EMDR Therapy
What Is EMDR?
All of us have disturbing memories, whether they involve a breakup, an assault, a conflict with family, or the passing of a loved one. Unfortunately, the effects of these events are often too subtle for us to notice. EMDR is a form of therapy that seeks to bring the impact of trauma to light, uncovering the negative beliefs and behavioral patterns that disturbing memories created.
For instance, maybe you experienced several painful rejections when you were younger, leading you to believe “I am unlovable” or “I’ll never find a significant other.” EMDR, which stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, uses a series of gentle stimulation techniques to reduce the pain these rejections caused. This way, you can recall what happened to you without resorting to negative beliefs. With EMDR, your brain is no longer trapped by your emotions—you won’t forget the past, but you can reduce the harmful effect it has on you.
How Effective Is EMDR Therapy?
In our opinion, EMDR is the therapy—no other form of counseling can hold a candle to it. The beauty of this approach is that the interventions are endless. Not only does EMDR work with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression, but it has also helped refugees, disaster-response professionals, and people suffering from various addictions and phobias. The skilled EMDR clinician can work with just about every population and presenting problem. Our therapists use EMDR with children and adults and find it equally helpful for both.
What’s more, EMDR does not require you to go into detail about your trauma or suffering. It is generally more concerned with images, emotions, and body sensations than words, so you can share as much (or as little) of your traumatic history as you want. In this way, EMDR avoids the trappings of talk therapy, since there is a very low risk of being re-traumatized.
Simply put, EMDR is the safest and most effective form of trauma and PTSD treatment there is. The World Health Organization, American Psychological Association, and Department of Veterans Affairs all recognize its efficacy in helping clients overcome various forms of emotional distress.
How Does EMDR Work?
The first step in the EMDR process is establishing an environment of safety, compassion, and unconditional acceptance. Before you get into the actual EMDR work, our therapists will make sure you feel cared for and at ease with the process—after all, we will never push you to do something you don’t want to. We will only explore painful emotions and memories after ensuring safety and stability.
The best way to create an environment of safety is to develop coping skills to use when you are stressed. What these skills are depends on what works best for you. We may work on distress-tolerance, mindfulness strategies, or even expressive-art techniques. If painful emotions ever resurface during treatment—or outside of treatment—you can draw from these strategies to keep yourself calm and grounded.
After establishing a foundation of safety and security, we can begin the actual EMDR process. We will identify painful memories from the past and target the negative emotions and beliefs they spawned. Then, we will use a series of bilateral stimulation techniques—such as tapping and side-to-side eye movements—to access both the left and right sides of the brain.
Bilateral stimulation may sound complex, but it’s actually a very straightforward process. The visual and auditory cues will stimulate the part of the brain that stores emotional pain, helping you experience new emotions when you recall your trauma. The brain has an innate ability to heal itself, and EMDR taps into this ability. It helps you process your memories the same way your brain does when you’re asleep.
How Can EMDR Therapy Benefit My Life?
All of us have negative experiences in life, and these experiences shape us in more ways than we realize. If we consistently get poor grades in school, we may believe we’re not intelligent. If we suffer from several bad breakups or harsh rejections, we may believe we’re unlovable. EMDR targets these faulty cognitions, disarming their hold on our lives.
When you are freed from present triggers that are driven by past events, it becomes easier to trust yourself, achieve your goals, and have fulfilling relationships. You can live a life that is unhindered by the past and embrace a future in which you feel free, accepted, and empowered.
The Past Does Not Define The Present
If you’re tired of living in the shadow of the past, we would be honored to help you process and resolve your trauma and live with more clarity and confidence. To connect with us, you can email us, fill out the appointment request form, or call 210-951-3479.