Agoraphobia

Background:

I have been treating Kim for about two years.  She had several traumatic events in her past resulting in many symptomatic responses, including agoraphobia and a fear of going into places alone.  Her fear was maintained at a high level due to chronic pain that began after the birth of her son, 15 years ago, when she was in a coma and close to death.  This constant physical pain, plus ongoing stress and instability in her life has made it difficult for her to make constructive changes in her thinking and behavior.

I had been waiting for a session in which there was no current crisis so that we could begin to treat her underlying traumatic events.  That moment finally came right after I took the Quick REMAP professional training.  It seemed fateful that, after two years, there was finally a session where we could start doing something constructive.

Event:

I asked her to pick something to work on.  She chose an incident directly related to her agoraphobia.  When she was 7 years old, she had gone to Sea World with a school group.  All she could remember was focusing on one attraction, then turning around and finding no one there.  She was panic-stricken.  As she described the event, she then realized that this was the start of her exaggerated fear of being alone in public places.

Treatment:

I got her permission to use Quick REMAP and gave a brief introduction to what we would be doing.  I have discussed with her numerous times the need to do this type of work to help her with her trauma.  I was happy to know that she was finally ready.  I began by encouraging her to notice all of her sensory experiences while recalling the event and to let me know if any thoughts or emotions came up while we were proceeding.

Then, I asked her to activate the Quick REMAP treatment points while she focused on the aspects of the memory that bothered her.  As she rubbed the second treatment point (below the knee—St. 36), she recalled the crowd opening up and several of her party finding her and then feeling safe.

Her memory of this traumatic experience had always been painfully selective (just focusing on the panic of being alone in an unfamiliar place), until this time.  It was obvious that her increased objectivity coincided with the release of the trauma.

Follow-up Results:

I saw her one week later and assessed the results from the Quick REMAP treatment.  Her words were very revealing:  “I finally feel that I’ve had a breakthrough.” “I now have hope of getting better for the first time.”  These statements were from a person who has been in crisis mode almost her entire life.  For the first time, she sat across from me without that "deer in the headlights" look.  After months of gently encouraging her to consider a part-time job, she had decided on her own to do so this past week.

Needless to say, Quick REMAP had a life-changing impact on Kim.

Audio file:

Hear Streaming Audio of Gene Burkhammer discussing his use of Quick REMAP with this case.

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Help for Agoraphobia

If you are suffering from agoraphobia, there is help for you too.  I am Steve B. Reed, LPC the Quick REMAP treatment method developer.  Just as my trainee, Gene Burkhammer was able to help Kim, I am available to help you.

I work with people throughout the USA by offering phone counseling and video therapy appointments.  Teletherapy is convenient and effective.

To schedule an appointment, call me at my office today at 972-997-9955.

Or email me at stevereed@psychotherapy-center.com