EMDR THERAPY FOR ADULTS

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. When a traumatic experience happens, such as the loss of a loved one, a sexual assault, or the sudden loss of a job, the memory of the trauma is stored with all of the negative emotions, body sensations, thoughts, and feelings experienced at the moment. Over time, these memories cause distress, which can look like anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and feeling overwhelmed. The trauma starts to affect how you see the world, yourself, and others, and it can impact how you relate to others in your daily life. 

EMDR can help you to feel more in control. It is used to treat and reduce trauma-related symptoms and to treat anxiety, stress, phobias, grief, and many other challenges. This highly researched intervention uses eye movement or buzzing tappers to help you access and process the thoughts, feelings, and sensations tied to a traumatic memory in a way that gives you control. I use a specific protocol to best guide you through your processing, and I am always attuned to how you're feeling in the moment.   

EMDR therapy gives you more skills than you came in with, so you can expect to learn some tools to help you feel more grounded when overwhelmed. You will also develop new insights into behavior patterns or negative thoughts that have impacted you to develop a healthier view of yourself and the world.  

EMDR addresses the psychological and physical symptoms stemming from adverse life experiences. EMDR is not just for trauma; it is also used for performance enhancement. 

Resources to learn about EMDR:

• What is EMDR? Learn the basics

• What is an actual EMDR session like? Learn the 8 phases of treatment

• Introductory video about EMDR

• EMDR experts explain the benefits of EMDR

• EMDR patients share their stories

• An EMDR therapist shares her EMDR experience

Research in support of EMDR effectiveness:

• Twenty-four randomized controlled trials support the positive effects of EMDR therapy in the treatment of emotional trauma and other adverse life experiences relevant to clinical practice. 

• Seven of 10 studies reported EMDR therapy to be more rapid and/or more effective than trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. 

• Twelve randomized studies of the eye movement component noted rapid decreases in negative emotions and/or vividness of disturbing images, with an additional 8 reporting a variety of other memory effects. 

• Numerous other evaluations document that EMDR therapy provides relief from a variety of somatic complaints. 

• Research and frequently asked questions about EMDR

https://www.emdria.org/blog/new-what-is-emdr-therapy-video/