EMDR Therapy

 
 

What is EMDR?

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EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, is an evidenced based and effective therapy created to help individuals heal from the lasting effects of trauma or past negative experiences. It was initially designed for the treatment of PTSD, but has shown to be an effective intervention for depression, anxiety, phobias, and more. EMDR rests on the assumption that non-chemically based mental health disorders are the results of negative life experiences that were not adaptively processed. EMDR consists of using bilateral stimulation (eye movement or taping) while focusing on distressing memories to allow the brain to reprocess the information from the event in an adaptive way. Effectively allowing you to heal and move on.

How do I know if EMDR is for me?

As I mentioned earlier, EMDR has grown to be a complete form of therapy in the sense that it can treat a wide range of presenting concerns. I would say the most frequent way I use EMDR therapy is for what we call “emotional flashbacks”.

what do I mean by that?

Well, for example, have you ever had an experience where a strong emotional reaction was triggered, and logically you couldn’t understand why? for example lets say you have a very difficult time getting feedback from your boss at work. Whenever you have a performance review, any feedback makes you feel like a personal failure. You find yourself totally overwhelmed with feelings of “not being good enough”. Or lets say whenever you go to a new social situation you experience a great deal of panic. On the one hand you know that there is probably nothing to worry about, but it’s like your body and emotions have a mind of their own and you find yourself feeling very panicky anyways. These are potentially emotional flashbacks rooted in past experiences that were not adequately processed.

If you are struggling with any of the issues below, EMDR may be a treatment option for you:

 
 

  • social anxiety

  • PTSD

  • public speaking

  • phobias

  • panic attacks

  • low self esteem

  • depression

  • jealousy

  • anger

  • difficulty with emotional intimacy

  • difficulty with physical intimacy

  • sleep problems

  • lack of motivation

How long does EMDR therapy last?

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I would say one of the greatest benefits of EMDR therapy, other than the fact that it’s highly effective, is that it is also know for achieving results much quicker than traditional talk therapy. While the time frame varies from individual to individual, EMDR treatment often helps people process through past traumas in weeks to months, as opposed to years. The length of treatment needed will depend on things like the severity and length of your trauma history, your internal and external resources, and motivation for treatment success.

Is EMDR hypnosis?

There is a common misconception that EMDR is the same thing as hypnosis. Part of that confusion is probably due to the fact that both treatments utilize eye movement. There are many important differences between EMDR and hypnosis. The biggest concern I often hear from individuals considering EMDR, is fear about being put into an altered state of consciousness. It’s important to know that, unlike hypnosis, you remain oriented to the present moment. what happens during EMDR is a process called “dual awareness”. What this means for you, is that you are conscious of both you’re past experience and the present moment. At the end of the day, you remain in control of your processing.

Is EMDR safe?

Yes,when EMDR is utilized correctly, it is safe. Like any form of therapy, you will likely encounter distressing thoughts, feelings or memories. Some people recover lost memories throughout their EMDR processing. Before EMDR processing takes place, you will learn coping skills to help you manage any distressing feelings you may experience between appointments.

Want to know more?

connect with me below to set up a free, no pressure, phone consultation. If you’re wondering if EMDR might be the right choice for you, I’m happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Other resources on EMDR: