Helping Professionals Interview Series: Trauma Therapy with Valentina Penalba, Ph.D., LMFT - Part 2!
We originally interviewed Dr. Valentina Penalba in July 2020 about the family therapy she provides for St. Louis families - you can read all about it here. We recently reached back out to see what new things she might be working on. Dr. Penalba continues to provide family therapy in St. Louis and now also provides trauma therapy. We are so excited to share with you more information about the trauma therapy that Dr. Penalba offers in St. Louis.
What kind of trauma therapy do you provide in St. Louis?
In St. Louis, I offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, a psychotherapy technique designed to help individuals heal from the symptoms and emotional distress stemming from traumatic experiences. EMDR is particularly effective for addressing conditions such as PTSD and various anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and social anxiety/phobia.
Briefly, what is EMDR?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories. EMDR's goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences.
Why did you choose to provide EMDR therapy?
Having personally experienced symptoms of PTSD in the past, I sought treatment and found healing through EMDR therapy. Inspired by my own journey, I decided to pursue training in EMDR to help others overcome traumatic experiences and reclaim their well-being.
What ages do you see for EMDR and trauma therapy in St. Louis?
Young adults and adults.
What should people expect from EMDR and trauma therapy in St. Louis? What does a typical session look like?
In your first session, your EMDR therapist should get a detailed understanding of your history. She will ask you to tell a brief version of your life story, including traumatic events, mental health challenges, and related symptoms or triggers. When you undergo EMDR, you access memories of a trauma event in very specific ways. Combined with eye movements and guided instructions, accessing those memories helps you reprocess what you remember from the negative event. That reprocessing helps “repair” the mental injury from that memory.
How can people best decide if EMDR is right for them?
People can consult with a therapist and try to understand their needs. They can also see if they are compatible with the treatment approach and have feedback from others. By carefully considering these factors and consulting with a qualified therapist, individuals can make informed decisions about whether EMDR therapy is the right choice for them.
In addition to EMDR, what other kinds of treatment do you offer and for what ages?
I provide individual, couple, and family therapy for teens and adults. I am passionate about working with couples and families and have been working my whole career with this population. I also specialize in working with couples and families who experience some type of chronic illness. I do speak several languages, so I enjoy working with multicultural clients and the cultural issues that may arise when living abroad.
You can read more about Family Therapy with Valentina Penalba, Ph.D., LMFT from her first interview here.
What’s something fun that most people don’t know about you?
I love to travel, learn different languages. I am now doing different courses related with Chinese medicine and herbs.
How can people learn more and contact you?
If you’re interested in learning more about my practice, you can visit my website at https://stlouiscoupleandfamilytherapy.com or call (314) 437-9791.
Curious to learn more about getting treatment for anxiety? Wondering if you need to connect with a therapist in St. Louis? Contact Compassionate Counseling St. Louis to set up a free 15-minute phone consult. We’ll talk about what’s going on and best next steps - and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll connect you with other wonderful St. Louis-based therapists, like Valentina!
Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anger management and anxiety therapy in St. Louis for kids, teens, and college students. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood.