Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps resolve traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge — allowing your nervous system to find balance.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is a research-supported, effective approach for healing trauma. This includes recent events, childhood abuse and neglect, natural disasters, and sexual violence. It can successfully resolve phobias (fear of dogs, needles, etc.), symptoms of anxiety, depression, anger, and other patterns of reactivity. As old memories are processed, new understanding and choices are revealed.
About EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a complex and integrative approach to facilitating fundamental change and promoting resiliency. EMDR was first developed as an effective method to address trauma, anxiety, and phobias and posits that unprocessed traumatic memories are at the root of most dysfunctional behavior, mental illnesses, and current-day struggles. Since its creation, EMDR has been adapted for a variety of client concerns — with amazing results. At its core, EMDR is a comprehensive approach to healing trauma.
Past Trauma and Present-Day Triggers
The theory of EMDR posits that all beliefs, no matter how irrational they may seem today, and all behaviors, regardless of whether or not they currently serve us, make sense when seen in the early context in which they were created.
Trauma, by definition, overwhelms a person’s ability to cope and includes a bodily felt experience of powerlessness. Traumas include everything from extreme events such as witnessing suicide or homicide or being the victim of rape or incest to experiences of childhood neglect, bullying, or chronic invalidation. Traumatic experiences include an emotional response (fear, shock, hurt, sadness, etc.) that is often held in the body. Over time, these stored, unprocessed emotions can result in physical pain, interpersonal conflicts, and increased emotional reactivity to everyday situations.
While most experiences are processed and become a part of distant memory and the narrative storyline of one’s life, traumatic memories are stored in their original form – with the pictures, feelings, body sensations, and other sensory memories (sounds, sensations, smells) still intact. When something happens in the present that reminds a person of an unprocessed memory, they may react with a much bigger reaction than the situation warrants.
Through EMDR, people process stored, unhealed traumatic memories so that they no longer get triggered in the present day. As a result, people are freer to act on their desires, to make clear decisions, and to respond to situations more effectively.
How EMDR Is Effective
Neuroscience research has found that traumatic experiences often result in biological changes in one’s mind and body, and, therefore, words alone are often inadequate to process its profound impact. The process of EMDR, in the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship, has been shown to repair the impact of trauma at the psychological, biological, and interpersonal levels.
EMDR was founded on the premise that all individuals possess an innate capacity for growth and healing. Individuals are viewed as experts in their own healing journey. Partnering with clients to heal trauma and activate their innate resiliency, counselors serve as supportive guides who allow clients to discover their own strengths.
