What is EMDR and how does it work?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that allows a person to alleviate emotional discomfort due to difficult experiences that they have encountered throughout their lives. Basically, when we experience something difficult, the way our brain stores these memories affects how we view ourselves, others, and the world we live in. EMDR therapy takes those memories and all the information that is inside (images, beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations) and taps into those networks that are creating that emotional discomfort, allowing them to be processed more adaptively.

After these memories reach an adaptive resolution, we begin to see healthier reactions to difficult life events and an increased sense of self-worth. EMDR therapy allows a person to move past those disturbing life experiences and live a more peaceful life.

What does an EMDR session look like?

EMDR therapy has 8 phases of treatment. Eye movements (or bilateral stimulation) are utilized during the process. It looks a little different than your typical psychotherapy session. As you travel through your difficult life experiences, you maintain a dual awareness (one foot in the past and one foot in the present). This means you are in the driver’s seat and in full control while being safely supported by your therapist. Many people who have been in talk therapy for years find that EMDR provides a significant decrease in emotional reactivity after just a few sessions. Want to know more? Call for more information.