Curious about Neruofeedback and EMDR? Meet Center for Discovery Clinical Advisor Cyndi Pulsinelli, LMFT
Neurofeedback and EMDR are becoming increasingly prevalent in eating disorder treatment in San Diego and elsewhere. Cyndi Pulsinelli, LMFT, is a San Diego eating disorder therapist who is also the clinical advisor for Center for Discovery’s Del Mar Outpatient eating disorder treatment center. In this post, Cyndi shares about her background, as well as the work that she is doing with neurofeedback and EMDR at Center for Discovery. Eating disorders are incredibly complex, so it’s important to explore various treatment options to find the ones that are right for you. Neruofeedback and EMDR can be effective strategies to supplement and enhance eating disorder treatment. Plus, Cyndi is an all-around nice person, so I’m glad you’ll get to know her and the amazing work that she’s doing!
Why did you choose to become an eating disorder specialist in San Diego?
In graduate school, I had taken interest in working with individuals with eating disorders. It’s such a pervasive issue that touches so many lives. I believe in the healing and restoration process of the mind, body, and soul.
In 2013, when Center for Discovery opened up La Jolla residential treatment center (RTC) for adolescents, a good friend from graduate school referred me to apply. They had one position left to fill, which was the overnight counselor Saturday and Sunday shift. I was eager to just start somewhere, so I took the position. Very quickly, I moved up into a full-time floor counselor role, then Primary Therapist, Program Director, Southern California Regional Director, and most recently as Clinical Advisor for Center for Discovery Del Mar Outpatient.
I’ve been able to work at all levels of care, such as RTC, PHP, IOP. These experiences have given me the knowledge base in my private practice, to know how to best assess and serve my client’s needs, depending up the severity of their eating disorder.
I absolutely love the multidisciplinary team approach working with this population, whether in a treatment setting or outpatient practice. I have learned so much as I’ve worked alongside treatment teams in which therapists, psychiatrists, primary care doctors and dietitians collaborate to provide the best care for clients. It really is an intricate team dynamic; it’s so rewarding! This is one of the biggest reasons I have chosen to build a career in working with this population.
What kind of treatment do you provide?
In my private practice, I provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), exposure response prevention (ERP), and EMDR.
At Center for Discovery Del Mar Outpatient NeuroCenter, I provide Neurofeedback and EMDR sessions to clients in PHP and IOP.
Do you only work with eating disorders?
No. I work often with individuals with mood disorders, agoraphobia, traumas, and relationship attachment issues in my private practice.
How long have you been working with eating disorders overall, and how long have you been in San Diego?
I have been working with eating disorders for over six years. I moved to San Diego in 2010, so close to 10 years now.
Who are your favorite types of clients to work with?
I enjoy clients who are motivated by the idea of thriving and are ready to do the work! I am open to working with clients of all ages from late teens to early 60s.
What happens during a first appointment with you?
In private practice, I’ll meet with the client and spend a good amount of time getting to know them, their back story, goals they have for therapy. We review an eating disorder assessment. I ensure I have written permission for any providers with whom I might need to collaborate. We end by setting up our next session to begin our work together.
With the Center for Discovery Del Mar Outpatient NeuroCenter, I do both neurofeedback and EMDR.
With neurofeedback, I’ll start with basic education on neurofeedback, brainwaves and how it works on training the brain. We use the BrainPaint program, so I take time familiarizing clients with the program and the equipment. Next, we start the assessment by identifying four growth areas the client wants to focus on and then answering a 90-question assessment, which then creates the protocol specific to client’s needs. Clients are then hooked up with three wires, which are commonly placed on the ears and one on the scalp which measures the brainwaves. Then the client will start their identified protocol. A neurofeedback session lasts around 45 minutes.
There are eight phases of EMDR. During the first session we’ll address the first three phases, which is history taking, preparation, and assessment. I’ll have the client identify a distressing target they want to address, we’ll identify the negative cognition, positive cognition desired, severity of emotional disturbance and sensations in the body. We’ll schedule our next session which we’ll start the full bilateral stimulation addressing the target.
You work both in partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient programs (PHP/IOP), as well as in private practice. Would you explain the difference between PHP/IOP and private practice?
Center for Discovery PHP is full day treatment program from 10-7pm, six days per week. The program offers therapeutic and dietary groups, as well as meal support with lunch, dinner and two snacks during program. A client will see their therapist 2x per week, registered dietitian 1-2x per week, and the psychiatrist 1x per week. In addition, all clients are able to receive EMDR and neurofeedback sessions onsite. The goal of PHP is to provide structure and containment for clients to support in eliminating eating disorder behaviors. Further, supporting clients gaining insight and effective coping skills to manage the eating disorder.
After a client has demonstrated weight restoration or stabilization goals, using effective coping skills to manage eating disorder behaviors and thoughts, we prepare them to transition to IOP. IOP is a three-hour per day program between 3-6 days per week, offering therapeutic and dietary groups, with one meal during program. Clients will see a therapist and RD 1x per week and return to their outpatient psychiatrist. Once in IOP the goal is to support the client integrating back into their life while managing their recovery.
In my private practice, I’ll see a client 1-2 sessions per week, eventually bi-weekly. We’ll focus on recovery protection skills, eating disorder prevention, trauma, and relationship issues. I work closely with the client’s outpatient dietitian, primary care doctor and psychiatrist to ensure client is on track toward recovery.
What do you wish people knew about getting treatment for eating disorders?
It may be one of the hardest things to choose to do, but eating disorder treatment will change their life. They are so brave to take the step toward recovery. I would want them to know it’s a journey. There is no quick fix or short cuts, but a lot of grace along the way! It’s important to their treatment team to guide them through the process. They’ll be able to break behavior patterns and find a life of freedom outside of the eating disorder again.
How can people learn more and contact you?
The best way to get in contact with me is via email or phone.
My email Cyndi.PulsinelliLMFT@gmail.com or 503-333-0875. You can also stop by my website at www.cyndipulsinelli.com
To contact me through Center for Discovery you can email me at: Cynthia.pulsinelli@centerfordiscovery.com
To learn more about Center for Discovery NeuroCenters you can check out the link below:
https://centerfordiscovery.com/treatment-programs/neurocenters
Share one fun fact about you that most people don’t know.
I am Italian, don’t let the fair skin and red hair fool you. I get asked often if I speak Italian—sadly I don’t! I recently found out the Italian Culture Center of San Diego offers beginner Italian courses up to advanced lessons. I’m planning to sign up and commit to learning the Italian language over the next year and looking to book a trip to Italy to practice my new skills in 2020.
——————————
Hey everyone, I really appreciate you reading my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)
Marianne
If you are struggling to find eating disorder treatment in San Diego, schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation using the online scheduler, and I will help you get where you need to be!
You can find more information about me on Instagram @drmariannemiller or on my Facebook page.