EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

EMDR therapy is an extensively researched, effective treatment approach that aids in the healing of past trauma and other distressing experiences. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) to help reduce distress and reorganize how the memory is filed in the brain.

Traumatic memories can feel stuck or not fully processed in the brain and when triggered they can feel as if they are happening in the present.

EMDR works together with your brain to heal from stuck or not fully processed memories of trauma. The bilateral stimulation helps slow or calm the heightened emotions while simultaneously moving the memory from the past to the present allowing you to gain insight, feel relief and organize the memory as less traumatic.

EMDR sessions are different from typical talk therapy sessions. EMDR sessions are typically more structured and don’t require you to talk about the details of the distressing issues or your trauma. EMDR aids in your brain’s natural ability to heal.

For many clients, EMDR helps them heal from trauma in fewer sessions than typical therapy.

To learn more visit, www.emdria.org.

EMDR is mainly know for treating trauma but it is also helpful in treating many different types of symptoms and challenges such as :

anxiety

panic attacks

depression

disassociation

eating disorders

grief/loss

PTSD, addiction

phobias

low self esteem

Your EMDR therapist will take you through the 8 phases of treatment in structured sessions. Throughout the phases you will learn coping skills and grounding techniques.

Your therapist will guide you to notice images, body sensations, self beliefs, and emotions related to the distressing event until you reach a positive belief and positive sense of self.

1. History & Treatment Planning: Discuss history and develop plan of traumatic events to reprocess.

2. Preparation: Learn techniques to cope with emotional disturbances that may arise.

3. Assessment: Establish baseline of images, beliefs, feelings, and sensations related to event.

4. Desensitization: Use bilateral stimulation while focusing on event until decreasing distress and allowing for new thoughts, images, feelings and sensations.

5. Installation: Strengthen a chosen positive belief related to event.

6. Body Scan: Process any lingering distress/ tension experienced in the body.

7. Closure: Return client to a state of calm.

8. Reevaluation: Begins at every new session to evaluate progress and recently processed memories.