EMDR, What is it like?
EMDR therapy can be life changing, in a good way. The best way I can describe it as that the event(trauma) that has been weighing so heavy on your mind and body no longer has that powerful hold on you. Your memories are not removed, rather when you think of the specific memory after doing EMDR, it doesn't cause you to freeze up, to ruminate on it over and over again. The memory happened, but you can move on with your life in a positive, fulfilling way.
One client put it this way, "I'm no longer stuck in the past, and I know it's not my fault."
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About EMDR?
EMDR therapy can take place either in-person or online as a telehealth session. It's important to keep in mind that for best results, a therapeutic rapport would be established before moving on to working through specific memories, or negative beliefs. There will be an emotional focus while engaging in sets of bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or tones. EMDR is an eight-phase treatment method. These include: history taking, client preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure and reevaluation of treatment effect.
I would love to work with you to "Rise Above" past or present trauma, and help you on your journey to live your best life. Feel free to reach out with any questions. I offer a free consultation to see if we would be a good fit. From the time we first talk or interact, everything is completely confidential. The best time to begin is now! Just click on the Get Started button to begin a journey to a new you.
More information is available on EMDR here.
EMDR, Who is it for?
When most people think of therapy, they imagine themselves sitting in an office and discussing their struggles with a counselor. While traditional talk therapy can be incredibly effective and meaningful for many people, some clients do gravitate toward other therapeutic methods. One option for treating trauma, anxiety, depression, and other concerns is EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. EMDR therapy may look very different from a typical therapy session, but it’s been shown time and time again to offer powerful results. If you find it difficult or painful to articulate your thoughts and feelings with words, EMDR may be a helpful alternative. EMDR is a therapy for children, teens, and adults. In my practice, I treat those 10 and up.
EMDR, Benefits / outcomes
Effective for Trauma Recovery
Moving on after a traumatic event is one of the most difficult tasks imaginable, but EMDR therapy can make it possible. Once a trauma has been ingrained in your mind, it can be tough to avoid triggers that make you feel like you’re reliving the experience. EMDR allows your brain to reorganize the thoughts, feelings, and experiences that are connected to your trauma so that you no longer feel like you’re ruled by the event.
You can’t erase trauma from your life, and you may always carry some of the weight of your trauma. However, EMDR can dramatically reduce the amount of control that your trauma has on your life, and it can help you navigate the present day without constantly reliving the past.
Addresses Anxiety and Circular Thinking
EMDR therapy can be effective for treating generalized anxiety, phobias, and other anxiety disorders because it helps you let go of your circular thinking patterns. When an anxious thought spiral is ingrained in your mind, it can feel inescapable. With the help of EMDR, though, you can learn to address your fears and worries without becoming lost in your anxiety.
Improves Perspective on Self
Just like it’s easy to be consumed by anxious thought patterns, it can be easy to get stuck in a loop of self-doubt and self-criticism. This is one of the most common hallmarks of depression, but negative self-image can impact anyone. Maybe past failures or criticisms have gotten trapped in your head, or maybe your negative inner voice simply tells you that you’re not good enough.
EMDR can help you break these thinking habits and replace them with new, positive beliefs about yourself and your world. Our negative perspectives on ourselves usually stem from our painful past experiences, but we can rethink our interpretations of those moments with EMDR. By reprocessing the beliefs or experiences that have affected your self-image, you’ll overcome your automatic negative thoughts and learn to relate more positively to yourself.
Doesn’t Require Much Talking
Before you and I begin the eye movement and desensitization part of your therapy session, you will talk about your background, your goals for the treatment, and your expectations. The actual treatment requires little talking, though. I will encourage you to focus on your negative thoughts or memories while they guide you through the eye movements, so your experience will be mostly internal. After the session, we can discuss your experience.
EMDR therapy is an accessible form of mental healthcare for people who struggle to articulate their feelings in words. If it’s hard for you to talk about your trauma, your depressive thoughts, or other negative experiences, EMDR may be an easier and less stressful form of therapy. You’re not shying away from your emotions or your trauma, but you don’t have to find the words to express how you feel.
Fast Results
No therapy shows results overnight, but EMDR tends to be a short-term treatment. Most people attend eight to 12 weekly sessions, and the results are typically permanent. This is especially valuable for people who have limited time or funding for therapy as it makes mental healthcare more accessible for them. It’s easier to commit to a few months of treatment than it is to commit to years of sessions, so many people are able to receive EMDR therapy when they would never have been able to attend traditional talk therapy.
