EMDR

Courtesy of EMDR International Association

How is EMDR Different from Other Therapies?

EMDR therapy must be done with a properly trained and licensed mental health clinician.

EMDR therapy facilitates healing without requiring talking in detail about the distressing issue or homework between sessions. It's designed to activate your brain's inherent healing capabilities. The goal of EMDR is to enable you to process traumatic memories in a way that acknowledges their existence without being overwhelmed by them. This process includes distinctive methods such as alternating eye movements, sounds, or gentle tapping. Remarkably, many people find that they achieve their therapeutic goals with EMDR in fewer sessions compared to other therapeutic approaches, making it a practical choice for those seeking efficient and effective treatment.

EMDR can be especially helpful for experiences such as:

• Car accidents or medical emergencies

• Sexual assault or unwanted sexual experiences

• A frightening event at work or in public

• First responder or medical trauma

• Childhood abuse or neglect that still feels present or unresolved.

• Witnessing violence or a sudden death

• Panic attacks that seemed to come out of nowhere

• A specific memory that still feels vivid or upsetting

• Intrusive imagery from social media content or jury duty

• Chronic pain or physical symptoms that are worsened by stress or past experiences

Many people notice that after processing these experiences, the memory becomes something that happened in the past, not something you’re still reliving. Triggers lose their intensity and reminders no longer blow you off course. Your body feels calmer instead of constantly on edge. Anxiety becomes manageable. You understand your reactions instead of feeling confused or frustrated by them. You can respond to situations with intention rather than reacting automatically. And there is more space for connection, enjoyment, and a sense of being present in your own life.

How can EMDR Therapy Help with the Healing Process?

Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, others may not be processed without help. Stress responses are our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create feelings of overwhelm, of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.

Experiencing EMDR Therapy

EMDR therapy helps your nervous system process experiences that felt too overwhelming or confusing to handle when they happened. Once we're ready to begin, I'll guide you in choosing a memory that feels manageable to work on. During the session, you’ll notice what thoughts, feelings, or sensations come up while doing left-right stimulation in the form of eye movements, sounds, or tapping. This back and forth movement helps keep you grounded in the present and allows any stuck part of the memory to begin moving and release naturally.

The following organizations recognize EMDR therapy as an effective treatment:

• American Psychiatric Association

• American Psychological Association

• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

• National Alliance on Mental Illness

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

• U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense

• The Cochran Database of Systematic Reviews

• The World Health Organization

Therapists use EMDR for:

• Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias

• Chronic illness and medical issues

• Depression and bipolar disorders

• Eating disorders

• Grief and loss

• Pain

• PTSD/CPTSD

• Sexual assault

• Single incident traumas

• Sleep disturbance

• Substance abuse and addiction

• Violence and abuse