EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidenced -based psychotherapy treatment (developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980’s) designed to alleviate the stress associated with traumatic memories.

EMDR is especially helpful if you find yourself:

*Dealing with distressing memories, nightmares, flashbacks (i.e. PTSD)
*Feeling ashamed and guilty about any emotionally charged incident
*Fearful of being alone but also hesitant of being with other people
*Struggling with depression, anxiety and panic attacks
*Angry, irritable and unable to control strong emotions
*Desperately wishing that you could move on from the past and move forward into the future

Heal from traumatic experiences

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
~ Anais Nin

Understanding Trauma

When trauma occurs, our body responds by automatically going into a physiological flight or fight stress response. This can cause a pounding heart, shortness of breath, muscle tension and sweating among other symptoms. Trauma can come in many forms. It can be the result of a single event like a car accident or surviving a fire or natural disaster. Trauma can also stem from situations rooted more deeply in childhood like bullying, abuse, or even the sudden loss of a parent.

If trauma isn’t processed and the stress from the disturbing event remains, it can create long-lasting symptoms that can get in the way of everyday functioning and relationships. Some of these longer lasting symptoms are: chronic anxiety, mistrust of others, persistent nightmares, and intrusive thoughts, feelings,or images that are somehow related to the event. At times, these symptoms can get triggered or suddenly seem to crop up out of nowhere and can make you feel like you are right back at the scene of the trauma, even though you are safe in the present moment.

If you suffer from trauma,
You Can Recover

EMDR Therapy Creates
Optimism and Hope

EMDR therapy can help the brain process traumatic experiences by changing the way that the painful memories are stored. Through bi-lateral stimulation that can be visual (back and forth eye movements, auditory travels back and forth from ear to ear), or kinesthetic, (a person taps their body with alternating hand movements), EMDR helps unlock the trauma and allows the brain to process the memories in a safe way.

EMDR can override
past trauma with more
positive, life-affirming
emotions.

What has been discovered is that when trauma initially occurs, the memory is stored in the brain without a time stamp.

This means that a person who has experienced trauma, may sometimes not be able to differentiate between when the trauma actually occurred and the present moment. They may recall the memory and instantly feel like they are right back in the painful experience, as if their brain were temporarily hijacked. EMDR therapy helps process the trauma so that you can recall the memory without the pain associated with it. Through the process of EMDR, you don’t necessarily forget what happened to you, but rather your reaction to the painful memory is neutralized and so, you no longer experience the symptoms of trauma when recalling the memory. You are able to realize that it occurred in the past, thus it no longer haunts you in present time.

If you are someone who suffers from debilitating symptoms as a result of trauma or painful experiences, EMDR therapy may be the right treatment for you.

I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have about EMDR, and I would be honored to assist you in your process of healing. Together, we can begin your journey toward living a more fulfilling and joyful life.

For a free
15 minute consultation