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Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW - Psychotherapist and Consultant

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Grand Rapids, MI
Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW - Psychotherapist and Consultant

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW, ACSW – Psychotherapist specializing in PTSD, Complex PTSD, Mr. Trainings aid each participant in creating and maintaining long-term change.

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW, ACSW is an individual, marital and family therapist in Grand Rapids Mi specializing in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety and Depression. Additionally Dwarshuis is a performance enhancement consultant and trainer for individuals and groups wanting to improve in academics, the performing arts, the workplace, sports, mental health and relational issues. Dwarshuis is a trainer and performance consultant for businesses and organizations on the topics of peak performance, optimal performance social systems, heightened productivity and peak effectiveness. Additionally, Mr. Dwarshuis is a highly accomplished and professional Classical Guitarist actively performing throughout the Midwest. In the trainings, Mr. Dwarshuis uses his own personal experiences of technical and creative growth as one of many illustrations of the effectiveness of peak performance strategies. (See facebook - Jeff Dwarshuis/Classical Guitarist.) Products

Performance enhancement trainings and interventions of individual treatment are based on Mr. Dwarshuis’ training and experience with each of the disciplines listed below. Cognitive Therapy
Neuro Linguistic Programming
Ericksonian Hypnotherapy
Problem Solving Therapy
Communicative / Relational / Imago Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Mind - Body Therapy
Psycheducational Therapy
Family of Origin Analysis
Bowen Family Systems Therapy
Behavioral Therapy
Strategic Family Therapy
Structural Family Therapy

09/06/2025

Combining EMDR and Schema Therapy for Complex PTSD by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

EMDR and Schema Therapy are highly effective treatment methods for the treatment of Complex PTSD.

Combining these methods leads to a faster and more effective level of change.

EMDR quickly and effectively in eliminates the negative impacts of negative memories. Additionally, the changes are permanent.

Individuals with Complex PTSD, however, present with complicated histories making it difficult to accurately assess the negative contributing memories leading to Complex PTSD symptoms.

Schema Therapy provides a plausible explanation for the development of Complex PTSD since schema development comes from the impacts of unmet childhood needs and related negative experiences.

After assessing the client’s schemas, the EMDR therapist can use this information to create a list of treatment target memories that are the most effective for client change.

The Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW
http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/
616 4431425

08/17/2025

The Self Sacrifice Schema and EMDR by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

Individuals with the Self Sacrifice Schema often will overwork in relationships to try and receive emotional recognition in response to the empty feelings.

Other times the Self Sacrifice Schema is shown by carrying a “parentified child” role into adulthood.

EMDR is used to target the history of loss or emotional deprivation received in youth and adulthood.

The Self Sacrifice Schema is “The excessive focus on voluntarily meeting the needs of others in daily situations, at the expense of one's own gratification. The most common reasons are: to prevent causing pain to others; to avoid guilt from feeling selfish; or to maintain the connection with others perceived as needy . Often results from an acute sensitivity to the pain of others. Sometimes leads to a sense that one's own needs are not being adequately met and to resentment of those who are taken care of. (This overlaps with concept of co-dependency.)

Treatment Suggestions for the Self–Sacrifice Schema

1. Recognize if you have an exaggerated perception of fragility and neediness in others.

2. Increase an awareness of your needs by listing them.

3. Evaluate if your relationships have an imbalance of “give and take”.

4. Experimentally express sadness and anger about unmet emotional needs using imagery.

5. Consider if you were a “parentified child” caused by those in power putting adult demands on you in your childhood.

6. Ask for what you need directly.

7. Select partners and friends who are capable and giving rather than incapable or demanding.

8. Challenge yourself to occasionally be vulnerable with others rather than being the “strong one”.

9. Keep from rationalizing the tendency to please others so much.

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW
http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/
616 4431425

08/01/2025

How EMDR Works by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed by Francine Shapiro and it successfully treats Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But how?

Brain scans found that traumatic experience negatively impacts brain functioning.

During trauma the amygdala, which controls responses associated with fear, becomes over activated and this creates an impasse between itself and the hippocampus.

The hippocampus plays an important role in short term memory, long term memory and spatial orientation.

The impasse between the hippocampus and the amygdala creates symptoms of generalized anxiety, panic attacks and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Brain scans of individuals doing EMDR indicate that this impasse is corrected as eye movements activate the hippocampus so it can receive the overwhelming amount of information from the amygdala and then sort it.

The hippocampus then completes the proper brain processing by sending information to the anterior cingulate cortex, which involves attention, decision making, reward anticipation, ethics, morality, impulse control, and emotion.

The impact of opening this impasse and restoring proper brain functioning means that a negative memory, once too overwhelming to manage, is put into the proper context of time and space, has affective and cognitive aspects of the memory merged, is viewed with more reason and control, and exists in a clear distinction between the past and the present.

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW
http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/
616 4431425

07/26/2025

Presenting Problems Treated (Online!) with EMDR by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Self-Abusive Behavior
Pain Management
Major Depression
Eating Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Panic Disorder
Dissociation
Addictions
Phobias
Grief

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW
http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/
616 4431425

07/06/2025

The Advantages of EMDR Therapy by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

EMDR is fast...requiring less than 20% of the time spent in traditional therapy.

