Eye Movement Desenitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based practice (EBP) used to help individuals recover from trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorder (to name a few). EMDR is extensively researched and recognized by many national and international organizations to be an effective treatment. 

Trauma is when a person is threatened with death, actual or threatened serious injury, or sexual violence. Other more common life events like job stress, divorce, or accidents can cause a trauma response as well.  Experiencing or witnessing a frightening, dangerous, or violent event can overwhelm our body's natural coping abilities. People respond to trauma in many different ways. Some signs of trauma are:

• Depression, sadness, or social isolation 
• Feeling the need to be hyper-aware or alert in case of danger 
• An exaggerated startle response, on edge 
• Increased irritability, sudden anger attacks 
• Feelings of shame, guilt, or intense worry 
• A sense of numbness in life 
• Nightmares or flashbacks that relive the traumatic event 
• Avoiding situations which may be reminders of event 
• Difficulty functioning in daily life 
• Substance abuse and dependence

In a nutshell, EMDR assists the brain to re-encode traumatic memories. When you experience trauma, the fight-or-flight system in our brain can sometimes become stuck, not allowing our minds to communicate in a healthy way. EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation to facilitate healthy communication between both the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

An EMDR therapist will work collaboratively with you on exploring what you want to work on and improving your ability to manage distress. Once it is decided EMDR is a good fit, you will be asked to focus on a specific event. Attention will be given to a negative image, belief, emotion, and body feeling related to this event, and then to a positive belief that would indicate the issue was resolved.  EMDR consists of 8 phases:

• Phase 1: History & Treatment Planning
• Phase 2: Preparation
• Phase 3: Assessment
• Phase 4: Desensitization
• Phase 5: Installation
• Phase 6: Body Scan
• Phase 7: Closure
• Phase 8: Reevaluation