EMDR for Anxiety, TRAUMA, Loss

Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured therapy that desensitizes reactions to distressing events. 

Within each of us is a natural adaptive ability that helps us to move through most of the upsetting things that happen in life. However, despite our best efforts, sometimes very upsetting events continue to impact us causing anxiety and other strong reactions.

It's believed that very disturbing experiences can interfere with brain processing and tend to block the brain's ability to integrate what has happened. After EMDR the disruptive event is remembered as part of the past, rather than consuming our attention and impacting our behavior, thoughts, and feelings in the present.  

Many people work through their hardest experiences with EMDR and go on to live more fulfilling lives. For most people I've noticed a greater depth of self understanding, emotional healing, and behavior change with EMDR therapy.

People often appreciate that while EMDR is designed to resolve traumatic memories, it does not require talking in great detail about the distressing event.

I frequently combine EMDR therapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness techniques for individual counseling.  I'm an EMDR Certified Therapist, using the process since 2014.  EMDR is available for individual counseling, and not part of couples counseling. 

Courtesy of EMDR International Association:

A video about EMDR :  https://youtu.be/Pkfln-ZtWeY 

Signs of trauma are physical or emotional re-experiencing of the situation, fears, sadness, guilt, shame, isolation, avoidance, increased irritation, on-edge feelings, a negative belief about yourself, difficulty functioning, substance abuse, or other reactions that continue long after the event has passed.  

Trauma is described as: Experiencing or witnessing a frightening, dangerous, or violent event, exposure to death, injury, abuse, or sexual violence often causes trauma. There are other more common life events like job stress, relationship changes, divorce, illness, or accidents that can cause a trauma response as well. 

EMDR is a well-established, widely researched, evidence based therapy successful at reducing upsetting thoughts, feelings, and physical reactions associated with post traumatic stress, traumas, and has been effective with other difficulties as well. 

EMDR is recognized as an effective treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by The World Health Organization, American Psychiatric Association, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and SAMHSA. 

For more information visit  https://www.emdria.org