EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
“The past affects the present even without our being aware of it.”
― Francine Shapiro (creator of EMDR)
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR therapy is a structured therapy that will help you break through emotional blocks that keep you from living an emotionally, healthy life.
How does EMDR therapy work?
EMDR focuses on the brain’s ability to adapt and essentially heal itself. When painful experiences from the past are updated with new information, the memory of the experience no longer has the same charge or intensity. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation via eye movements (similar to REM activity while you sleep), tapping, or sound. When the client combines this while focusing on the image, sensations, and negative belief of a memory, the brain can update disturbing past experiences so they no longer impact your present in the same way.
What does EMDR help?
EMDR is a therapy for trauma or symptoms of trauma. Many people seek help for unexplained panic, anxiety, sadness, or feelings of low self-worth. Others are tired of experiencing unhealthy or abusive relationships and want to stop the pattern. Many people have had either abuse or neglect in their childhood and are not aware of the impact it has had on them all these years. Often they had a parent with addictions, mental illness, narcissism, or anger. EMDR can also help with phobias, performance anxiety, somatic symptoms, or single-incident traumas, such as car accidents or tragic events.
Is EMDR emotionally painful?
EMDR is a process with stages of preparation that will help you tolerate any disturbing emotions during the process. You will learn several emotion regulation skills that will help you manage your symptoms. With EMDR, the client is always in control. You select the experiences you wish to target. During processing, the therapist is there as your guide to help and support you.
How long does EMDR therapy take?
Individual sessions are 60 to 90 minutes. The length of therapy varies with each client and their specific issues and can last anywhere from a few sessions to many weeks.
Get to the root cause with EMDR.
Contact me for a free phone consultation and we can chat about any other questions you have regarding using EMDR. After that we can set up your first appointment.
