Frequently Asked Questions

MAP can handle and help just about anything. Some examples include:

• phobias
• emotional states (depression, sadness, anger, fear, etc.)
• mental states (anxiety, overwhelm, stress, etc.)
• negative memories/experiences
• false or limiting beliefs (e.g., "I'm not worthy," "I never do anything right," etc.)
• patterns, habits, or routines you'd like to break (or create)
• chronic physical conditions; these are often improved with the resolution of trauma (known or unknown)
• goals - this is a fun and effective procedure
• and more!

Most people associate trauma with being in a war, a natural disaster, an accident, or an assault. While these are indeed trauma, we need to re-frame our understanding.

Trauma is simply an intense event that we have no previous experience of which to compare. For example, it could be the first time you felt publicly humiliated. Or the first time you felt betrayed or abandoned. Or an unexpected diagnosis. Think of it as a "shock." We cannot compare our trauma to anyone else's trauma, nor can we minimize how it affected us, especially the trauma that we experienced in the first 7 years of life.

Chronic conditions are emotional, mental, or physical states that are on-going (non-acute). Also, if you need to take medication, supplements, or somehow manage a condition on a daily basis, that is considered chronic. Some examples are:

• EMOTIONAL: depression (symptoms may include fatigue, sadness/hopelessness, loss of appetite or overeating, loss of interest in life, sleeping too much or too little, trouble focusing, racing thoughts, etc.)
• MENTAL: anxiety, OCD, flashbacks, recurring fight/flight/freeze response, brain fog, etc. Also, repetitive self-sabotaging or limiting beliefs (e.g., "I can never get ahead," "Things never go right for me," "I'm not smart/pretty/handsome enough," etc.).
• PHYSICAL: auto-immune disorders, fibromyalgia, hypertension, high cholesterol, arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, "mystery" illnesses, respiratory conditions, neurological conditions, IBS, etc. This category includes anything which requires on-going medication, supplements, or management.

It is well-documented that the more childhood trauma a person has, the more likely they are to experience chronic conditions (emotional, mental, and physical). If you ware not familiar with this concept, I encourage you to read about the Adverse Childhood Events study HERE and take the quiz HERE.

Western medicine is starting to realize that trauma plays a role in physical health. Dr. Gabor Mate, MD, wrote about the connections between stress (trauma) and disease in his book, When the Body Says No.

Once we accept the idea that our emotions affect our physical bodies, it becomes easier to understand and accept that stuck/unprocessed trauma affects our entire life. If not appropriately dealt with, it will eventually show up as physical disorders. It is simply our body's way of trying to get our attention and let us know that something needs to be addressed.

MAP is effective in neutralizing trauma -- easily, safely, and gently.

All sessions are held on Zoom video conference.

At the start of the session, we will chat for a few minutes to get an update and settle on a session focus.

Then I will take you through a few minutes of guided relaxation, where you will be sitting or reclining comfortably, with your eyes closed.

From this point on, sessions are mainly an eyes-closed process. I will give your Superconscious instructions and will check in with you along the way.

Your only job is to answer my questions, using your feelings/emotions rather than your "thinking" brain.

That's really all there is to it! Clients find the process easy, relaxing, and calming.

This is difficult to say because everyone is unique. Some people see shifts after their Intro Session. Some people need a few sessions to see their first shift. Typically clients will see emotional shifts first, then mental improvements, and lastly, physical improvements.

Clients that have a chronic health condition (emotional, mental, or physical) and/or a large trauma history will typically notice subtle shifts after each session. Often these clients will see larger, positive changes in 6 to 12 sessions. Sessions are cumulative, and often we see positive changes happen for topics that we didn't even work on specifically.

After this, some clients may decide to continue weekly or biweekly MAP sessions, depending on if they want to clear more issues OR move forward with some goal setting sessions. Others may continue to have a MAP session periodically, perhaps once a month, to continue to improve and/or maintain their emotional, mental, or physical health. Other people may feel that their issues are resolved and are able to move forward and create the life they desire!

