EMDR Therapy
A highly-researched treatment for trauma and stress that brings the nervous system to a relaxed state, where traumatic and distressful memories can be processed and dissolved.
Oftentimes, mental health issues can be caused or exacerbated as a result of traumatic experiences. Things that occurred years ago have the ability to affect us in the present moment, and sometimes we don’t even consciously recognize what caused these symptoms in the first place. When you experience trauma, it’s as though that moment is frozen in time. The trauma gets stored in an unconscious part of the brain and can manifest in a variety of different ways, including various mental health issues.
What’s the difference between EMDR and regular talk therapy?
Traditional talk therapy can be an incredibly helpful tool for many people. However, many people who are dealing with a more severe form of anxiety, stress, or PTSD may find that talking about these painful or traumatic experiences is not helping, or even making them feel worse. EMDR can be a more productive and expedited form of therapy, helping you heal and process what can often take years to work through in traditional talk therapy in a much shorter time period.
How does EMDR work?
The reason why EMDR is so effective is that it gets to the root of the issue and allows your mind and body to “unfreeze” the traumatic memory and process it fully. This helps to desensitize your triggers and dissipate the symptoms that follow.
By using bilateral stimulation, the mind is able to get to a calm enough state where it can fully process the traumatic experience and rewire the neuropathways that are sending you those signals of distress in the present day.
What does EMDR help with?
EMDR can help alleviate the symptoms of many mental health issues, including:
Anxiety and panic disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Phobias
Depression
Chronic pain
Sexual Disfunction
Eating disorders
Substance Abuse
Will EMDR work for me?
While EMDR may work wonders for many people, each situation is unique, and we encourage you to reach out to see if EMDR would be beneficial for you at this point in time. If the anxiety, stress, and depression caused by past trauma are becoming unbearable, know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Healing is possible, and we are here to support you on your journey.
Want to learn more about EMDR?
Here are some resources to help you gain a better understanding of the process.