Understanding EMDR Therapy
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprosessing Therapy. EMDR was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro. Initially conceived as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR has since evolved into a widely recognized therapy for a range of psychological issues, including anxiety, depression, phobias, and more.
The underlying principle of EMDR is based on the notion that distressing memories, thoughts, and feelings are stored in the brain's memory networks. Traumatic experiences, if left unprocessed, can become "stuck" and continue to exert a negative impact on your mental well-being. EMDR aims to facilitate the processing of these distressing memories, thereby reducing their emotional charge and enabling healing to occur. It also helps you to develop more adaptive ways of thinking about your past experiences so you become more resilient and optimistic about the present and future. In EMDR we recognize that many issues, including anxiety and depression, can stem from unresolved traumatic memories.
What is Trauma?
Trauma can be divided into two categories. The first are what we call “Big T” traumas. These are life-threatening experiences such as accidents, assault, witnessing violence or death, abuse from childhood or in adulthood, and more. These can seriously impact your life and lead to post traumatic stess disorder (PTSD).
The other category of trauma is what we call “Little t” traumas. These experiences, though they may not be life-threatening, can have a serious impact nontheless. "Little t” refers to distressing or upsetting experiences that may not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD but still have a significant impact on your well-being. Little t traumas are often more subtle and can accumulate over time. Examples of little t trauma are bullying, loss of a loved one or pet, witnessing parental conflict as a child, verbal and emotional abuse, and chronic illness. These traumas can contribute to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and difficulty coping with stress.
EMDR works with both Big T trauma and Little t trauma. Many of us have experienced multiple traumas, including a combination of both.
How Does EMDR Work?
In EMDR processing, you will think about a distressing memory while also paying attention to things like hand taps, sounds, or eye movements. These actions might seem simple, but they're like little nudges for your brain to process the memories differently. Imagine you're stuck in traffic, and someone gently honks to remind you to keep moving. That's what EMDR does for your brain—it gently nudges it to keep processing those tough memories until they're not so overwhelming anymore.
You will begin to feel calmer as you focus on the distressing memory, though you might feel many emotions on your way to feeling calmer.
Finally, we will work on establishing more positve, optimistic, and helpful beliefs about yourself and your past that will help you move forward.
How EMDR Can Help You
Now, let's talk about the good stuff—how EMDR can make a real difference in your life:
Healing from Trauma: Whether it's a car accident, a difficult childhood, or something else, EMDR helps you make peace with those tough memories so they don't have as much power over you.
Feeling Less Anxious or Sad: Trauma can make you feel like you're carrying a heavy backpack full of worries and sadness. EMDR helps lighten that load, so you can feel more at ease and happier.
Conquering Fears: Do spiders, heights, or flying send you into a panic? EMDR can help you face those fears by rewiring how your brain reacts to them.
Boosting Your Confidence: Trauma can chip away at your self-esteem, but EMDR helps you see yourself in a new light, reminding you of your strengths and resilience.
Building Better Relationships: Trauma can make it hard to trust or connect with others. EMDR can help you break down those barriers, so you can build healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
Can EMDR be done online?
Yes, EMDR is practiced by EMDR-trained therapists both online and in person. I practice EMDR online. It works best when you are in a private, safe space where you will not be interupted. It also works best if you can join the video session from a laptop or larger tablet. It might be best to do EMDR processing toward the end of the day or on a day when you don’t have to go back to work because it can bring up a lot of emotions.
Is EMDR dangerous?
EMDR is not dangerous, though it can be difficult. Processing difficult memories can be exhausting and it can bring up difficult emotions. It is not uncommon to feel tired afterward and to feel emotions such as sadness and grief. This is part of the process. The goal, however, is for you to feel better, so if you experience these symptoms it is temporary. You are also fully in control of the EMDR processing. That means that you can stop whenever you want to and let me know that it is not working for you.
How do I get started?
EMDR can be a part of therapy. Or, some people want to receive EMDR in addition to talk therapy with another therapist. I provide both, and I can work with you if you just want EMDR or if you want EMDR as a part of the larger therapy experience.
It is important to work with an EMDR-trained therapist. I received my EMDRIA-approved training from EMDR Consulting and have undergone supervision and consultation on how to best implement EMDR.
To get started, reach out and we can schedule an initial consultation call or you can schedule an appointment online.
