Seiyu Institute for Health & Training, L3C

PsychotherapY, Professional Coaching, & EMDR Consultation

Tony Parmenter, MA, CLC, LCMHC, LADC, ICAADC

EMDR Certified Therapist & EMDRIA Consultant-in-Training

Professional Approach

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EMDR for performance enhancement & Mental Health

As a humanistic coach and mental health professional, and because of medical research, I know that your body is always working to be the most healthy and most whole version of itself. As a result, I sought training in an integrative psychotherapy called EMDR Therapy (which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing). This method has given life to my practice in an amazing way, both in the changes that I have seen clients make as well as for being a person in my own skin.

I am a Consultant-in-Training with the Parnell Institute, a Full Member of the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), and certified by EMDRIA as an EMDR Certified Therapist and as a Consultant-in-Training. I have advanced training in various techniques, including Attachment-Focused EMDR (trained in residence by it's creator Laurel Parnell, PhD), the Flash technique for EMDR, and inner-child work through Ego States and Internal Family Systems informed EMDR. EMDR uses eye movements and other forms of physical movement as a way to rapidly process memories, thoughts or physical sensations which have been creating barriers for living life in a way that a person desires. It is an evidence-based, compassionate, and specific practice of helping people to find freedom from emotional suffering, trauma, addictions, phobias, problem behaviors, for smoking cessation, to enhance motivation and personal performance... the list goes on! I will also train you how to practice EMDR-related skills on yourself between our meetings. It is a safe way of helping to decrease or remove mental and somatic barriers to living your life energized, full of meaning and personal wisdom. In addition to physical movement I regularly utilize music, art and Buddhist psychology in this process to use your strengths as ways to tap into your internal resources. Prior to the COVID-19 health crisis, which changed service delivery for psychotherapy around the world, I was one of the few EMDR trained therapists promoting EMDR specifically online.

connecting Body & Mind

Western concepts have taught us that how we think and feel are just in our head. Yet, our brain is an organ that is connected to the entire body as a system. Likewise, every throught or feeling has a physical component that holds memory and, just like when a finger is cut, has it's own natural ability to heal. 

Stuck does not equal broken, and experiences of pain and distress do not need to prevent any person from living a purposeful and meaningful life. I approach my work from a perspective that is heavily influenced by Eastern Philosophies. I became interested in non-religious/secular Buddhism as a result of reading Herman Hesse in high school, and then while living in Japan as an early adult.

I have been using Mindfulness meditation as a counselor/therapist, coach, and teacher (also known as Insight Meditation or traditionally as Vipassana) since first training in crisis counseling in 2008. Since then, I've integrated various forms of mindfulness-based somatic and cognitive therapies into my approach to include trauma sensitive yoga and mindfulness-based frameworks for psychological growth.

I use what are called Morita Therapy (MT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (or Training), "ACT", as my base to frame growth during coaching, psychotherapy, and clinical consultation. MT and ACT view suffering as unnecessary engagement with natural, yet painful emotions and work toward developing balance by fostering acceptance for all internal experiences, working to improve compassion and a connection to a person's desire for life - despite what gets in the way. As therapies MT and ACT understand the urge to control and avoid pain as the key factor in any psychopathology, or "problem". MT was developed in Japan during the 1920's and has been one of the most widely used psychotherapy models in Asia since that time. Although newer, ACT is seen around the world as an evidence-based psychotherapy. in 2010, I received training from Kevin Polk, PhD (creator of the ACT Matrix) while working in a PTSD & addiction treatment program for military, police, fire, and other uniformed professionals. MT and ACT are exciting mindfulness and cognitive/reality-based approaches which center on your own personal set of values to better understand what is getting in your way, find ways to change what you have the power to change, and thrive by connecting more to your whole experience and to what energizes you.

Qualifications: Tony Parmenter

read more about tony in these directories

EMDRIA.org  |  ParnellEMDR.com  | LifeCoachMatch.com | The Flash Technique |  PsychologyMatters.Asia  |  PsychologyToday.com  |  InternationalTherapistDirectory.com  |  OnlineTherapy.com  |  TherapyDen.com  |  EvergreenCertifications.com 

© Copyright Tony Parmenter, MA, LCMHC - Seiyu Institute for Health & Training, L3C  |  All scenery photography is used in accordance with conditions stated at Unsplash.com