Kind Words

Hello, my name is April,I have been seeing Ruth for almost a year for services under EMDR treatment. First you must know that I suffered extreme early childhood trauma, from physical, emotional, sexual abuse which lead into my adolescents. By people I was suppose to be able to trust. These traumas unfortunately didn't stay in the past. They spilled over into all of my relationship eventually leading me to prison, where I spent 16 1/2 years. Trauma experienced there only reinforced past traumas and with no coping skills to manage everyday life I was right where I was in freedom. However, after several years of being there something had to change, I knew I didn't want to come home with same hurts, habits, hang-ups, and disfunction I went in with. I utilized all of the resources and challenged myself cognitively. However, that just wasn't enough, there was a lingering presence in my life with night terrors, and flashes of relentless images that were burned inside of my mind. I was tired of the past controlling me at times I wasn't even sure why I would be feeling a sure why I was experiencing certaint feeling or why my body was reacting in fits of rage. Then I heard about EMDR when I was on the inside and I knew this was the missing piece to my life. I had exhausted all conventional forms of therapy known to man and knew this therapy was where my true freedom lied. I just wrapped up my last session with Ruth and I have to say that I no longer am a prisoner of the things that were rooted in my memory. I am no longer afraid to come out of the shadows and conquer those distorted belief patterns or behavior that controlled my life consciously or unconsciously. I highly recommend if you have demons that are haunting you seek professional help gain insight into why, how, and where, in order for EMDR to have a greater affect on your psychological state, as well as on physiological well being. Many Blessing to you all there is true FREEDOM in EMDR coupled with conventional therapy approaches.

Ruth and EMDR are amazing. I went from a broken woman with no self confidence to strong independent self confident woman! I would HIGHLY recommned EMDR therapy. It works!!! Ruth is so easy to talk to and guides you through the EMDR perfectly.

I have never been able to look in the mirror and like what I see. Growing up being told how fat you are your whole life does some serious damage. I am now able to look in the mirror and love what I see. I am embracing who I am and would NEVER have been able to do this before Ruth and her EMDR. SHE IS MY LIFE SAVER.

I had a wonderful insightful experience with Ruth. I never thought with my diagnosis that I've had for SEVERAL years I could/would ever feel normal. I have been to several therapist in my life with no success until I got rock bottom again and sought out a new therapy I heard of call EMDR. I found Ruth Gillis who helps people like me through EMDR. I met with Ruth who was very professional and compassionate then when I gave a thorough history we got to work. At first I was sceptical but after that first session Ruth started me on the EMDR therapy and OMG it worked and we kept working on my PTSD and I've never felt better AND I haven't looked back it was like tons of bricks were lifted off of me. Ruth is amazing (ok I'm amazing too). Life is good... My psychiatrist has seen the positive changes and has been decreasing my medication. I owe my life to Ruth when I was at my lowest breaking point. I know Ruth would say I was the one who did all the hard work BUT it was Ruth Gillis and the EMDR that gave me relief and a new me.

I want to take the time to talk about my professional mentor; Ruth Gillis. I started working right out of college for a non-profit agency. In this agency i worked with many therapists and psychiatrists. At that point in my career I was exploring counseling as a possible career path. I was unsure of my ability and desire to work with people on such an intimate level. I was unsure if therapists could really help people make positive changes in their lives. I started off as a case manager who assisted the therapist’s (Ms. Gilli’s being one of the therapists) with community resources for their clients. I am so grateful to have had the honor to work alongside Ms. Gillis. Ms. Gillis selflessly took on the role as my mentor. She took the time to teach me different approaches to clients, she made sure to check in on my feelings such transference and counter transference, and she always made sure to take in cultural considerations of the client’s. She challenged my thinking which made me grow as a person and a professional. She encouraged and guided my ability as young professional. The most important thing Ms. Gillis did for me was inspire me to become a MSW. She didn’t just stop there. Once I completed my graduate program Ms. Gillis provided me with Supervision. She continues to teach me, inspire me, and motivate me to a great clinician. Ms. Gillis has a natural tendency to mentor and help new professionals. I am certain Ms. Gillis continues to guide young professionals as it is in her nature to help others.

I just turned down a job offer... because I finally feel that I'm worth more. For years I thought that because I had been so horribly abused as a child that there was something wrong with me. That I caused it to happen. Welp.. I gotta tell ya, there's a new sheriff in town. This one if for you Ruth Gillis once again you gave me the gift that just keeps on giving...

Just a note I have written so many cards of thankfulness in my head. I thought I would a least drop a note to let you know I am still doing well. You did so much for me words can not begin to express the depth of gratitude I feel. You are an amazing therapist the EMDR gave me a new start. You will always hold a very special place in my heart I think of you every day & what you were able to teach me.. You are truly gifted Thank you for sharing your gift with me & all the other you help.

