How does EMDR work?
We all face ordeals in our day-to-day lives. However, while some experiences may not impact us on a daily basis, there are others that affect us long-term. Memories of a near death experience, extremely dangerous situations, violence or even socially traumatic-humiliations like being laughed at by classmates or emotionally disregarded by a parent can distort our sense of who we are, who others are, and how the world works. In this way traumas become "frozen in time" and can have a lasting negative impact on a person's life. EMDR offers a modality to effectively reprocess painful and negative memories and their associations so that they become reintegrated information. By moving traumatic memory into neutral memory, EMDR offers a way to unlock the powerful potential inside all of us so that we can begin to take on today's challenges effectively and gracefully.
What is an actual EMDR session like?
During EMDR, I work with the clients to identify a specific problem as the focus for the treatment session. The client calls to mind the disturbing issue, event, or memory of what was seen, felt, heard, thought, etc. and identifies what thoughts and beliefs are currently held about the event. I facilitate particular eye movements found to facilitate memory reprocessing while the client focuses on the disturbing material and just notices whatever comes to mind without making any effort to control direction or content. This process is continued until the disturbing emotional 'charge' from the memory is greatly reduced or eliminated. It's important to note that with EMDR it is entirely possible to relieve the distress of a painful memory without actually disclosing the details of the memory to the therapist. This can be a great liberation for people who have shame, embarrassment or other considerations in sharing aspects of their private lives.
How long does EMDR take?
Generally I meet with clients for one or more sessions to understand the nature of the problem and to decide whether EMDR is an appropriate treatment. I then discuss with the client the process more fully and provide an opportunity to answer questions about the method. Once the client and I have agreed that EMDR is appropriate for a specific problem, the actual eye desensitization processing may begin. A typical session lasts from 60 to 90 minutes. The total number of treatment sessions is dependent upon the severity of the past traumas or life circumstances.
Should EMDR be combined with other treatments?
Depending on who the client is and the nature of the problem being worked on, EMDR can stand alone as a complete process unto itself or work quite powerfully in concert with other therapeutic processes. I frequently find biofeedback is a useful preparation to doing EMDR.
Does EMDR really work?
EMDR offers a unique learning curve with fast results. Extensive research has consistently shown that EMDR effectively decreases or eliminates the symptoms of posttraumatic stress and offers great help in such areas as anxiety. EMDR has been endorsed by the Department of Defense, the Department of Veteran Affairs and the American Psychiatric Association (APA.)
What kind of issues can be treated with EMDR?
Can EMDR help facilitate optimal performance?
EMDR can facilitate reprocessing negative associations that get in the way of optimal performance. And EMDR can be used to help access more ideal thoughts and images to strengthen and bridge to a number of memory networks and associations.
Please contact me to discuss if my services may be useful for your situation.