EMDR Therapy

(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

 

What is EMDR therapy?

 

EMDR therapy works with your brain’s natural mechanisms to identify, reprocess, and resolve traumatic and stressful experiences, so you don’t need to continually relive them in your life.

EMDR therapy has been shown to help people in three main ways:

  • Past: Reprocessing the past to adjust the way the brain and body react to an event

  • Present: Working through current triggers to reduce their current level of distress

  • Future: Planning, problem-solving, and skill-building for future scenarios

Watch the 10-minute video below for more information:

Why do I offer EMDR therapy?

 

In my experience as a therapist, the impact of trauma is one of the main reasons people seek therapy. Trauma has cognitive, emotional and physical layers, and EMDR has a structured approach for addressing each of these facets.

EMDR, on its own or in combination with talk therapy, can be more effective and sustainable for these clients than talk therapy on its own.

I became EMDR-trained to offer a specialized, “whole person” approach to help my clients address persistent, painful effects of trauma. I then obtained the advanced optional credential of EMDR certification.

I have also completed these specialized EMDR trainings:

- Integrating EMDR with play-based and expressive therapies, to support clients who connect with a more creative approach.

- Providing EMDR for recent traumatic episodes and group traumatic episodes (R-TEP/G-TEP).

- “Healing Spiritual Abuse with EMDR Therapy”

- Safe and Practical EMDR for Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)

 

How does EMDR therapy work?

 

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It includes eight phases:

Phases 1-2

We talk about your history, identify memories you want to reprocess, and plan your treatment. We also assess your ability to tolerate tough emotions, or your “window of tolerance.” You learn grounding exercises to use during our sessions to help you access emotions from a more reflective, stable place. 

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Phases 3-7

We activate the memory by identifying the images, thoughts, emotions, beliefs about yourself, and body sensations linked with this memory. We then use a technique called bilateral stimulation (BLS) that stimulates both sides of your brain using visual, auditory, or tactile cues. BLS moves in a rhythmic, left-right pattern and may include eye movements, tapping, or a series of sounds. Research shows that BLS may be effective because it mimics our eye motions from our rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep. During this process, your brain makes new, adaptive connections. Once these memories are successfully reprocessed and resolved, you are then more likely to feel freed up to live in the present moment, and to plan for the future. 

Phase 8

In the final phase, we reevaluate your newly reprocessed memories. We talk about changes you’ve noticed and what goals you’d like to focus on next. 

One benefit of EMDR is that it can have a generalizing effect. This means that if you have many memories related to a common theme, you may not need to reprocess each one. Resolving early or formative experiences may have a positive ripple effect on the memories formed from that point forward--and can even affect how your brain handles future experiences. 

How long does EMDR therapy take?

 

We customize the pacing of the EMDR phases to your unique needs, based on the type and degree of trauma or concerns we are addressing. We can further discuss this treatment plan during our initial sessions and adjust as needed throughout services.

 

Is EMDR therapy the same as hypnosis?

 

No, EMDR therapy is different from hypnosis. During EMDR, you have “dual awareness,” which means that you’re both fully present within the room (due to the bilateral stimulation and me checking in with you), and also accessing and processing memories within your brain. You have full control and can stop EMDR reprocessing at any point.

 

I’m afraid to talk about my past. Can EMDR still help me?

 

With EMDR therapy, you can share as much or as little as you want. You don’t have to talk about your memories in detail if it would be too triggering, or if you don’t have the words to do so. The work of EMDR happens inside your brain, even if you don’t verbalize everything.

I have dissociative symptoms. Can I do EMDR?

 

We’ll do a thorough assessment to help ensure that EMDR is the right fit for you. I also offer referrals to other mental health professionals for more specialized needs. Please get in touch with me if you have concerns about starting EMDR.

 

Call me for a brief consult to see if EMDR therapy is a right fit for you.