Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) THERAPY

Move freely from the lingering effects of trauma

unburden yourself

WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy model based on the idea that our brain has a natural capacity for healing from trauma, so long as we have the necessary elements in place. This is the same way that our bodies naturally move toward healing. For instance, when we have a scrape on our knee, our bodies intrinsically work to heal it. If, however, there’s sand in the wound, we have to remove the sand first to allow the body to do what it needs to do. Similarly with EMDR, we identify and remove blocks in the brain’s neural networks to resume self-healing. People who undergo EMDR treatment tend to report feeling lighter, freer, and significantly less impacted by the trauma they experienced, almost as if they are looking at it from a far away distance.

HOW DOES EMDR THERAPY WORK?

When a trauma occurs, our brains are often unable to fully process what happened. The original images, sensations, thoughts, and feelings associated with the trauma get stuck in the brain. This is why it can feel like we’re right back in that moment, reliving the experience through flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts or memories. EMDR utilizes several neuroscience components to replace these emotional memories with resourceful, adaptive information that allows self-healing to continue. This transformative shift is facilitated by bilateral stimulation, such as eye movement, tapping, or alternating audio sounds. The idea is that bilateral movement stimulates our natural processing abilities, such as during REM sleep, where our eyes move back and forth laterally. Bilateral movement is also found to decrease tension and distress. This is thought to be why we can feel calmer after going for a walk. Ultimately, your brain does all the work! My role as the therapist is to be with you on the journey and provide direction through the process.

“THE KEY TO HEALING IS NOT JUST KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED BUT TRANSFORMING HOW THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL STILL REMEMBER IT. ”

Janina Fisher

EMDR THERAPY CAN BE USEFUL FOR:

  • PTSD and C-PTSD, including

    • Physical abuse or assault

    • Sexual abuse or assault

    • Emotional abuse

    • Relational trauma

    • Neglect

  • Grief and loss

  • Stubborn negative beliefs that contribute to depression or anxiety (e.g., “I am not good enough,” “I am a burden”)

  • Panic attacks

  • Intense reactions to chronic pain and illness, such as fear, dissociation, and avoidance

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF EMDR THERAPY:

  • Reduced distress

  • Reduced symptoms of PTSD (flashbacks, nightmares, startle response, emotion dysregulation, etc.)

  • Increased capacity to tolerate difficult emotions

  • Improved ability to maintain healthy relationships

  • Relief from bodily tension, pain, tightness, etc.

  • Improved self-esteem

  • Trust in our ability to overcome challenges

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EDMR THERAPY: faqs

  • Trauma is anything that shakes up our hold on reality. We are often taught to limit our thinking of trauma to abuse, car accidents, natural disasters, death, or assaults. Trauma can also occur when the parts that make us feel most alive, precious, and human are dismissed, punished, rejected, or humiliated. This includes racialized and state-sanctioned trauma.

  • EMDR therapy is a consent-based model, in that

    1) there needs to be significant trust in the therapeutic relationship to do trauma healing work, and

    2) protective parts or defensive coping mechanisms need to agree to move toward the trauma. In terms of the latter, if there is not that agreement, then we spend time building that trust. Moving forward without the consent of these parts can re-traumatize the nervous system.

    With EMDR, we do assume that there is going to be some activation. This activation signals us to what parts of you are trying to heal. However, with EMDR, you do not have to share all of the details of the traumatic event with me in order to feel the healing effects of the therapy. You get to decide how much to share depending on what feels right for you. This will not negatively impact your ability to process; in fact, for some people, it might allow you to go farther in processing.

  • If you feel restricted, confined, or distressed by emotional memories of the past, then EMDR could be a good fit for you. The first phase of EMDR is preparation, in that we spend a considerable amount of time making sure that you feel well-resourced to tolerate potentially difficult emotions without dissociating or re-living the trauma.

  • Some clients only want to do EMDR, whereas some want to integrate it with other forms of therapy. We can talk about what works best for you.

  • We start with a comprehensive historical overview of what brought you to this current moment. This allows us to identify pivotal moments that impact the way you currently understand yourself and the trauma. During this assessment, I will help you identify the major themes that emerged from how your brain processes the trauma. Some examples of emotional themes are:

    • I am not safe

    • I am out of control

    • I am unloved

    We spend ample time making sure you feel fully resourced and safe before we begin to reprocess the trauma. This is a collaborative process. We will also test out which bilateral stimulation method works for you, as some people do better with eye movements, whereas others prefer tapping or alternating audio (using headphones).

    Afterward, we will create a “flight plan,” where we map out the different trauma memories or events to explore, triggers, and/or persistent negative beliefs about yourself.

  • Some clients want to continue processing during every session, whereas others want to intersperse processing with other sessions that look more like traditional talk therapy or IFS sessions. EMDR is flexible, so it’s not necessary to do it every time we meet.

A LOVELY TRIO: EMDR, SOMATICS, & IFS

I was trained to practice EMDR with a somatic focus. As such, we do not always need to start therapy with a specific trauma memory or event. We can instead begin with focusing on a familiar bodily sensation that carries a significant level of distress. Examples are chronic back pain, numbness, throat tightness, or headaches. I also incorporate my IFS training into EMDR therapy. All three modalities work beautifully together to offer a comprehensive approach to healing.

“Being fluent in your body's language is the antidote to trauma.”

Natalie Y. Gutiérrez

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