What is EMDR Treatment for Trauma Recovery?
EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is used as an effective treatment for trauma recovery in the form of PTSD treatment, anxiety treatment, and other anxiety disorders. Learn what EMDR therapy involves and how it can help you today!
What Is EMDR and How Does it Work?
EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing was developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The technique involves the patient focusing on memory, images, or beliefs that are connected to uncomfortable feelings while mimicking the body's own emotional processing system for filing away memories as long term. Often difficult memories are kept at the forefront of our minds to help protect us from situations that are perceived by the nervous system as a threat. EMDR helps them file away and reprocess them so they are less distressing.
EMDR uses techniques that use bilateral stimulation (both sides of the body) to move emotions across to the other side of the brain so they can be emotionally processed. The right side of our brain is the emotional brain, where memories are stored in the form of images, feelings, sensations, and can hold a more emotional charge. The left side of the brain processes memories as logical using reasoning and judgment. If you have ever had anxiousness about a situation but knew logically it wasn't a threat to you, this is an example of the right and left brain emotional processing. EMDR helps the brain integrate distressing thoughts and sensations by helping them use both parts of the brain and filing them away as a past memory.
EMDR involves movements from left to right, including eye movement, tapping, lights, and using tappers or sounds to reprocess. EMDR helps the brain and the body make new neural pathways and increase positive beliefs and feelings about the self.
The eye movements are said to produce important brain changes that lead to decreased anxiety and distress in patients suffering from PTSD and other types of psychological trauma.
How to Get Started with EMDR
Getting started with EMDR involves treatment with a therapist who is trained in EMDR. Finding a counselor you are comfortable with sharing information and working with will help you get the most benefits out of your treatment. Find a counselor who is knowledgeable in EMDR in important they can explain how it works, what to expect during each session, and answer any questions you may have.
Once you've found a counselor trained in EMDR, set up an initial consultation so you can determine if they are a good fit for your needs. You'll also want to discuss your concerns, fears, and hopes so they understand what you hope to achieve from therapy. The therapist should explain how he or she will conduct sessions, including how long each session will last and if you need to prepare in any way before meeting.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy
1. Having someone who understands trauma to help you through your journey.
2. Your therapist will help you uncover, process and release unprocessed memories that may be keeping you stuck in your life.
3. Getting to choose when and how you want to work on these issues allows you a certain level of control over your healing process instead of feeling victimized by them
4. A therapist can help you change your thoughts, feelings and beliefs about yourself and how you approach life that are holding you back from being your best self.
5. You’ll be able to enjoy life more instead of living in constant fear or anxiety.
6. Gaining new coping mechanisms. Your therapist will help you work toward increasing positive emotional experiences that you can use when you are struggling.
7. EMDR can help you process things without having to do a lot of talk therapy which can be difficult for survivors of trauma.
How Long Does EMDR Take to Work?
A common question is how long it takes to see results with EMDR therapy. The answer isn’t a simple one because everyone responds differently to a treatment. Some people feel relief from their symptoms in as little as four sessions; others may take up to eight weeks or longer. EMDR typically requires less time to see results than talk therapy in that it is more solution-focused. Each situation is different and there are many factors to consider. A common misconception is that targeting trauma with EMDR starts right away, that is not common. Before emotional processing takes place we make sure to talk about risks and benefits, what to expect, and practice by doing some positive resourcing to help you feel comfortable with the process. Our goal is to make sure that you have some good resources to manage what comes up during reprocessing so you can have the best results and feel comfortable.
What if Counseling Hasn’t Worked in the Past?
If you’ve struggled with your mental health before, and traditional counseling techniques haven’t worked, it might be time to try a different approach. EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) may be an option for those who want to find relief from trauma symptoms that simply aren’t going away with traditional treatment or talk therapy. People who participate in EMDR treatment typically report less anxiousness and decreased distress from trauma. More positive feelings and behaviors are also reported by those who undergo EMDR trauma therapy. However, much like any psychotherapy treatment plan, individual results vary based on many factors.
I offer a brief consult to see if my approach is a good fit for your treatments needs. Click the button to schedule below or learn more about Trauma Treatment.
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