How EMDR Treatment Can Help You Overcome Trauma and Anxiety
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy that has been shown to be effective in treating trauma and other mental health conditions. EMDR treatment utilizes bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, while the client focuses on distressing memories and sensations. This helps the brain process the traumatic experience and reduces the intense emotions associated with the trauma.
How Does EMDR Work?
During EMDR sessions, the therapist will have the client recall a disturbing event while simultaneously doing left-right eye movements or tapping. This helps the client process the upsetting memory and disturbing feelings while accessing more adaptive information from other memory networks. The bilateral stimulation seems to help the brain access these networks and integrate traumatic events in a more general memory system.
Conditions EMDR Can Help With
EMDR has been extensively researched and proven effective for treating:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Phobias
- Panic disorders
- Grief/loss
- Eating disorders
- Addictions
- Chronic pain
It can help process traumatic events such as combat, sexual assault, accidents, and natural disasters. EMDR may also help treat disturbing memories that contribute to dysfunction, even if they don’t meet the criteria for PTSD.
The EMDR Process
In an EMDR session, the therapist will have you identify an image that represents the disturbing memory, the negative beliefs about yourself associated with the event, and the emotions and body sensations that go along with it.
While focusing on these things, you will follow the therapist’s fingers back and forth with your eyes or tap alternating hands on your legs. The back-and-forth pattern stimulates both hemispheres of the brain to help them communicate more efficiently and reprocess the memory.
The therapist will also have you replace negative cognitions with positive beliefs. You will be asked to tune into the changes in sensations and emotions that come up. This will continue until the memory becomes less distressing.
Benefits of EMDR
EMDR offers many advantages over traditional talk therapies:
- Requires less time to process traumatic memories
- Does not require lengthy descriptions of the disturbing event
- Minimal homework is needed between sessions
- No need to practice new skills between sessions
- Positive effects may continue even after treatment ends
Is EMDR Right for Me?
If you suffer from PTSD, anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma, EMDR may greatly benefit you. It’s best suited for anyone who experiences strong emotional or physical distress when recalling painful memories.
EMDR often produces faster and longer-lasting relief than other therapies. Many people see results after just 1-4 sessions. It’s worth exploring if you want to be free of the emotional turmoil caused by past experiences.
Contact Empower Professional Counseling Services for a Free Consultation for EMDR Treatment
If you think EMDR could help you overcome trauma, please contact Empower Professional Counseling Services today for a free consultation. We have certified EMDR therapists ready to meet with you.
Our goal is to provide transformative treatment that empowers you to thrive. We offer EMDR treatment as well as counseling services for individuals, couples, and families.
