Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic technique that offers relief from the emotional distress caused by disturbing life events and also the spectrum of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. EMDR can help when traditional talk therapy just doesn’t cut it or has lost effectiveness.
EMDR is a modern science-based intervention.
The concept is simple. The brain’s natural ability to process thoughts, feelings and memories can become blocked when a person experiences a disturbing life event which can cause trauma, shock and pain. This can result in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder – reliving the feelings surrounding the event, re-experiencing body sensations, developing and hanging onto negative beliefs about yourself – just to name a few. EMDR removes the block so you can heal.
What actually happens in session?
Your therapist starts by taking a thorough history, then teaching calming and self-soothing techniques to help you feel safe and calm at home and in session. Then you and your therapist work together to figure out what events to target. Once you pinpoint an event, the science of EMDR begins. EMDR involves focusing on the event and being stimulated with back and forth movements between the left and right sides of your body at the same time. This bilateral stimulation can be done with eye movements, auditory tones or hand vibrations. In layperson terms, it means getting both sides of the brain to call a truce and play nice. Once the brain is in agreement with itself, you can experience relief of symptoms, decreased distress from past trauma, an improved view of self, and resolution with the past.
Who can benefit from EMDR?
- Combat veterans
- Persons w/ phobias, panic disorder or anxiety
- Crime victims, police officers, fire fighters and first responders
- People w/ excessive grief and guilt
- Sexual assault victims
- Victims of natural and man-made disasters
- Accident, surgery and burn victims
- People suffering with an addiction
- People w/ performance anxiety
- People w/ any trauma or PTSD symptoms
- People suffering from depression
- People suffering from chronic pain, gastrointestinal problems, or phantom limb pain
- People w/ an eating disorder or negative body image
If you or someone you know is struggling to overcome a traumatic life event, we recommend the following LifeWorker:
Please call or email LifeWorks for more information, or to make an appointment.
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