EMDR Therapy
Do you ever wonder why…
… you’re triggered by a person, a noise, or a smell? Or why you’re constantly anxious, depressed, or on edge?
These things can come from flashbacks to a specific event… or they might have roots in something painful that lasted over a period of time.
You’ve probably wondered why it still affects you – why you can’t just “get over it” and move on.
After all, it’s over and done with. It’s the past, right?
Time marches on, but the brain doesn’t.
The brain was designed to be self-healing. When we experience a normal, non-disturbing event, the brain knows what to do with that information. It takes our experience of the event (thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations) and sorts through the data, organizes it in a way that makes sense, and then files it away.
But when you experience trauma or a strong, anxiety-provoking event, the brain doesn’t know what to do with the information. The memories get stored in the wrong place, making you experience very intense and uncomfortable emotions, bodily sensations, and thoughts when you’re reminded of the event. You may have nightmares, panic attacks, flashbacks, or avoid anything that reminds you of what happened.
Think of the brain as a network of rivers and streams. For a given experience, information flows like boats headed to a specific destination from all our senses. Usually, the brain can get the boat where it needs to go. But when something is blocking the natural water flow (such as traumatic events, intense emotions, or disturbances), the boat gets stuck. This can back up other boats trying to come down the same river. The result is major congestion, which causes disturbing and uncomfortable symptoms.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps remove the block so that the “boats” can continue along the river’s path to their original destination, thus clearing out symptoms.
Here’s what EMDR therapy looks like
I know you’re here to reduce your symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression, or other difficulties you’re having. EMDR has eight phases, but we won’t necessarily linearly proceed through them. We’ll remain flexible and address any issues that come up for you as we work through these stages.
Phase 1 – Orienting…
We’ll gather as much information as possible about what is going on and how these challenges affect you.
Phase 2 – Stabilizing…
We’ll give you some tools and techniques that will help you when your emotions become overwhelming. You’ll need them for your brain to start healing, and you’ll use them both in and out of session.
Phase 3 – Targeting…
We’ll target a specific memory you would like to work on. You’ll bring up an image of what’s bothering you, and we’ll discuss any negative beliefs you may have about yourself that are associated with the image.
You’ll also be encouraged to identify the emotions and body sensations you’re experiencing when thinking about the target memory. This engages your body and brain, readying them to start the work.
Stage 4 – Reprocessing…
Here, we’ll start to reprocess the memory (we’ll start moving the boats so they can go on downriver). We will use bilateral stimulation. For example, bilateral visual stimulation could involve watching a hand or a moving light alternating from left to right and back again. Bilateral stimulation helps your thoughts become less “stuck” on whatever was bothering you and makes the problems seem smaller and further away.
Stage 5 – Replacing…
In this phase, we’ll work to replace the negative beliefs with more positive, adaptable beliefs. For example, the negative belief that “I am worthless or inadequate” can be changed to “I am worthy; I am worthwhile.”
Stage 6 – Scanning…
We do a body scan to see if there is any tension left in the body associated with the memory you’ve just reprocessed. I will ask you to scan your body from the top of your head to the tips of your toes and tell me if there is tension anywhere in the body when you think of the memory. If so, we will process that feeling in the same manner as described above.
Stage 7 – Preparing…
At the end of each session, we want to make sure you’re mentally and emotionally prepared to leave. We do this by ensuring you have control of your emotions and giving you tools to use after the session if the emotions become overwhelming.
Phase 8 – Monitoring…
At the beginning of each session, we’ll discuss how you’re feeling and what you’ve experienced since the last session of reprocessing.
“EMDR is an extreme force of fast healing.”
That’s what one of my clients recently told me. She added that it gave her “a huge release of guilt and shame.”
EMDR worked for her, and it can work for you.
But you have to make that call first.
I want to offer you a free 15-minute consultation. There’s absolutely no pressure. It’s just a chance to talk about your situation and answer your questions. Call today! (307) 444-2308