EMDR Therapy: A Well-Rounded Approach to Healing
“EMDR Therapy is body centered and I began to realize that the body not only stores trauma but also can release that intense emotional pain to assist the healing process. EMDR Therapy combines elements of cognitive therapy, somatic experiences, mindfulness, exposure, and other therapies to heal past trauma and help people envision a different future.”
EMDR therapy is beneficial to those who experience disruptive thoughts, overwhelming emotions and bodily sensations, or uncontrollable reactions to past trauma. Trauma can feel unbearable, and it is normal to feel helpless when it comes to letting go of your hurtful past.
EMDR can help you accept your fears and feelings safety and accurately. In fact, I find most treatments last an average of 8 weeks and participants report major shifts and positive results.
EMDR Therapy Uses the Brain’s Ability to Heal Itself
We can put an end to uncontrollably strong emotions and mental blocks with healthy trauma recovery and EMDR therapy.
EMDR therapy gets to the heart of the core sensations/feelings that your mind and body experience during this trauma. Once we identify the unwanted belief and sensations/feelings, EMDR therapy safety and gradually helps you relieve the stress and reduce the anxiety of trauma.
As a certified EMDR therapist, I am trained to help you maintain a sense of safety while processing your traumatic memories. Essentially, EMDR therapy releases discomfort in your body in order to tap into the brain. We then work to think differently, more effectively, about your traumatic memories.
Stimulating both right and left side of the brain is a key aspect of EMDR processing. Bilateral stimulation occurs in a rhythmic left-right pattern, often by using eye movements or tapping on the knees, legs, or shoulders. As a result, clients can use bilateral stimulation to safely evaluate changes in emotion and cognition.
EMDR creator and developer Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., explains:
“Specific procedures are used to help clients maintain a sense of control during memory work as the therapist guides their focus of attention. They need only focus briefly on the disturbing memory during the processing while engaged in the bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps or tones) as the internal associations are made. The client’s brain makes the needed links as new emotions, sensations, beliefs, and memories emerge. All the work is done during the therapy sessions. It is not necessary for the client to describe the memory in detail, and no homework is used.”
EMDR Therapy Uses an Eight-phase Treatment Approach
Phase 1 (History Taking): The therapist assesses the client’s background information and readiness for EMDR treatment. Client and Therapist will take a note of targets from past traumatic events. In this phase, the length of treatment can be determined by the number of traumas. Generally, the initial EMDR processing begins with childhood traumas then gradually addresses more recent stressors. As therapy progresses, clients develop coping skills and helpful behaviors to navigate through current or future situations.
Phase 2 (Preparation): In this phase, the therapist assists the client in developing emotional regulations skills that client can use during and between sessions. The aim of EMDR therapy is to process traumas while clients feel a sense of safety.
Phase 3-6: In order to access the target memory, the therapist and client identify the visual image, emotions, body sensations, negative belief associated with the traumatic memory. The client also identifies a positive belief that she or he wants to reinforce. Then, the therapist instructs the client to bring up the memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation. It is important for the client to notice any changes in emotions, sensations, image, and body sensations. The client will report what she or he notices after each set of bilateral stimulation. This process continues until the client reports no unpleasant or disturbing sensations or feelings associate with the targeted memory. The client is asked to rate the positive belief on a scale of 0 to 7 (0 being completely false and 7 being completely true) to track progress.
Phase 7 (Closure): The client is instructed to keep a log to monitor any new related materials between sessions. The client gets the EMDR log sheet to make a note of triggers, images, thoughts, feelings, sensations, and behaviors.
Phase 8 (Reassessment): The purpose of this phase is to evaluate and maintain the progress. The client is asked to notice their emotional and physical state when reminded of past, current, and future events. If the client reports distress, the therapy help the client identify new targets and needs.
EMDR Therapy Manages Symptoms and Maintains Ongoing Recovery
Trauma is devastating to many people. One study found that 60% of American adults experienced at least one adverse childhood experienced such as abuse, neglect, parental domestic violence, sexual violence, parental separation/divorce, etc. Sadly, childhood trauma causes a persistent sense of fear, helplessness, and horror.
Thankfully, EMDR therapy can help with childhood trauma. This method is a direct and structured therapy that aims to reduce the suffering caused by childhood and adulthood traumas. With this approach, I will help you safely and effective process your traumas and build your inner strengths. Through our work together, you will find relief from your symptoms. In my experience, those who received EMDR treatment became more emotionally and physically aware of themselves and adaptive to their life experiences.
Schedule your free consultation to learn more about EMDR therapy. Healing your past starts today.
Here is a video of EMDR therapy demonstration: