What is EMDR?
This acronym stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is a proven therapeutic technique that helps you process and lower the impact of distressing memories by using so-called bilateral stimulation, typically rapid eye movements or tapping.
Bilateral stimulation is based on two important steps:
You try to recall a distressing memory (in a safe way guided by an experienced therapist)
At the same time, you focus on a stimulus (e.g., a moving light bar or taps on alternating shoulders). What's important is that this stimulus crosses the midline of your body so that it can stimulate both the left and right brain hemispheres.
By doing so, EMDR enables your brain to reduce the impact of traumatic experiences (those memories gradually become distant and insignificant).
When is EMDR helpful?
EMDR is mostly associated with trauma therapy (and rightly so), but the truth is that it can be helpful in a much wider array of mental health issues, including:
PTSD
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Phobias
Grief and loss
Low self-esteem
EMDR for trauma therapy
EMDR is especially effective for trauma and PTSD therapy. This therapeutic modality helps with all types of trauma, both significant traumatic events (so-called "big T traumas," like natural disasters or assaults) and seemingly smaller, or cumulative experiences (so-called "little t traumas," such as breakups or childhood bullying).
EMDR helps you reprocess those difficult memories in a safe and guided environment so that you can overcome feelings of being stuck and regain control over your life.
What can you expect from EMDR?
The goal of EMDR is to transform those distressing memories into distant and irrelevant ones so that you can regain this sense of balance, stability, and being in control of what’s going on in your life.
This form of therapy helps you regain a more balanced emotional state, come to terms with past events, and build healthier behaviors and even relationships. Many of our clients confirm that EMDR has a powerful, even transformative, effect on their daily functioning. They emphasize that EMDR helped significantly reduce the intensity of traumatic memories.
What does an EMDR session look like?
EMDR typically begins with an initial session (or sessions), where your therapist tries to find out more about your experiences and prepares you for the process.
During EMDR sessions, you'll recall a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movement that crosses the midline of your body. This way, we can create a "dual attention process" that helps your mind and body reprocess the memory and reduce its emotional impact on your life and well-being today.
When working with EMDR, we meet weekly for 50-minute sessions. The number of sessions you’ll need depends on factors like the nature and severity of your experiences, but many clients start to notice significant changes after just a few EMDR sessions.
Are you ready to start EMDR?
EMDR will help you overcome past painful experiences and regain balance and a sense of control in your daily life.
Our experienced EMDR therapists will make sure the entire process is safe, comfortable, and effective. Reach out today to find out more!