What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for treating trauma. EMDR is a set of standardized protocols incorporating elements from different treatment approaches.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR therapy is integrative psychotherapy and uses bilateral stimulation to repeatedly activate opposite sides of the brain. Therapists often use eye movements to facilitate bilateral stimulation. These eye movements mimic the period of sleep referred to as rapid eye movement or REM sleep, and this portion of sleep is frequently considered to be the time when the mind processes the recent events in the person’s life.
EMDR seems to help the brain reprocess the trapped memories to resume standard information processing. Therapists often use EMDR to help clients uncover and process beliefs that developed from relational traumas of childhood abuse and/or neglect. For a more detailed explanation, please visit EMDRIA.
What does EMDR help?
EMDR had been established initially as helpful for PTSD, although it’s been proven effective for treatment in the following conditions:
- Panic Attacks
- Complicated Grief
- Disturbing Memories
- Phobias
- Performance Anxiety
- Addictions
- Stress Reduction
- Sexual and/or Physical Abuse
- Body Dysmorphic Disorders
None of the above symptoms or experiences fit you?
Do you experience distressing emotions that appear to you, and perhaps to others, excessive given the current situation? Do you tend to be highly reactive to specific triggers? Is there one or more dysfunctional beliefs that you believe about yourself that, on an intellectual level, you know is not true?
If so, you may still be a good candidate for EMDR therapy.
Contact me today for a free phone consultation to see if EMDR might help you release what no longer serves you.