The MAP method requires no spiritual belief; it simply is working with your Superconscious mind.

The Superconscious is the part of us that has access to both our conscious- and subconscious minds, and was fully formed at the moment of conception.

The Superconscious mind is not affected by trauma, and thereby can work to heal the parts of us that are damaged by trauma.

People think of the Superconscious as their human spirit, inner wisdom, or their "higher self."

No. MAP is not like hypnotherapy because the client is fully conscious; there is no hypnotic inducement. The client is fully aware and in control of the session.

The MAP Method is a huge advancement in the world of healing modalities.

There are several differences between MAP and EMDR and EFT (tapping):

• While EMDR and EFT do work, they typically work on single memories at a time. However, MAP can efficiently neutralize batches of memories at the same time. This is because our brain stores memories that have the same associated emotion together, and MAP works on all similar memories at the same time.

• With MAP, the client does not have to focus for too long on a traumatic memory. In fact, the client does not have to dive into the details, or even share it with the practitioner.
  • This is a huge advantage, since the client does not have to be re-traumatized by re-living every detail, or even talk about it.
  • As soon as the client recalls the memory, the brain will "grab" all of the details along with it and then the MAP commands will handle it.
  • A strong emotion may last for a few minutes, but is then followed by a great sense of peace.

• Furthermore, the client does not have to remember the original event that caused a current state (e.g., the client is always anxious but doesn't know why). We can simply work with a memory that the client *does* remember (e.g., the last time they were anxious), and MAP will work on all associated memories.

• This batch-processing of memories is what differentiates MAP and makes it so efficient and effective!

No. Talk therapy can be valuable to teach awareness, coping skills, communication skills, etc. As for trauma, regardless of how much we discuss it, talking won't necessarily neutralize the intensity of our memories. In fact, many people feel re-traumatized by continually talking about negative memories, or become stuck and just can't seem to move on.

Additionally, you don't have to make any conscious choices. We also know that our unconscious mind is so much faster than our conscious mind. That is why MAP address the subconscious and results happen without us having to "do" anything.

With MAP it is not necessary for you to talk a lot during the session. After chatting a short time about what you want to work on, we will start the session and get your Superconscious mind working to neutralize your negative emotions, memories, and beliefs.

Some sessions "feel" more impactful than others. However, we give instructions to your Superconscious mind to continue to work to neutralize memories between sessions, so it is always working and processing memories for your benefit. That is why we say that MAP sessions are cumulative.

My personal experience, as well as that of my clients, proves this to be true. Many times things just "fall away," even if we don't directly work on them. For example, some people notice that their road rage is gone or decreased, even though it wasn't a topic that was specifically worked on during a session. Or something- or someone that typically irritates them...all of a sudden, the irritation just evaporates!

You may notice changes during the session, right after the session, or in the days that follow.

Most likely, yes. There are very few people (~less than 2%) who this does not work for, and that is mainly people who:

• are coerced into doing it,
• have a firm belief that it will not work (our mind is powerful!), or
• are on certain medications that make it difficult to be in touch with their feelings.

We don't need to understand every detail in order to accept that something works. Can most of us explain how technology - TVs, phones, and computers - work? No, yet we still believe they work (and they do!) and we happily use them.

Your Superconscious will only work FOR you, and never against you, so you can be confident that this is a safe and gentle method.

The time between sessions varies between clients. I see some clients weekly, some every two weeks, and some every 3 weeks.

1. First we will talk on the phone for a free 20-minute call. During that time I will answer any questions and we will see if we are a good fit. If so, you will start thinking about some memories or topics you would like to bring to the Intro Session.
2. After our call and after you schedule your Intro Session, you will receive a link to a 15-20 minute video. This video is the first part of your brain training and you need to watch this BEFORE your Intro Session.
3. Intro Session: This session is 60-90 minutes long (after this, all regular sessions are 90 minutes). This session is spent finishing up your brain training and then we will handle a discrete negative memory or phobia.