What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach used in the treatment of trauma and trauma-related issues. EMDR naturally integrates your cognitive, emotional, and physical remembrances of the trauma such that you can release their negative impact on your current life functioning.
What kind of problems can EMDR treat?
I have had success using EMDR in treatment of the following conditions: Addictions, Anxiety, Accidents, Body Dysmorphic Disorders, Burn Victims, Childhood Trauma, Complicated Grief, Depression, Difficulty Sleeping, Dissociative Disorders, Disturbing Memories, Emotional Abuse, Injuries or Illness, Low Self-Esteem, Obsessive- Compulsive Behavior, Pain Disorders, Panic Attacks, Performance Anxiety, Phobias, Physical Abuse, Relationship Problems, Sexual Abuse, Stress Reduction, Survivor of Natural Disaster, Victim of Assault/Crime/Robbery, and Witness to Violence.
How does EMDR work?
After successful EMDR sessions, you no longer are disturbed by the traumatic event. With EMDR, you relate the narrative of your trauma, noticing possibly its lodging in your physical body. As processing continues, your neurophysiological system, the foundation of your mind/body connection, naturally attempts to rid itself of blockages and resets itself to a positive, healthy, peaceful state.
What is the actual EMDR session like?
I ask you to notice the feelings, memories, and negative thoughts surrounding your traumatic experience and with bilateral stimulation (BLS), your eye movements assist you in bringing up the unprocessed images. With continued BLS, your painful associations to the trauma eventually integrate such that you feel more at peace, able to resolve your symptoms and to not feel at the mercy of your past negative experience.
How long does EMDR take?
I will work with you to discuss your concern and we can decide if EMDR is a good idea for you. If we decide to use EMDR, the number of treatment sessions will depend upon your current life events, presenting problem, and the amount of trauma-related concerns in your past and present experiences. Most individual sessions last 60 to 90 minutes.
I am already working with a therapist, but he/she does not use EMDR. Can I still remain with them and work with you using EMDR?
Yes, with your written consent, I will collaborate with your current therapist regarding our EMDR sessions.