What is EMDR?

WHAT IS EMDR?

I’m trained in EMDR and use it to address trauma. Sometimes I am asked how EMDR works. It stands for eye movement desensitization reprocessing and it requires specific training. It is one of the most natural treatments for PTSD, anxiety, and depression. It uses the natural function of rapid eye movement to help the brain process troubling images and feelings, and works toward resolution of the issue at hand. The processing occurs by passing the area of the brain that has become stuck due to trauma and is preventing the left side of the brain from self-soothing the right side of the brain.

I think what most of my clients like about EMDR is that you don’t really have to talk about the specific troubling memories, they just need to bring those memories to consciousness. The process can allow someone to access parts of themselves that traditional talk therapy may not be able to reach. EMDR, in some aspects, borrows from prolonged exposure therapy by allowing the brain to focus on the thought without pushing it away in order for the brain to process.

Part of EMDR’s success can be attributed to the way it engages the imagination as the individual feels their way through
their fears in a more relaxed and safe state. The goal is to reimagine the fears and gain control over them.

I have also used EMDR for sports, such as a negative thought pattern during a golf swing. It slows the brain down and gives it space and attention to identify and replace the negative thought. It is one of my favorite tools in therapy to use.

Trauma can effect us all.
The worse part of trauma is that it makes you feel alone even in your own skin. EMDR can help your mind feel more at peace, even in the most difficult of times.

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