What is EMDR therapy? Extensively researched and proven effective, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) integrates psychotherapy with brain, and central nervous system, processing to transform the negative impact of distressing life events. Used primarily to treat trauma, EMDR is a set of standardized protocols incorporating elements from many different treatment approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Ego State Therapy. EMDR has helped millions of people relieve many types of psychological stress. Potential benefits include decreased anxiety, decreased emotional distress related to a traumatic event, decreased depressive symptoms, and improved insight into negative beliefs associated with the event.
What can EMDR treat?
PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Trauma
Panic attacks
Anxiety
Performance Anxiety
Complicated Grief
Stuck Behavior Patterns
Addictions
Mood Disorders
Disturbing Memories
Dissociative Disorder
Sexual Abuse
Physical Abuse
Nightmares
How does EMDR work? EMDR is based on the theory that overwhelming experiences interfere with the brain’s normal information processing. Often after a traumatic event negative emotions, body sensations, and meanings are embedded in the nervous system in their original distressing form. By momentarily attending to the memories, while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus such as eye movements or hand-taps, EMDR works to reprocess the disturbing event. This bilateral brain stimulation allows the brain to reprocess the past event leading to a decrease in emotional distress.
How we can help We understand that it can be extremely difficult to move forward after distressing life events. You may want to consider trying EMDR to process the trauma. You can expect that we will move at a comfortable pace, and be there with you every step of the way.