“It takes enormous trust and courage to allow yourself to remember.”
— BESSEL VAN DER KOLK, M.D.
There are moments we experience in life that leave imprints in our minds and on our hearts. While some of these are joy-filled and bring feelings of love to us when thought of or re-experienced, others can bring feelings of deep hurt, paralyzing fear and grief.
Just like a physical wound, these emotional marks can be healed and released, integrated into our beings as experiences that do not have such a strong hold on us.
EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapeutic approach that helps individuals who have experienced trauma to process and heal from these past experiences. It is an integrative treatment method that addresses the root causes of trauma by incorporating various elements to promote overall well-being.
EMDR is a holistic approach. Rather than solely focusing on the traumatic event itself, EMDR acknowledges that trauma impacts an individual's thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and beliefs about themselves and their world. Therefore, it addresses these interconnected aspects to facilitate healing on multiple levels.
What Happens in an EMDR Session
During an EMDR session, a trained therapist guides the individual through a series of specific steps. These steps include identifying the traumatic memories or triggers, developing coping strategies, and incorporating safe, affirmative and compassionate beliefs and emotions to replace the adverse and disparaging ones associated with the trauma. This comprehensive approach helps individuals to not only process and heal from their trauma but also to develop healthier coping patterns.
At its core, EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation, which can include eye movements, taps, or sounds, to activate both sides of the brain. This bilateral stimulation helps individuals access and process traumatic memories more effectively, allowing them to reorganize their thoughts and emotions surrounding the traumatic event. By doing so, EMDR helps individuals to reframe and integrate these memories into their personal narrative, promoting healing and growth.
What EMDR Can Help With
EMDR has shown great promise in treating individuals who have experienced traumatic events, such as accidents, abuse, natural disasters, combat, or any other distressing life events. It is particularly helpful for those who continue to struggle with the lingering effects of trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
In addition to trauma-related conditions, EMDR can also be beneficial for individuals experiencing a range of other issues.
Anxiety Disorders
Attachment Wounds
Phobias
Panic Attacks
Depression
Unprocessed Grief
Addiction
Chronic Pain
Self-Esteem
Self-Compassion
EMDR therapy can help process and resolve the underlying causes of these conditions, leading to improved well-being and a greater sense of emotional balance.
It's important to note that EMDR is a gradual process. Each step is taken at your own pace, ensuring that you feel safe and comfortable throughout. The therapy aims to help you not only heal from the past but also cultivate a life in which you feel more empowered and in control.
You deserve to live a life free from the weight of trauma. EMDR therapy can be a powerful tool in your healing journey, assisting you in processing and integrating the painful experiences that have affected you.