This leaves the client with more time to enjoy life.

Therapy…It keeps getting better.

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW - http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

06/07/2025

How Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Works by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed by Francine Shapiro in 1989 and it successfully treats Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). But how?

Brain scans studies of traumatized individuals found that traumatic experience negatively impacts brain functioning.

During trauma a part of the brain called the amygdala, which controls responses associated with fear, becomes over activated and this creates an impasse between itself and the hippocampus.

The hippocampus plays an important role in the consolidation of information from short term memory to long term memory and spatial orientation.

The impasse between the hippocampus and the amygdala creates symptoms found in generalized anxiety, panic attacks and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Brain scans of individuals doing EMDR indicate that this impasse is corrected as eye movements activate the hippocampus so it can receive the overwhelming amount of information from the amygdala and then sort it.

The hippocampus then completes the proper brain processing by sending information to the anterior cingulate cortex, which is involved in aspects such as attention, decision making, reward anticipation, ethics, morality, impulse control, and emotion.

The impact of opening this impasse and restoring proper brain functioning means that a negative memory, once too overwhelming to manage, is put into the proper context of time and space, has affective and cognitive aspects of the memory merged, is viewed with more rational thought, reason and control, and exists in a clear distinction between the past and the present.

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW
http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/
616 4431425

05/19/2025

The Advantages of EMDR Therapy by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

EMDR Therapy requires no homework.

All work is done during the session leaving the client free to go about their life.

Therapy…It keeps getting better.

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW - http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

05/15/2025

Presenting Problems Treated with EMDR by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Self-Abusive Behavior
Pain Management
Major Depression
Eating Disorders
Bipolar Disorder
Panic Disorder
Dissociation
Addictions
Phobias
Grief

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW
http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/
616 4431425

05/10/2025

The Advantage of EMDR Therapy by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

Advantage #1… It is not required that a client discuss the trauma.

That’s right.

A client needs only to visualize the trauma for successful therapy.

This is an incredible advantage for clients since a symptom of PTSD is having difficulty discussing the trauma.

Therapy…It keeps getting better.

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW - http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

05/04/2025

The Subjugation Schema and EMDR by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

The Subjugation Schema is one of the eighteen different schemas in Schema Therapy.

Individuals with this schema will allow others to make choices for them, will avoid relational conflict or will compensate by rebelling against authority.

The Subjugation Schema is - “The excessive surrendering of control to others because one feels coerced. It is usually to avoid anger, retaliation, or abandonment.

The two major forms of subjugation are –

1) The Subjugation of Needs - which is the suppression of one’s preferences, decisions, and desires.

2) The Subjugation of Emotions - which is the suppression of emotional expression, especially anger.

This involves the perception that one's own desires, opinions, and feelings are not valid or important to others and frequently presents as excessive compliance combined with a hypersensitivity to feeling trapped.

Generally this leads to a buildup of anger, manifested in maladaptive symptoms like passive-aggressive behavior, uncontrolled outbursts of temper, psychosomatic symptoms, withdrawal of affection, "acting out" and substance abuse.”

Treatment Suggestions for the Subjugation Schema

1. List everyday situations at home and at work in which you subjugate your own needs to others.

2. Consider if your negative expectations about the consequences of expressing your needs and feelings to others are exaggerated. If they are exaggerated, then express your needs and feelings appropriately.

3. Using imagery and/or writing exercises, express anger and assert your rights with any controlling parent or other authority figure in your childhood.

4. Select relatively non-controlling partners and friends.

5. Learn and use assertive techniques that can help you clarify your needs and express your feelings with others.

6. List times of childhood subjugation of your thoughts and feelings. Use EMDR to eliminate the negative feelings and self-perceptions related to these memories.

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW
http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/
616 4431425

04/20/2025

Trauma, EMDR and the Power of Validation by Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW

When people are in conflict, they will likely attack the other and defend themselves.

Validation is a relational strategy and diffusion technique that ends the cycle of attack and counterattack.

Here are four things to expect from successful validation.

1. Validation will disarm the other person – The continuation of conflict requires that both people be involved. The act of validation stops the counter attacking posture.

2. Validation opens the way for communication – As validation happens and hostility and defensiveness diminish, it allows each person to focus on the root of the problem and discuss it for resolve.

3. Validation soothes negative arousal – Relational conflict creates a defensive sympathetic response. If someone expects conflict, they will defend themselves. If someone is in conflict, they will defend themselves. If one validates then the usefulness of arousal disappears.\

4. Validation builds trust – If a person takes an active role to validate another it sends a message that the relationship is important and deserving of consistent effort. This active role creates safety as others trust the other’s commitment.

EMDR Therapy for an individual with a history of childhood trauma will assist them in decreasing reactivity to relational conflict and allow them to remain present in a conflict and use validation strategies.

Over 10,000 hours of clinical experience using EMDR

Jeff Dwarshuis LMSW ACSW
http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/
616 4431425

Address

PO Box 120056
Grand Rapids, MI
49528

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 3pm
Tuesday	10am - 9:30pm
Wednesday	10am - 3pm
Thursday	10am - 9:30pm
Friday	10am - 3pm

Website

http://www.jeffdwarshuis.com/

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