Leave your painful past behind, expand your mind and rediscover your potential
emdr therapy
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EMDR in a nutshell
We all face adversity in our lives. In most circumstances our innate ability to process and heal from pain gets us through, and we are able to move past distressing events and experiences on our own. However, there are other times when our systems get overwhelmed and these processes get interrupted. This results in a sense of stuckness in our minds and bodies that changes the way we think and feel about ourselves and the world around us. You may find yourself re-experiencing upsetting and unwanted images, thoughts, and emotions from a difficult time or times. You may be suffering from nightmares, flashbacks, and other disturbing memories that disrupt your ability to live a fulfilling life.
When trauma causes recurring problems and obstacles in your life, EMDR therapy can help you find a new pathway for your mind and body to process and heal; to relieve you of the sense of dread and stuckness; and to allow you to feel more grounded and alive.
What is EMDR?
EMDR therapy is an effective and widely used psychotherapy method that helps people overcome trauma and other distressing life experiences. It is considered one of the best treatments for PTSD and is used to relieve psychological stress for a wide range of challenges, including:
Anxiety & panic attacks
Phobias
Substance misuse
Chronic Illness & pain
Eating disorders
Grief & loss
Trauma
Sleep disturbances
EMDR is and evidence-based treatment recognized by The American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs/Dept. of Defense, the World Health Organization, and many other national and international organizations.
how does it work?
Our brains have an instinctive way to recover from traumatic experiences. When distress from a disturbing event remains in your brain, it interferes with your ability to process information. Your mind convinces you that you are still living those experiences, and your nervous system responds to protect you. These memories can impact your ability to engage in the present moment, build and maintain healthy relationships, identify and work towards goals, and care for your daily needs.
EMDR therapy helps the brain process those memories and re-activates your mind’s natural healing process through bilateral stimulation, allowing you to recall and process your experiences in a kinder and gentler way. Bilateral stimulation (left to right movement) can include finger movements, tapping, eye movements, and listening to auditory tones while focusing internally on a distressing event or experience. This bilateral stimulation triggers Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and a deeper level of processing in your brain. After EMDR therapy, you’ll be able to remember the experience but no longer feel the intense distress that it used to create.
Treatment Process
As an EMDR therapist, my role is to support you through past experiences and help you move towards newer, more positive beliefs. While every person’s experience with EMDR is unique, people often report feeling lighter, more peaceful, understood, and cared for after therapy.
During our EMDR therapy sessions, we’ll discuss your history, identify the issues that are causing you distress, and talk about the negative beliefs related to them. During some sessions, you may be asked to visualize certain memories and explore the beliefs, feelings, and physical sensations associated with it. During other sessions, you may be asked to focus on a positive belief related to the memory while bilateral stimulation is used.
At the end of EMDR therapy, memories that once presented as painful should no longer be an issue for you, and new healthy responses to trauma will be the norm. The memory or situation will not be erased, but you’ll feel empowered to recognize its impact without re-experiencing it.
Ready to schedule a session with me?
