EMDR

EMDR: An Integrative, Holistic Approach to Healing

EMDR is a holistic therapy approach designed as an accelerated treatment for trauma and many forms of emotional and physical distress. EMDR sessions are known to promote emotional, physical and relational health and well-being. EMDR therapy' helps reduce the intensity and frequency of distressing symptoms by way of its unique blend of therapeutic processes:

·       Somatic (body-centered) techniques to help restore a renewed sense of emotional and physiological balance

·       Psychodynamic exploration to uncover unconscious material that may be driving unwanted symptoms

·       Cognitive restructuring to help shift unwanted beliefs and related behaviors

This hybrid therapy approach allows me to help clients process unconscious thoughts and feelings including memories related to painful events and injuries, hurtful attachment patterns and forgotten and unresolved relational conflicts, all of which may manifest as unwanted symptoms, beliefs and behaviors. 

Since 1990, EMDR has proven successful in reducing the negative effects of many conditions including:

·       Trauma and PTSD

·       Attachment and Relational Trauma

·       Depression

·       Anxiety (including performance and social anxiety)

·       Phobias

·       Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

·       Neurodivergent differences (such as Dyslexia and ADHD)

·       Sleep disturbances (insomnia, hypersomnia, hyposomnia, night terrors)

·       Grief and bereavement

·       Low self-esteem

·       Creative blocks/Writer’s block

·       Chronic Pain

How EMDR Works

EMDR is based on research showing that traumatic or distressing experiences may remain unprocessed and "encapsulated" outside of the brain's remote memory networks. These unintegrated memory fragments are thought to cause disruptions in one’s brain function, including attention, emotional regulation, learning ability, sleep as well as memory, and lead to unwanted emotional or physical symptoms or behaviors. Research has also shown that the use of bilateral stimulation in EMDR sessions—such as guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory cues—  helps to activate both hemispheres of the brain and, in turn, memory processing and improved brain function in general, similar to what happens during REM sleep which supports the integration and resolution of traumatic memories and feelings of distress.

EMDR for Relational Repair and Attachment Healing

For clients interested in relational repair, I may recommend incorporating Attachment-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) in our sessions. AF-EMDR is a form of EMDR, developed by Laurel Parnell, Ph.D, to addresses unresolved attachment wounds—disruptions in early caregiver relationships that can lead to insecure attachment styles and lifelong relational challenges. AF-EMDR can help clients efficiently reprocess and reduce the emotional charge of painful memories involving relational conflicts and related feelings of despair. AF-EMDR sessions can help clients illicit more secure, adaptive beliefs about themselves and others, allowing them to enjoy healthier relationships, and more edifying and gratifying memories, moving forward.

EMDR for Neurodivergent Individuals

I also use EMDR to address the unique needs of neurodivergent-identifying adolescents and adults, including individuals with ADHD and Dyslexia and other neurodevelopmental or learning differences. EMDR can also help process trauma related to living in a neurotypical-focused world, supporting resilience and self-confidence. The benefits of EMDR for neurodivergent individuals may include:

·       Reduced anxiety and overwhelm

·       Improved emotional regulation

·       Enhanced self-acceptance

·       Better social functioning

Scheduling an EMDR Therapy Session

I offer EMDR therapy as a stand-alone treatment or may recommend integrating EMDR therapy into ongoing psychotherapy sessions. If you would like to explore whether EMDR therapy sessions may be right for you, please contact me here for more information or to schedule a 20-minute complimentary consultation.

Or for information on the history and potential benefits of EMDR therapy visit: https://www.emdr.com/what-is-e...