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EMDR

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based therapeutic modality that helps people heal from traumatic events and overwhelming experiences.

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Dealing With Trauma & Overwhelming Experiences

When people experience trauma or overwhelming experiences, some areas of the brain that are needed to fully process the experience go 'offline.' The event is then stored or stuck in the brain and the nervous system unprocessed or unintegrated. When unprocessed, overwhelming experiences are stored in the brain and body, they can be triggered by a reminder or a similar experience, often resulting in 

  •  distressing memories

  • images, thoughts

  • emotions & sensations

  •  nightmares

  • sleeplessness

  • avoidant behaviors

These uncomfortable feelings are connected to the old experience that has been triggered in the present. EMDR therapy is designed to help a person identify events that feel stuck and cause distress in their current life and then process these events so they can experience resolution.

How EMDR Works

EMDR helps activate the innate neurobiological process the brain uses to integrate and process experiences. In other words, it helps the areas of the brain that went 'offline' during the traumatic experience come back 'online,' which allows the brain to integrate and process the experience. EMDR does not erase the memory - it allows you to remember the event without all of the distress, discomfort, and emotional charge that it had before treatment. EMDR can help you move forward in your life without being overwhelmed by past experiences. 

The Process

EMDR uses bi-lateral stimulation (BLS) to activate the brain and help the mind and body process the overwhelming experience. Bi-lateral stimulation is simply externally stimulating opposite sides of the body, It can be done with:

  • eye movements

  • tones played through headphones

  • pulsers held in the hands

  • gentle tapping

You will start by bringing up a memory or issue you want to work on and, and I will guide you to notice the picture or image, thoughts, feeling & physical sensations associated with it in order to stimulate the memory networks associated with the event in your brain. Then we will add bilateral stimulation and you will just allow whatever happens without censoring it. I will stop the BLS from time to time and check in with you to find out what you are noticing and you will simply report back what you are experiencing. It's very important that you do not censor your experience and remember that there are no wrong or right responses. At times, I'll have you return to the memory and rate your distress. We will keep doing the BLS and check-ins until the memory is no longer disturbing to you. I'll help you remember that this is old stuff and that it's your own brain that is doing this healing, so you are in control.

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