EMDR

“We may not be responsible for the world that created our minds, but we can take responsibility for the mind with which we create our world.”

-Gabor Mate

Are you ready to re-wire your brain?

Maybe you’ve been in therapy before. Maybe you’ve talked yourself in circles for hours, and while it helped a little, you still feel stuck. It’s likely you’ve caught yourself saying, “intellectually, I know I should feel X, but I just can’t get there emotionally.”

EMDR might be your answer.

EMDR is a very different style of therapy than your standard-issue talk psychotherapy. Using bilateral stimulation (in the form of eye movements, sounds, or physical taps) while simultaneously holding an image of a past experience in your mind’s eye, EMDR taps (pun intended) into the natural healing ability of our brains. Similar to how your body knows how to heal a cut on your finger, your brain knows how to heal itself to a place of wellness. Sometimes, it just needs a poke (or a tap) and some guidance.

EMDR FAQs

What does ‘emdr’ stand for?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy.

is EMDR therapy just for Big-”T” Traumas?

While EMDR is the leading treatment for PTSD, EMDR can be for anyone, for almost any thing. Because here’s the thing: ‘trauma’ is defined as anything that our specific brain experiences as distressing. We don’t get to decide whether or not something is traumatic, our brain does. Whether it is a Big-”T” trauma (like abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, etc), or a little “t” trauma (like Billy pushed you on the playground when you were 5), we cannot predict what experiences and memories our brains will latch onto and find distressing. But, EMDR can likely help, regardless of what you’re experiencing.

But what does it actually look like?

EMDR starts with us identifying the experience, memory, sensation, or limiting core-belief that you’re having a hard time with. Together, we will develop a treatment plan, designed to target your specific concerns. This plan involves identifying the target memory, as well as helping you develop effective coping skills and resources.

Additional phases of EMDR look a little different. This is a unique therapy in that you will not have to verbally explain to me (unless you choose to) the specific details of these past experiences. I will ask you to briefly focus on the distressing memory or sensation, while simultaneously employing bilateral stimulation, in the form of taps, eye movements, or sounds.

How does bilateral stimulation help?

Bilateral stimulation is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the traumatic memories. You may come out the other end with a sense of resolution, calm, and experience more positive self-beliefs.

What kinds of things can EMDR help with?

EMDR can work on almost anything. But here’s a (non-exhaustive) list: PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, eating disorders, OCD, big “T” traumas, little “t” traumas, chronic pain, distressing life experiences, unresolved childhood wounds, body image, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, feeling “not good enough,” etc.

If you have specific questions about whether or not you could benefit from EMDR, reach out to me!

WHere can I find more information about emdr?

The EMDRIA (the EMDR International Association) website is a good place to get started:

Re-claim your life.

Like any type of therapy, EMDR can feel really, really hard, and you have to trust the process. But imagine a life where your past no longer takes up so much space in your present and future, and where you actually feel like you have control over your own brain.