haul” sufferers.
After Accelerated Resolution Therapy, clients have experienced varied improvements with: smell and taste, energy level, breathing, mental clarity and mood.
 
Accelerated Resolution Therapy uses bilateral eye movements (movback and forth with eyes rapidly) to tap into the body’s nervous system and memories of the experience.  This protocol can assist the body in returning to equilibrium, much like “rebooting a computer”.
 
If you would like to know more or set up a consult to see if you might benefit from Accelerated Resolution Therapy. It works for COVID-19 symptoms in addition to anxiety, panic, depression, trauma, phobias, pain and other issues.
 
Alyson Pertuis, MA, LPC
 
903-600-5720
apertuis@liferenewalcounseling.org
 
More about Accelerated Resolution Therapy-
https://artherapyinternational.org
 


 [AP1]
​

This extended period of social distancing is unprecedented, and it brings to light things that we might need to re-balance. We’ve had to maintain distancing inside our homes and “6 feet” from everyone else. These are strong physical boundaries, but we also have emotional and spiritual boundaries.

Boundaries are about control and protection. In reality, we have limited control of the world. Anxiety grows when we realize our overall control of events is a bit of an “illusion”. What we can control are our actions/behavior, our thoughts and how we respond to events. In other words, the things we say “YES” or “NO” to.

We have choices. This “isolation” time has given us good reason to say “NO” to things. It also shows how much we may miss the “YES” interactions and freedoms that help us maintain life balance, wellness and ‘sanity’. Without the things that balance us we may have difficulty coping.

To help identify where that balance may be off, try this simple exercise. On a piece of paper make two columns.  On one side write all the things you miss and cannot wait to get back to doing when this time is over. On the other, write what you don’t miss; the obligations, relationships and tasks that you’re relieved to say “NO” to.  

​Is it okay to be happy about these “NOs”?   YES, it is!
The ones you don’t miss are your boundary red flags. You may need to let go or develop better boundaries with them. The “don’t miss” category highlights previous decisions to say “YES” out of guilt, unwarranted obligations and people pleasing tendencies (aka poor/porous boundaries). Think about how you can remove or scale the things on this side back. If this is a struggle, ask friends or a counselor for help on why you’re having trouble saying “NO”.

I recommend the Boundaries series by Drs. Cloud & Townsend (www.boundariesbooks.com) as a resource to help in working through the challenges. There are also good podcasts and YouTube videos like this one (https://youtu.be/rtsHUeKnkC8) on the subject of boundaries. Taking a little time to look at what really enriches your life can guide you to having the energy and peace to do the amazing things you are supposed to be doing!

Feel free to contact me for more information about this subject or other mental health topics!
Alyson Pertuis, LPC
APertuis@liferenewalcounseling.org
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/alyson-neeley-pertuis-mckinney-tx/358899

Starting over can be exciting and hard all at the same time.  Recently, Life Renewal moved from Florida to Texas and now we are starting again.  We are so excited to have new partners, a new location, and a refined vision.  "Seeing lives renewed, rebuilt, and restored" is not just a tag line for our counselors, but rather a mutually shared calling birthed out of Scripture.  

These verses from Ezekiel and Isaiah express the desire of our hearts to see our clients experience newness and restoration.  The Lord says…“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh…[then you] will REBUILD the ancient ruins…RESTORE places long devastated…and RENEW cities…devastated for generations. (Ezekiel 36:26 & Is. 61:4) 

We hope that you look forward to reading new posts and insights from the new Life Renewal Blog.  
​--Jennifer