Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR therapy is form of psychotherapy that allows people who have experienced trauma resolve these past painful experiences and begin to live their lives.

How does EMDR Therapy Work?

EMDR posits that past traumatic experiences are stored in a person’s nervous system. These past experiences act as blockades that do not allow one’s body to utilize its innate self-healing capabilities. Think of the injury of skinning your knee. Your body will heal itself unless there is an infection, in which case you may need medicine to help your body heal. EMDR is that medicine for your nervous system.

Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) theory is the model that underpins EMDR therapy. AIP theory explains how traumatic memories are stored and become challenges for our body.  EMDR utilizes Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) (i.e. eye movements or tapping) to reignite your body’s innate healing process to work through these challenges.

A person’s age and the number of traumatic experiences in their lives may influence how many EMDR treatment targets there are and thus influence how long therapy may take. EMDR focuses on the first and the worst traumatic experiences. After these are targeted, desensitized, and reprocessed there is a large generalization effect to other traumatic memories within the same/similar neural networks. Yes, healing from trauma is possible!

EMDR typically starts with past traumatic experiences/memories. It then transitions to the present experiences that are distressful for a person. Finally, EMDR has a future orientation component that helps a person prepare for future stressors and their responses.

What can EMDR help treat?

EMDR is a very effective and efficacious treatment for trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). It is widely used throughout the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD). EMDR’s effectiveness has also been proven with other mental health challenges and symptoms such as:

• Self-harm
• Depression
• Substance abuse
• Anxiety
• Panic Disorders

Trauma and PTSD test most individuals to their very core. EMDR therapy can help you heal and revitalize your life. Submit a Contact Form or call now to connect with an experienced EMDR therapist for a free 20-minute consultation call to see how EMDR may help you on your journey.