EMDR Therapy

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy. It is a trauma-focused treatment designed to help people process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences. Many studies have shown EMDR therapy significantly decreasing traumatic stress in a much shorter time than other types of therapy: months vs. years.

Talking in a lot of detail about traumatic experiences can be re-traumatizing. EDMR therapy can process and release clients' traumatic stress without them disclosing the details. In talk therapy therapists might challenge clients' defense mechanisms, whereas EMDR therapy will break through defense mechanisms at a quicker rate using bilateral stimulation, a scientific term for using alternating eye movements or tapping to activate both sides of the brain. This helps speed up the healing process of releasing the unpleasant emotions and sensations associated with the traumas.

When the brain and body relieves traumatic stress, negative beliefs are often transformed into positive ones not only at an intellectual level, but emotionally and physically. For example, clients can feel unsafe or inadequate at their core. Words of affirmations may help them think they are safe or good enough. But, reprocessing traumas typically have clients feel it at an embodied level, at their core self. Do you want to feel and know deep down you are safe or good enough?