About
Melissa Babiarz, LMHC
I have been providing addiction and mental health services to the WNY community since 1999. I’ve worked in a variety of settings starting at local agencies and working my way up into administration. In 2010 I made the decision to step out of that role and into Private Practice.
I’ve had the privilege of working with countless individuals and their families as they address their struggles and reach their triumphs battling various Addictions and healing their Trauma. I also believe that all of our life experiences influence our perspective on today so in 2015 I was trained in EMDR (a trauma focused modality) as a means of assisting people to address underlying and contributing issues to current struggles.
I also work with individuals who have survived trauma in their lives, who don’t have an addiction, and are looking for a way to finally be free from it. EMDR is also useful in dealing with any compulsive or habitual behavior.
I currently have a very small and specialized practice focusing on Addiction, Trauma and other Compulsive Behavior, either occurring independently or together in people’s lives.
I am only providing services via telehealth at this time.
Trauma & PTSD
Many individuals can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events. I help you overcome these symptoms and guide you through the process of healing.
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful psychotherapy approach that has helped over an estimated two million people of all ages relief from many types of psychological distress.
EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically based therapy that helps a person see disturbing material in a new and less disturbing way.
Scientific research has established EMDR as effective for post-traumatic stress. However, clinicians also have reported success using EMDR in treatment of the following conditions:
- Panic attacks
- Complicated grief
- Dissociative disorders
- Disturbing memories
- Phobias
- Pain disorders
- Performance anxiety
- Stress reduction
- Addictions
- Sexual and/or physical abuse
- Body dysmorphic disorders
- Personality disorders
EMDR Therapy/Training
I completed my basic training in EMDR in July 2015 and I’ve taken the time to attend and provide multiple trainings on EMDR and Addictions, with focus on specific ways to use bilateral stimulation to address triggers and urges associated with addiction and other compulsive behavior.
In March 2018 I participated in the First EMDR and Addictions Virtual Addictions Summit. I learned first hand from the developers of Addiction Specific EMDR interventions and I’m please to bring these highly specialized skills to my practice! These skills can be used with most problematic or compulsive behaviors.