WHAT IS EMDR?
We often use EMDR to address trauma. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, and it requires specific training. It is one of the most natural ways to treat PTSD, anxiety, and trauma. It uses the natural function of rapid eye movement to help the brain process troubling images, feelings, and thoughts and work towards resolutions of the issue at hand. The processing occurs by bypassing the area of the brain that has become stuck due to trauma and preventing the left side from self-soothing the right side of the brain.
Most of my clients like that EMDR doesn’t really require talking about specific troubling memories; they just need to bring the thought 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 for the brain to process it.
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 negative thoughts. It is one of my favorite tools to use in therapy.
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