What is EMDR?
EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is recommended for people who have experienced trauma, or negative experiences, in their past that are resulting in current negative emotions and symptoms associated with that event.
The approach believes that emotionally charged memories can overly influence your present emotions and thoughts about yourself. If you have suffered from trauma, or negative experiences that impacted you, negative beliefs about yourself may be formed. EMDR helps you reprocess those disturbing experiences, allowing you to create more adaptive beliefs.
When we experience negative or disturbing events, certain thoughts or memories may get “stuck” in our brain. This therapy works by simulating the same eye movements found in our REM sleep cycle. It helps unwanted, fragmented memories become properly processed.
What happens during a typical EMDR session?
Unlike talk therapy, EMDR work is done inside your brain. You are always in control of your thoughts. You don’t even have to explain any details of the trauma to the EMDR therapist.
An EMDR therapist will follow a set protocol and use a set of procedures called “bilateral stimulation” to organize your negative and positive feelings, emotions and thoughts. It can be combined with talk therapy, or you can see an EMDR specialist in addition to your talk therapist. EMDR is considered brief therapy and is an additional tool available to you.
Evidence-based treatment
Research about the effects of EMDR can be found on the EMDRIA website, www.emdria.com. EMDR has been one of the most effective treatments for reducing symptoms of PTSD and recommended by The Department of Veterans Affairs & the Department of Defense.
EMDR is also effective with children, victims of sexual assault, panic disorders, anxiety, psychotic disorders, depression, and grief among others.
At A Family Place, we have EMDR trained therapists available to assist you. Please contact Michelle Aldridge Morris, LCSW-S to inquire if EMDR is a treatment is right for you.