"The goal of EMDR therapy is trait change so that the negative emotions & sensations will no longer habitually arise." Francine Shapiro, Florence W. Kaslow, Louise Maxfield

You may have past trauma that you are painfully aware of, or trauma that is not in your self awareness but is directing your feelings and actions. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an internationally recognized, evidence-based approach to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, and panic disorders.

EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that was initially developed to help individuals process traumatic experiences. It has since been expanded and adapted to address a broader range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, phobias, and other distressing memories or experiences.

Trauma that is affecting your life could be “big-T” trauma, such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, or “little-t” trauma that can result from divorce, loss, painful childhood experiences, or any situation where you felt worthless, afraid, or powerless.

EMDR is a type of psychotherapy technique that is proven to help people recover from trauma by helping the brain “reprocess” the memories that are causing pain and to be stuck. I will help you naturally process the unsettling feelings and anxieties, while learning strategies to heal. 

The goal of EMDR is to allow you to take specific emotions about past memories and positively address them to improve your emotional health.

The EMDR Process

Through a series of carefully structured phases, EMDR therapy that will enable you to identify and address maladaptive beliefs, emotions, and sensations associated with the targeted memory. The process typically involves you recalling the traumatic memory or distressing event while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation.

Bilateral stimulation (BLS), involves eye movements, taps, or sounds, to stimulate both sides of the brain. This BLS helps you access and process traumatic or distressing memories or experiences in a structured and supported way.

As the therapy progresses, the intensity of the distress associated with the memory tends to decrease, allowing you to develop more adaptive coping skills, insights, and beliefs.

EMDR & EMDR for Grief

I have been trained in EMDR therapy by the EMDR Institute which was founded by Francine Shapiro, PhD who discovered this technique. You and I will work through the eight phases of EMDR therapy to decrease the power of the unprocessed memory. 

I use EMDR therapy to help people work through their hardest experiences so they are able to live more rewarding lives. I also use the EMDR protocol for grief to help the brain “reprocess” the memories of loss that are causing pain & to be stuck. EMDR helps bring the frames of loss together to decrease the trauma to improve emotional health.

Want More Info on EMDR?

This introduction video to EMDR therapy can be used to see how EMDR therapy works, what it is like, and how widely it is recognized. Follow this link https://youtu.be/Pkfln-ZtWeY

For more information about this technique, go to EMDR International Association. There are many videos and articles for more information. We will also talk through the EMDR process until you have all the information you need to get started. Remember, EMDR is not an invasive process. We are just working through your thoughts and memories.

If you feel EMDR could be helpful for you or want to talk further, contact me and we can explore your situation.