To begin reprocessing these stored negative memories and emotions your counselor will do an in-depth assessment to ensure you are a good candidate for EMDR and create a treatment plan specific to you.

What is the Eye Movement aspect of EMDR?

In short, it is side-to-side eye movements guided by your counselor to help you briefly focus on that troublesome memory. This process is also initiated via tapping.

What is Desensitization and Reprocessing?

While you’re focused on a specific memory, you’ll be describing any feelings, sensations, sounds, or smells as your counselor guides you through reprocessing and releasing those trapped emotions.

Reprocessing will allow you to break down the traumatic aspects of a particular memory and remove the negative connotation it holds in your mind, essentially making the event just a memory. Reprocessing usually involves working through and making associations with negative and positive emotions, putting words to your feelings, and analyzing visual information.

What can EMDR therapy help with?

Why does EMDR therapy work?

Bilateral stimulation engages both sides of the brain to help process memories and emotions associated with the trauma. Reprocessing traumatic memories during stimulation reduces intensity and emotional charge, allowing your brain to adaptively store the memory. Giving the ability to think of the memory without overwhelming emotion or complete shutdown. Repeated sessions allows you to desensitize from the memory, making it known in your mind, but not allowing it to influence present day reactions.

Is EMDR therapy intense?

EMDR intensity is dependent on the individual receiving therapy and the events or issues being addressed. Remember, you’re working through memories that have had a negative impact on your brain, so working with a counselor that you trust and supports you through each difficult emotion is important. Processing these events can be intense, but many clients feel a sense of clarity, calm and relief as they continue completing sessions.

What are the risks of EMDR therapy?

• Emotional Intensity: Sometimes emotions during or after sessions can be overwhelming. You may feel anger, sadness, anxiety, or distress while processing traumatic events.
• Temporary Worsening of Symptoms: Nightmares, flashbacks, increased anxiety (especially when you first begin treatment) may occur.
• Flooding Emotions: During session your brain may try to reprocess a large amount of emotions at once, causing you to feel overwhelmed or temporarily distressed.
• Physical Reactions: Dizziness, tension, or headaches can sometimes occur when processing traumatic memories.
• Unresolved Trauma: While processing the memory you may uncover things you hadn’t consciously remembered which can be unsettling.
• Overload: Too many sessions done too quickly can result in burnout or overload.

Keep in mind, the counselor you choose matters! Working with a trained/certified counselor can minimize the risk of negative side effects of treatment. Communicate! Speak to your counselor during your assessment and sessions, bring up any concerns or questions you have about the process, your reactions, and grounding measures that can be used. Long-term emotional healing can be achieved carefully, gradually, and with the right support!

What are the goals of EMDR therapy?

Goals vary dependent on individual plans and trauma. Ultimately, working through painful traumatic events with the goal of restoring a sense of control, safety and improved mental well-being.

Much like your body can heal from physical injury, your brain can recover from psychological injury by reprocessing all you can remember from a negative event or prolonged exposure. Your counselor will gently guide you through these memories, processing and releasing what has been stored in your brain.

History and treatment plan, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation.

EMDR therapy is non-invasive, creating a safe and effective environment for children and adults of all ages.

Because this process is so in depth and every client’s needs are unique. We like to schedule EMDR in 2-hour increments. The first hour will be billed to your insurance carrier, if applicable, and the second hour is always self-pay. The amount of sessions needed to complete is dependent on individual goals, set by you and your counselor during your assessment.

Consistent alternating stimulus on both sides of your body. Physically, lightly tapping your shoulders or knees in an alternating pattern. Visually, following your therapists finger left to right. Auditory, Audio channels alternating from left to right. Tactile, Squeezing a ball in your left hand, then in the right. Engaging both sides of your brain to unlock and process traumatic events caught in the nervous system.