EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
how does it work?
When we go through a traumatic event, our central nervous system kicks into high gear, reacting with a stress response — i.e., a fight, flight, or freeze reaction. Sometimes a distressing event can be processed sufficiently by our brain on its own, and it heals itself. But other times, our mind can get “stuck” in the past and continues to react as if we’re still experiencing the disturbing event — as if we’re back in the trauma.
EMDR helps our brain process traumatic memories more effectively. The therapy helps put the traumatic memory into our positive memory network. You can still recall the memory, but they no longer give you the same emotional reactions.
Who is EMDR for?
EMDR is known to be a powerful form of therapy for people who have suffered traumatic events. Still, almost anyone experiencing emotional distress that is the result of difficult life experiences can benefit from EMDR therapy.
EMDR is effective for people who have experienced:
military combat
all types of abuse
car accidents
violent crime
natural disasters
bullying as a child
complex grief and loss
physical injury or threat
medical trauma
What if I don’t have a history of trauma?
EMDR also works for the “everyday” problems that cause low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, feelings of powerlessness, and chronic stress. It can help people work through life transitions, relationship issues, career changes, health issues, phobias, anger problems, and more.
Many people don’t recognize that things like parental divorce, abandonment and betrayal, toxic relationships, poverty, cyber-bullying, family alcoholism/addiction, or chronic illness can have a lasting effect on your life. You may not recognize how these events have shaped you or eroded your life.
For example, some people grew up with “tough love” parents. Expectations were high, and they were disciplined harshly. As adults, they may suffer from trauma-related symptoms, such as codependency or substance abuse, but not realize the origin of their suffering.
how is EMDR done?
EMDR therapy consists of several phases. The first phase involves history-taking, where I learn more about your past and where you want to go from here. Next, I’ll teach you coping and calming skills so you can handle emotional distress, which you can use between and during sessions.
Then we will or work through the identified trauma. This is where the signature modality of EMDR comes into play, known as bilateral stimulation (BLS). The three types of BLS include 1) visual (when a therapist moves a finger or light bar back and forth), 2) auditory (slight chimes or other sounds that alternate in each ear), or 3) tactile (pulsars that you hold in your hand and pulse back and forth).
You will be instructed to focus on a visual image of the trauma, a negative thought you associate with yourself, and bodily sensations. After the eye movement stimulation, you will simply notice whatever thought, feeling, image, memory or sensation comes to mind.
When we wrap up the sessions, I’ll make sure you feel stable and safe moving forward, knowing how to use the self-regulating techniques you learned, and evaluate the progress you have made.
