Therapeutic Therapy ART with Angela Larmer

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With 25 years of experience as a registered nurse, Angela Larmer has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families achieve health and wellness.

Her commitment to psychotherapy stemmed from her experience as a registered nurse, “I saw the disconnect between patients and their true selves. The medical model often lacked the time and support to address the underlying issues. As a nurse, I wanted to provide more holistic care, which led me to psychotherapy.

She said of her journey: “I sought out psychotherapy during a challenging time in my life and felt incredibly supported. It inspired me to pursue a Masters in Counseling Psychology. .I realized that understanding and addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of health is critical to overall well-being.

Larmer, who runs his practice at Rooted Heart Therapy Center in North Bay, practices person-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive psychotherapy. Larmer says she uses a technique called rapid resolution therapy (ART) to help her clients. She is the first trained ART therapist in Northern Ontario and she has just completed her advanced training in ART with Colleen Clarke in Calgary which will allow her to continue her expertise in this work. She is one of the enthusiasts.

He says, “ART is a psychotherapy method designed to process traumatic memories in just a few sessions. It reduces symptoms related to stress, trauma, and traumatic events by changing how negative images affect daily life. .

Describing ART, Larmer added, “ART uses bilateral stimulation, similar to REM sleep, to process painful memories. It helps clients replace negative images with positive ones. Clients often ask if they Needs to be artistic, but it has nothing to do with art itself. It’s about eye movements and body sensations. Bilateral stimulation can help reduce negative symptoms, images and feelings Helping the body transition from a fight-or-flight state to a state of relaxation and digestion, for anxiety, PTSD, and other stress-related conditions such as social anxiety disorder and phobias, this process can lead to a general sense of calm and connection with oneself. to promote

Larmer shared that clients often find significant resolution in one to five sessions. “Clients lose emotional connection to painful memories, even though they retain the actual memory. One client said, ‘I’ve been in therapy for five years, and in just a few sessions of ART, I felt a sense of resolution. That I never thought was possible.’

Discussing the therapeutic process, Larmer said, “ART involves bringing the memory to the fore and processing it through eye movements and body sensations. It helps clients detach from negative emotional influences. The body Suffering from trauma, and by addressing these feelings, we can facilitate healing.

“Despite practicing psychotherapy, she still deals with many of the same roadblocks when it comes to social interactions,” Larmer said. And my relationship with myself is revealed every day.”

Larmer added, “Awareness of social anxiety is very important. Knowing what the triggers are allows us to work on them. It’s about recognizing the symptoms, like sweaty hands or heartburn, and knowing These are symptoms of an empathic response. This awareness helps us to better manage these situations. Something is active inside. And if you can give yourself some space and explore it in the moment, you should try not to judge it, but just to recognize it. .

Larmer emphasized the importance of understanding these coping mechanisms, saying, “It’s about learning what motivates us and exploring their origins. Often, our coping mechanisms are adaptations we make to ourselves.” Surviving in difficult situations, by realizing this, we can turn to our true selves.

Larmer also noted the influence of family education, “Sometimes our parents taught us what they knew. It’s about learning who we are without coping mechanisms. We have beliefs from childhood. that shape our responses to our environment ART and CI therapy can help realign these beliefs to allow clients to find a more authentic version of themselves.

“For example, when I was little, I used to sing all the time, but my parents or my sisters would tell me to stop singing – because it was a young child singing loudly and alone. It’s annoying. But how do I explain that ‘I’m a bad singer.’ In some ways we don’t understand because we think it’s all about us, but if something goes wrong, we think something is our fault,” explains Larmer.

“So, then we take that, for example, I’m in high school and I’m like, I’m not trying to sing even though I love to sing but that’s what faith Yes, this is one of those layers.”

Larmer says that’s just a small example and there are people who have had huge traumas like the death of loved ones, or people who are first responders who have pictures they can’t see.

“Those big traumas that really stick in our minds, that’s what I try to help clients with through ART,” says Larmer.

Beyond ART, Larmer also studies interesting questions with renowned Canadian speaker, and best-selling author Dr. Gaber Mati, whose expertise focuses on a range of topics including addiction, stress, and childhood development. “The question of kindness is getting to the root of the issue and allowing stored, unexpressed emotions. It’s about understanding the body’s reactions and the emotions associated with them,” says Larmer.

Larmer’s approach is tailored to each client, “We follow the client where they are. If they need a solution, we focus on that. Whether it’s trauma-informed CBT or solution-focused therapy, The goal is to meet the customer’s needs.

Her ability to connect with people extends beyond her practice, “People naturally want to talk to me and take things away from me. It’s not a burden; it’s about offering a different perspective.” Sometimes, just looking at a problem from a different angle can make a big difference.

For those interested in exploring ART or other therapeutic modalities, Angela Larmer is currently accepting new clients, providing a compassionate and effective approach to treatment. “I’m here to help people connect more deeply with themselves, heal from past trauma, and live more authentically,” Larmer concluded.

Recently, Larmer appeared on the podcast “To the North Bay with Love” hosted by Lisa Bowen. She discussed her work in ART and shared insights about her journey in the profession.

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