Ruth Gillis has been fantastic as a specialist in therapy and EMDR. She has helped me overcome my past experiences of deep rooted trauma, and I will be returning to her in the near future for more work. She is patient, empathetic, knowledgeable, experienced and uses contemporary techniques that help ensure renewed thought processing from negative to positive, depression to happiness and provides a safe environment for her patients to feel comfortable and honest to share the private issues that may have created substantial problems in their lives. Thanks Ruth!

Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Rebecca Moore. I feel so compelled to write my experience to you, to let the public know what this therapy has done for me. Within the past year I have been seeing a Certified EMDR therapist here in San Diego, named Ruth Gillis, MFT. When I came to her office I must say, that my life was truly in total shambles. My anxiety and stress were to a point that I could no longer function in society. I couldn’t keep a job, so my career as a first assistant in the operating room completely unraveled. This slowly lead to the financial mess that ensued. My anxiety began to manifest itself physiologically in the form of panic attacks that mimicked heart attacks (unstable angina). I gained an enormous amount of weight (70 added lbs) and began to self-medicate with alcohol. I would go days without sleeping due to the fact that events that transpired in my past were still alive in my head. Needless to say the domino effect took place in my life. It seemed as though I had no hope. The depression from all that has happened in my personal life was unbearable. I was immobilized. Feeling extremely frustrated at the fact that I have worked in the medical field for over twenty years and have spoken with numerous health care providers, it was all for naught. I had no idea that I was suffering from PTSD and had been all along my adult life. It was then that a friend recommended EMDR therapy. Quickly, in a desperate attempt, I began to do research in this field. To my amazement, I was totally dumbfounded and could not believe that this was definitely something that might help me. I scheduled an appointment for treatment. When I came to Ruth Gillis’s office, I was indeed skeptical. Nothing ever helped before, not even medication. So why should I think this would help? But I was so desperate I was willing to do whatever Ruth told me to do. What makes her good and effective with people is that she has a passion for people which can be seen and felt. Therefore trust can be easily established. So, I did what she said. She explained to me what I was experiencing and educated me on the brain. I just loved her technique with me. Subsequently, after only a few sessions I began to notice simple things were happening. I started to have more energy. I was getting up earlier in the morning. Believe me when I say that had indeed been an everyday struggle. I started noticing things that used to trigger anger and irritation (from some very painful memories) didn’t bother me anymore. I could drive to areas of the city and not feel panic-stricken. I felt much more confident and had a sense of well-being around my surroundings, as if I were a different person somehow. Within the first two months, I had a new clarity about my life. I could see myself in every situation with the deepest insight. My confidence shot through the roof. My self-image has completely changed for the better. My eating habits have changed because I’m no longer “self-medicating” with food or alcohol, and my sense of spirituality is unshakable. Now it feels as though I was left to bleed to death. EMDR arrested the bleeding, for it has completely stopped. I feel as thought this is an answer to my prayers that I have looked for my entire life. I feel normal again; like I have my old self back… and I do have my old self back — however, a better version. My marriage has healed because of this miracle therapy. Now my husband and I have a business and I am more focused than ever before. I feel healthier, sexy, happy, and confident. For the first time, I LOVE my life. The only regret: I wish I knew about this type of therapy twenty years ago. It would have saved me a lot of pain. I am forever grateful to Ruth Gillis and her expertise and professionalism, and her whole disposition in it’s entirety. I can’t stop telling people about it, because I can see what they are going through and it saddens me. Because there IS a solution and that’s EMDR. I will continue to advocate this therapy because I believe that this is how life is supposed to be. If I can be of some help to someone I will. I personally feel that every health care provider needs to be aware of this type of therapy in order to effectually help those in need. Next month I will be turning fifty. Now I look towards that next half of my life and all the possibilities that I see, and that I am. I am forever changed by it… “Happy Birthday to me!”

When I first started seeing Ruth I was extremely traumatized. I was shell shocked from a series of crises that left me in need of tremendous healing. Ruth seemed to understand my trauma and patiently worked with me for years. She saw me through addiction and many transitions. She was a stabilizing force in my life and contributed greatly to my journey in becoming assertive and protective of my boundaries. She would say incisive things that got me to question antiquated belief systems I had that were not in line with the life I was cultivating, one of increasing serenity and consistent peace of mind. She has a penetrating knowledge of people. Period. She knows her stuff. I trusted her and I learned a lot. Her compassion is widely recognized. Toward the end of our work together I could boast a confidence in the ability to delineate and enforce my boundaries without getting aggressive. I was able to assert myself, something I had been terrified to do from my earliest days. I was clean and sober. I never thought I would be able to give up substances, but I did, and gratefully. Ruth, simply put, is a great healer. Her approach is deft and sensitive. I am glad to recommend her services. I can't say enough. She helped me through 5 arduous years of my life. Today I'm still clean and sober. I'm healthy. I'm more assertive and at peace than I've ever been. Ever.