EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based form of therapy that helps people process and heal from traumatic experiences, emotional distress, upsetting memories, and other psychological difficulties. It's based on the idea that our brains can heal themselves if given the right tools.
How Does it Work?
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Are you stressed? Anxious? Overwhelmed with worry and fear? Feeling stuck? Perhaps you’ve tried to work through your issues with traditional talk therapy but did not find that entirely successful. Often people try EMDR because traditional therapies haven’t been useful in helping them overcome their symptoms. With EMDR we’re able to identify and work toward changing limiting beliefs that are keeping you stuck.
When stressful experiences happen, they get stored in the body and brain. When we get very upset or overwhelmed, the brain and nervous system have difficulty processing the experience as it would normally. As a result, the negative thoughts and feelings get trapped in our nervous system. Since the brain is unable to process the emotions, feelings, and experiences, we suppress them into our unconscious. While we may not recognize the impact the situation or event has had, it still lives in our nervous system and over time, it can manifest in uncomfortable and meddling ways.
EMDR does two things. First, it unlocks the negative memories and emotions stored in the nervous system. Second, it helps the brain to process the experience successfully. EMDR processes memories, reducing their impact and helping clients to develop coping tools. This is achieved through an approach that addresses the past, present and future aspects of stored memories.
This structured therapy involves:
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Strategies to build safety in the body and soothe strong emotions
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Identifying a negative personal belief about yourself associated with a traumatic memory
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Identifying a healthier belief about yourself
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Briefly focusing on a trauma memory while also experiencing bilateral stimulation like eye movements, tapping or auditory
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Processing of a specific memory can happen between 1-5 sessions
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Processing of complex trauma history is dependent on the individual and it’s ok if it takes longer
Does not involve prolonged exposure to distressing memories or detailed descriptions of the trauma.
Who can benefit from EMDR?
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Trauma and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
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Anxiety and Panic Attacks
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Depression
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Negative Self-Talk
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Emotional Regulation
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Substance Use
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Eating Disorders
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Phobias
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Chronic Illness
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Chronic Pain
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low self-esteem
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