Candace Wheeler, LPC, CDBT, NCC

Restoration 1:99 (R1:99)provides clinical and non-clinical programs and services to survivors of complex trauma (military, sexual assault, bullying, DV, etc.) and their families. We integrate mid-brain modalities such as visual art, music, movement, drama, and writing with psychotherapy. We are a non-profit that has licensed therapists and teaching artist in DC, MD, & VA.

I am certified in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), trained in EMDR II, and working on sensorymotor psychotherapy (SP) Level I. The majority of our clients are those who have been in traditional talk therapy for years and are not getting better.
At R1:99, we start with mid-brain interventions such as visual art, music, movement, etc. and combine them with DBT. Expressive therapies are the language of the mid-brain where most complex trauma survivors are stuck. These modalities then push up into the left pre-frontal cortex and the survivor can now put words to their artistic expression.
For those who are interested in processing their traumatic memories, we prefer SP over EMDR. EMDR targets the first or worst memory with the hope of catching lesser memories in the process. EMDR does not teach the client to regulate themselves and it does not erase traumatic memories; it simply changes the relationship that the client has with the memory.
We now know that trauma will lodge itself in the body and so, we need to work with it there. SP is an excellent tool as it is kind, gentle, and done in small increments. It can also be used in phase I of treatment that focuses on safety and stabilization.