EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy) is an evidence based psychotherapy proven to effectively help people recover from trauma and other distressing events including PTSD, anxiety, depression and panic disorders.
When we experience a distressing event, our body responds with a natural stress response of fight, flight, freeze or fawn. When distress from the event persists after the fact, we may experience upsetting images, thoughts or emotions, and feel as if we are 'frozen in time', reliving the experience over and over again. EMDR helps the brain process this event so that natural healing can resume.
Think of regular information processing like eating a sandwich. As information is received, your brain processes it, stores what is important and discards the rest. Like eating a sandwich one bite at a time. Your body digests the sandwich, absorbs the nutrients and gets rid of the waste.
Processing sensory information during a traumatic event is like trying to eat a sandwich wrapped in plastic. The sensory information cannot be processed because our brain and body goes into a stress response. The sensory information gets 'stuck' in our system; much like trying to swallow a whole sandwich wrapped in plastic. Your body is unable to digest the sandwich, and it gets stuck in our system.
EMDR is like going into the system to find the sandwich and remove the plastic so your body can process it naturally.
After the client and therapist agree to use EMDR as the intervention, the client will work through the eight (8) phases of EMDR with their therapist. Typical sessions last for a clinical hour, (50 minutes), but some clients prefer to request a longer 80 minute session.
EMDR is an effective intervention to use during virtual and in-person therapy sessions.
EMDR does not require talking in detail about the distressing event, or completing homework between sessions. Instead, EMDR focuses on changing the thoughts, emotions and body sensations associated with a distressing event, allowing the body and brain to resume its natural healing processes. The therapist acts as the guide during the processing phase, while the client remains alert and in total control.
EMDR is an effective therapy for children, youth and adults of all ages.
It is often used to treat:
Myth: EMDR is like hypnosis.
Fact: EMDR is not the same as hypnosis. The client is fully aware and in control during the entire therapy process.
Myth: EMDR changes or erases distressing memories.
Fact: EMDR does not change or erase memories. Instead, it helps to reduce the distress associated with distressing memories.
Myth: EMDR is a 'do-it-yourself' therapy.
Fact: EMDR is a clinical intervention and should only be offered by trained and licensed mental health clinicians.
