Welcome!

I am an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant and Credit Provider offering consultation and training for psychotherapists trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). After 20 years of working with clients with histories of trauma, neglect, and abuse, and with attachment issues, I have retired from client work. It has been an honour to accompany these clients on their healing journeys.

EMDR has been central to my work since 1998 because of its incredible effectiveness in moving disturbing memories into the past. Developing a Secure Self, the attachment-based approach I have created with Imaginal Nurturing, directly addresses early deficits that can lead to low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, problems in relationships, and a myriad of other problems.

You will find information on this site about these approaches, my training and consultation, as well as my book and Imaginal Nurturing CDs.

Here are some comments from therapists who have taken this training program:

~ “I have used this [approach] successfully in the forensic setting as well, including a death row unit with very good success. In fact much better results than I would ever expect. Further trauma processing goes much more smoothly when past traumas related to attachment are repaired, and one cannot imagine the traumas incurred by some of the folks on a death row unit. Pretty bad stuff.” ~ Brad Croyle, MA LPC

~ “I encourage every therapist to take this course. Thank you, April. You have taught me many invaluable skills and knowledge which can only greatly benefit my clients…. Thank you for your grace and genius.”

~ “Thank you for the wonderful training. I’ve been using I-N for the past week and a half, and have had incredible results. My clients are reporting feeling profoundly touched and changed by the experience. In a couple of cases, some things have happened that can only be described as miraculous. Thanks for putting this training together so that those of us who live far from you can bring the help and relief to our clients.”

I think distance training makes a lot of sense. It gives you much more flexibility since you can fit it into your schedule as you see fit, and it is more economical too. You can also review the material whenever you like.

Consultation for therapists

One of the wonderful things about how “small” the world has become is that you are not restricted by geography in choosing a consultant. If you are wanting to become more adept with EMDR, and/or deepen your ability to work with ego states and attachment, please do check out my page on consultation. One consultee writes:

“As I learn more from you, I realize how I was doing EMDR without really knowing what I was after. It’s been a wonderful learning process.”.

Developing a Secure Self Book

Imaginal Nurturing CDs

I received lovely notes from a couple of women who have used these CDs:

“I just wanted to let you know how much I love your guided imagery CDs. I’ve been going for EMDR therapy for several months and it’s been an incredibly healing experience. But while I have been able to heal my childhood traumas, I was left with a very young part of myself who felt extremely lonely and needy. Nothing I have ever done on my own or in therapy was able to touch that part of me. But while listening to your CDs, especially ‘I’m So Glad You’re Here!’ (Feeding the Infant), I found imagining myself as the infant really helped. After doing that several times I realized those feelings of loneliness and neediness were gone!

So thank you so much. You have changed my life.”

“… I really enjoyed your recording today. It’s helped me access a part of myself I have had a lot of difficulty accessing despite repeated ego states therapy.”

I originally created these CDs to meet the requests of clients who wanted more Imaginal Nurturing experiences between sessions. They are not essential to the Developing a Secure Self/ Imaginal Nurturing approach, but have been appreciated by many whether or not they are working with a therapist.

Thich Nhat Hanh and Imaginal Nurturing

I often suggested my clients check out exiled Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, who has devoted his life to world peace (he was nominated by Martin Luther King for the Nobel Peace prize of 1967) and to making Buddhist practices such as mindfulness accessible and relevant to people throughout the world in the 20th and 21st centuries. Because he is such a beautiful embodiment of calm, he has much to offer our society in which anxiety has become a serious widespread problem. (Mindfulness has become increasingly acknowledged as significant in treating anxiety problems.)

Thich Nhat Hanh has published many books all of which are very down to earth – Peace is Every Breath is one of my favourites. If you are looking for his work at a library, look under Nhat Hanh rather than Hanh. I have long admired his psychological insight but was surprised in his book Reconciliation to read material that is totally in keeping with Imaginal Nurturing:

The five-year-old child within needs a lot of compassion and attention. It would be nice if every day we would find a few minutes to sit down and practice this meditation [Breathing in , I see myself as a five-year-old child. Breathing out, I smile with compassion to the five-year-old child in me]. It would be very healing and very comforting, because the five-year-old child in us is still alive and needs to be taken care of. With acknowledgement and communication, we can see that child responding to us and she or he begins feeling better. If she feels better, we feel better also and we start to feel great freedom. [p. 66]