resolve trauma with EMDR
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy treatment that uses a structured approach and bilateral brain stimulation to resolve trauma.
Will EMDR work for me?
If you have tried other therapy approaches with little results, EMDR may be a good option for you.
the 3 phases of EMDR therapy
Phase 1: Assessment and Learning Now Coping Tools
Your therapist will ask what has been traumatic in your life, which specific events or memories are triggering for you, and how you’re coping. They will make a detailed treatment plan and pick the ‘targets’ for the reprocessing phases. These targets are the most distressing memories, images, or core beliefs that seem to be stuck for you, keeping you from moving forward.
Then your therapist works with you to learn and practice new coping tools to ride the wave of emotions that comes from processing trauma.
Phase 2: Reprocessing Triggering Memories
You and your therapist will pick a target to work on, and will describe in detail the visual pictures of the memory as well as the sounds, and feelings you had at the time. You will identify both a negative and a positive belief about yourself that’s related to the memory. Bilateral stimulation is used to re-train your brain to move away from the negative belief and towards the positive belief.
Phase 3: Integrating Memories
In this phase, you and your therapist review your progress and solidify both the reprocessed memories and the new, healthy coping tools you’ve learned. Your therapist makes sure these are rock solid for you.
will emdr help me?
You may be a good candidate for EMDR therapy if you have:
- Painful memories that you can’t seem to move past
- Stubborn negative beliefs about yourself that stem from past trauma
- Are a survivor of past abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual abuse)
- Have an alcoholic parent
- Lost a loved one
- Witnessed a traumatic event
- Lived through a traumatic event like a shooting, stalking, or car accident
- Have trauma from a medical event or medical procedure (such as failed anesthesia)
EMDR is an effective and cutting-edge treatment to resolve trauma. We have therapists trained and certified in EMDR.