EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Feeling stuck? ​
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Are you feeling stuck with your mental health?
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Have you tried to develop healthy habits but it’s been hard to stay consistent?
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Do you struggle with negative thoughts that won’t go away no matter how hard you try?
Maybe those thoughts sound something like...
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“I never have enough time to do what I need to do”
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“I can’t do anything right”
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“I hate the way I look”
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"People always let me down”
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“I don't deserve to be happy”
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“I will never stop feeling anxious/depressed/unmotivated”
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“What’s the point?”
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These thoughts can contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and a general sense of exhaustion. Many people who struggle with these types of thoughts fall into patterns of shame, numbing, and avoidance.
Do you want to feel satisfied instead of stuck?
Do you want to look at the future with hope instead of dread?
Do you want to feel better without having to wait years for results?
EMDR can help…
Do you have negative thoughts that just won't go away?
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What is EMDR? ​​
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EMDR stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.” EMDR is a fast acting, evidence based therapy that uses eye movements to accelerate your brain’s natural healing process. There are many ways to engage in the eye movements involved in EMDR, but a very popular method usually involves your therapist moving their hand (or an object) right to left in front of you while you move your eyes from side to side.
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While using eye movements to treat mental health symptoms may seem strange, EMDR has an abundance of scientific studies to support its effectiveness.
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Is EMDR an evidence-based therapy? ​​
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There is significant scientific support that EMDR is a highly effective treatment for many mental health conditions.
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EMDR has been endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, many other national and international organizations.
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I thought EMDR was only used for trauma! ​
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EMDR is very often used as a trauma therapy, but I like to reference My Big Fat Greek Wedding when I say that EMDR is like the "Windex" of therapy (because EMDR can help with just about anything!)
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Do I have to complete therapy “homework” assignments between EMDR sessions?
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Any therapy “homework” between EMDR sessions is completely optional. If you like working on things between sessions, I can help you make a plan for what to focus on.
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If the thought of working on specific things between sessions feels too overwhelming, then you are free to just focus on getting yourself to each session without having to do complete tasks on your own time.
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What can EMDR help with?
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​It’s important to remember that every client’s experience with EMDR is unique, but here are some things that EMDR can with help with:​
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Anxiety, phobias, panic attacks
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ADHD
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Bipolar disorder
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Chronic pain
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Depression
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Dissociative disorders
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Grief
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Negative cognitions (which are negative and/or unhelpful thoughts or beliefs)
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Performance anxiety
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Personality disorders
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma and stress-related issues
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Sleep difficulties
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Stress reduction ​
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- Trauma processing. This might mean processing experiences of sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence and/or verbal abuse, a frightening or near death experience (car accident, dog attack), and much more.
How long will it take before I start feeling the benefits of EMDR?
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EMDR is famous for providing results faster than other types of therapy, but every person’s situation is unique. It is also important to remember that there are 8 phases in EMDR therapy and different people might move through each phase at different speeds.
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When we meet in our first session I can learn more about your history, needs, and goals to help estimate how long the first phase will take.
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As we move through the process together I can continue to check in and make sure you are comfortable with the pace of your progress.
Will I have to share details about bad things
that have happened to me? ​
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You can share details about bad things that have happened to you if that is important to you, but EMDR does not require you to share details about past experiences.
Is EMDR a form of hypnosis?​
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EMDR is not a form of hypnosis. EMDR is specifically designed to prevent you from going into a hypnotic state. When you are doing the EMDR eye movements you won't feel like you are in a trance (and you won't be suggestable, so no clucking like a chicken!)
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During EMDR sessions, you will feel about the same as when you are talking to your therapist in a non-EMDR session.
Can I do EMDR by myself without an EMDR therapist?​
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According to EMDRIA (the EMDR International Association) “EMDR therapy is a mental health intervention. As such, it should only be offered by properly trained and licensed mental health clinicians. EMDRIA does not condone or support indiscriminate uses of EMDR therapy such as ‘do-it-yourself’ virtual therapy.” If you attempt to EMDR without guidance from an EMDR therapist you could risk traumatizing (or re-traumatizing) yourself. ​
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How do I know if EMDR is right for me?
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The best way to determine whether a certain type of therapy is right for you is to talk to a professional. I would be happy to answer any questions and help determine if EMDR is right for you. ​
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Contact me to schedule a free consultation!