The human brain is truly remarkable, with an incredible capacity for healing. However, when a traumatic or overwhelming experience occurs, it can get “stuck” and not be properly processed like other memories. Instead of being resolved and feeling like a part of the past, an unprocessed traumatic memory can feel like:
- Reliving the experience repeatedly
- Experiencing intense feelings of fear, sadness, irritability, and loneliness
- Constantly feeling unsafe, even when you are in a safe environment
- Feeling uncomfortable in your own body and the world around you
These lingering effects of unresolved trauma can prevent us from living a fulfilling life.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy was developed to help people process and heal from unresolved trauma. It works by using bilateral brain stimulation. During EMDR sessions, I will guide you to stimulate both the right and left sides of your brain—this could be through eye movements, holding buzzing “tappers” that alternate between your hands, or listening to sounds that move from one ear to the other.
By engaging both sides of the brain, we tap into the brain’s natural healing abilities to help process and integrate traumatic memories. Once a memory is processed, you can recall the event without the intense emotional charge it once had, allowing you to feel a sense of peace and relief.
EMDR Therapy can help you:
- Feel safe and secure in your body and your surroundings
- Navigate daily life without feeling overwhelmed
- Find relief from intense emotions tied to past experiences or fears about the future
- Believe in the possibility of a better life and recognize that you deserve it
- Become the best version of yourself, one who feels joy in being alive
For more information about EMDR please visit EMDR International Association (emdria.org)
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that has shown effectiveness in treating trauma related symptoms. Here are some ways EMDR can be beneficial:
- Memory Processing: EMDR helps individuals process traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge. Through guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, the therapist helps the client reprocess the traumatic memory, making it less distressing.
- Desensitization: EMDR aims to desensitize the emotional response associated with traumatic memories. By repeatedly processing these memories during therapy sessions, clients can experience a reduction in the intensity of their distressing symptoms.
- Reprocessing Negative Beliefs: EMDR also addresses and reprocesses the negative beliefs and thoughts that often accompany PTSD.
- Improvement in Coping Skills: EMDR equips clients with coping skills to manage distressing emotions and triggers, empowering them to face their daily struggles with increased resilience