EMDR Therapy
Providing a Space for Growth and Healing
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing or EMDR therapy is an 8-phase evidence-based treatment modality that focuses on helping you heal from past trauma that affects your life.
It is used to treat a variety of needs including Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, OCD, Complex Trauma, and more.
EMDR uses eye movements or other types of bilateral stimulation to help reprocess stuck traumatic memories. With EMDR, it is not the goal to relive your trauma but to lessen the disturbance you feel with trauma in order to lead into further healing and growth.
Trauma has an effect on everyone. Whether you are living your day in fear of having a panic attack at work or waking up in the middle of the night because you had another flashback to that time, living through trauma has an effect on the way you view yourself, and the world around you. EMDR is helpful in bringing back the choice in your life where trauma has taken it from you.
Is EMDR Therapy for you?
What can I expect in EMDR Therapy?
EMDR has 8 stages. The first few stages are us getting to know each other and getting to know where to focus the EMDR therapy. You can expect to have a few sessions before we get into reprocessing. This gives your body time to get on board with EMDR and to feel safe in reprocessing. We will not go anywhere your body does not give full consent. The sessions before going into reprocessing help us assess where your body is ready to go.
You can expect some form of bilateral stimulation. This is through eye movement where you will follow my fingers as I move them back and forth, or through tappers where a small vibration will be sent through buzzers from one hand to the other.
Do I have to want EMDR Therapy in order to work with you?
No, you do not. I see EMDR as another tool in our toolbox of healing. While EMDR can be very helpful when we are feeling stuck or that momentum has lessened, it is not the only therapeutic modality that I use. We can still work together if you decide EMDR is not for you.
Are there any risks to EMDR Therapy?
Following an EMDR session, there may be continued processing. This can come in the form of odd dreams, emotional vulnerability, new memories, and body sensations. When these do come up there are completely normal and not something to fear. In the stages before getting to the reprocessing, there will be tools given to you to help with these possible risks.
What are the benefits of EMDR Therapy?
In my work with clients doing EMDR, I have seen incredible changes. I have seen people go from debilitating symptoms to normal functioning. I have seen healing happen in places that were deemed impossible. EMDR has changed many lives through the healing it has provided.
Do I have to be in person to do EMDR?
EMDR can be done in person or through telehealth.
Want to know more about EMDR Therapy?