What is EMDR Therapy?

What is EMDR Therapy?:

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.

Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.

When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes.

Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes.

What kinds of problems can EMDR Therapy treat?:

EMDR is an evidenced based therapy for the treatment of trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and is recommended by the World Health Organization and Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

In addition, EMDR is used to treat:

  • Addictions
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Disturbing Memories
  • Stress Reduction
  • Relationship Difficulties
  • Struggles With Attachment, Intimacy, or
  • co-dependency
  • Eating Disorders
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorders
  • Sexual And/Or Physical Abuse
  • Panic Attacks
  • Complicated Grief
  • Dissociative Disorders
  • Phobias
  • Pain Disorders
  • Performance Anxiety
  • Personality Disorders

We all have unprocessed memories that get triggered when we feel anxious, fearful, sad, or angry and don’t know why. Even those of us with the best of childhoods still have experienced events such as being teased by one’s peers or let down by a loved one which may be inappropriately coloring perceptions and actions in the present. EMDR therapy can be effective in treating the “everyday” memories that underline upsetting beliefs and behavior patterns that are the reason people seek therapy.

“At the end of therapy, success would be defined by a person who can love, bond, feel secure, and find joy in living”

–Francine Shapiro

Founder of EMDR

I have no hope. I feel hopeless. I hate the way I behave.

I’m a 25 year old single woman who is desperate. I can’t trust anyone and I’m disappointed in myself and others. I have no hope of realizing my dreams, people always let me down. I don’t feel like trying anymore because what’s the point, I always screw everything up. I feel hopeless about life and the future. I hate the way I behave. I don’t understand why I keep repeating the same choices and mistakes in relationships. I’m always sad and don’t have any motivation to hang out with my friends or family anymore. The only time I feel ok is when I am high. Life is just too painful.

My wife wants me to quit drinking and using. I haven’t been able to stop. When I drink and use I get angry.

I’m a 52 year old male who is separated from my wife. My wife wants me to quit drinking and using and although I’ve tried I just can’t seem to put together any clean time. I’ve gotten 2 DUI’s and have almost lost my job because of calling out several times. She said if I don’t quit drinking and go to therapy she is going to divorce me. I am desperate because I love her but I haven’t been able to stop. She says I’m mean and we fight too much and she just can’t take it anymore. When I drink and use I get angry and take it out on her. I don’t know what to do which is why I’m here.

I’m too controlling and jealous. I have everything yet I have nothing that makes me happy. I’m always pissed off at someone or something and feel lonely most of the time.

I’m a 36 year old single male who is a professional, have a good job, family, and friends but just don’t enjoy the things I used to anymore. When I’m not working all I like to do is stay home and I never feel like socializing. I haven’t been in a relationship for a while but when I was they always said “I’m too controlling and jealous”. I have everything yet I have nothing that makes me happy. I’m always mad at someone or something and feel lonely most of the time.

I’m having nightmares. I feel like I’m going to die. I’m so tired I don’t know how long I can go on like this.

I’m a 30 year old woman with a child and all of sudden I’m having nightmares. When I’m at work I suddenly get overwhelmed with tightness in my chest, shortness of breath, I feel like I’m going to die. I start shaking and crying uncontrollably and have to go outside till it passes. My Doctor says they are panic attacks. I’m terrified I’m going to lose my job and I need my job to support my child. I’m so tired I don’t know how long I can go on like this.