EMDR Therapist
Violeta Dowana, LMSW
Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
Patient Populations: Teens (15+), Adults, Veterans, Couples
Education: University of Michigan School of Social Work (Ann Arbor)
As a therapist, I operate from the lens that therapy is a 'liberatory practice' that increases our capacity to care for ourselves and as needed, those around us. A therapist is a skilled companion who can help you discern the difference between closed, porous, and healthy boundaries. Intergenerational trauma, systemic trauma, violence, and other forms of immense distress can undermine our ability to understand what we need to be well.
In my practice, I use somatic therapy and a more intense trauma-informed therapy called, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR helps clients process old and recent traumas using techniques that access the internal resources clients already have but need support finding.
My commitment is to support clients in the (re)building of emotional, mental, and physiological capacities to meet and navigate challenges associated with uncertainty, trauma, grief, shame, and life transitions.
You are worth the healing.
Who is your ideal client?
I work well with clients who are curious about how to get unstuck from old patterns and behaviors that no longer work. I believe that 'curiosity' and 'willingness to try' are two ingredients that go a long way in our effort to make change. My ideal client wants to take a holistic approach within therapy, which means we are likely to address issues on a mind (cognitive), body (physiological), and spirit (how we make meaning of our lives) level.
What’s something you wish people knew about therapy or the therapy process?
I wish more people knew that therapy is a collaborative process! So much of our lives are dictated by others' opinions, needs, and expectations of us. It is important to understand that while a therapist assesses and makes recommendations, we also work to help clients learn to listen to that quiet, still, discerning voice inside. We want to help you clear out the noise. Collaboration doesn't mean being a 'yes' person. It may very well mean challenging a client to think differently in interest of their well-being.
Why do you like being a therapist?
I was born to be a therapist. I love what I do and that naturally comes out in my sessions with clients. People are libraries with untold stories. Being a therapist means we have a commitment to listen and encourage those stories to be told.
Besides being a therapist, what do you enjoy in your spare time?
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my partner and our dog-child, Toby.
What is your favorite book, podcast or mental health resource?
My favorite book right now is "Of Water and Spirit" by Malidoma Patrice Some. It's a true story which looks at the impact of French colonial history in West Africa on the intergenerational trauma and spiritual path of the book's protagonist, Malidoma Patrice Some. Some was a profound spiritual teacher who found balance between his cultural roots in Burkina Faso and his calling to be a teacher in the West.
Therapists who partner with Embodied Wellness, PLLC are contractors and are self-employed.