Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
“Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth”
– Pema Chodron
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro and is a highly evidenced based treatment that is designed to relieve symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. There is an increasing body of research showing EMDR is effective for other diagnoses, including depression, substance abuse and process addictions.
EMDR is built upon the philosophy that when we experience disturbing life events, also known as traumas, we must fully process the thoughts and feelings in order to feel safe again. For some, these thoughts and feelings get “stuck” in an unprocessed state with maladaptive connections such as shame, guilt, fear, avoidance, etc.
EMDR uses a process called bi-lateral stimulation (BLS) to help the brain and body more fully process these emotions and thoughts so the memory can be more effectively resolved.
This process does not necessarily require a person to tell their story out loud, only to allow themselves to feel the unprocessed thoughts, sensations and emotions so they can gain new perspective and restore balance to a formerly blocked system.
I will assist in creating a safe space and help you identify or develop effective resources that guide the reprocessing of the traumatic memories and reactivation of the natural healing process.
Sessions are normally 90 minutes and the time frame of treatment varies based upon your unique experience. For more information on EMDR, please visit the below site.