EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
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What is it?
The long and short of it is EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a specialized type of therapy. It was initially developed to help treat PTSD starting in the late 1980s. Since that time EMDR has been studied and researched extensively and has shown to be helpful in treating not only PTSD, but also concerns such as depression, anxiety and other related conditions. You don’t necessarily have to have PTSD, Depression or Anxiety to benefit; Even things such as negative self-talk, negative beliefs about yourself or the world around you or doubts about your skills and abilities can be treated with EMDR.
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How does it work?
EMDR can be thought of as a way to “rewire” your brain and how you think about yourself and the world around you. In fact, studies have shown that after EMDR treatment, a person’s grey matter (the part of your brain in charge of your conscious thoughts, knowledge, memories, that sort of thing) actually increases in density. It can quite literally change the structure of your brain and how it works!
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How is it different?
EMDR is different than “regular” “talk” therapy. After some preparation and background work (which are helpful in and of themselves), nearly all of the healing comes from within the client’s own self. The therapist is a skilled, trained navigator and facilitator. We’re working together in and with the “feeling” part of your brain, which is usually the underlying cause of negative beliefs about yourself and many other mental health symptoms.
Working through EMDR, Clients have reported experiences like:
Feeling like myself again.
Feeling like I don’t have to be angry all the time anymore.
Knowing and believing that what happened is not their fault.
Having the “feeling” part of their brain agree with what the “knowing” part knew.
Feel that the past is finally in the past, rather than affecting them now.
Their trauma no longer feels like it is happening in the present. It now feels like something they are
reading about in a book or in the newspaper.
Making a connection that unlocks a tiny detail that changes the entire way they interpret something
they did. (Also, unlocking large details that change everything!)
As a result of these changes people start to notice, often spontaneously, they begin to have new responses.
Increased confidence.
Feeling safer in the world around them.
Increased ability to handle stressful situations without being overwhelmed.
Increased ability to allow themselves to really experience their emotions.
Increased ability to hold boundaries and acknowledge their own importance.
Decreased dependence on unhealthy or unhelpful coping mechanisms.