“EMDR therapy shows that the mind can heal from psychological trauma and negative experiences in a similar way in which the body heals from physical injury. “
EMDR Therapy | Los Angeles, CA
EMDR helps you overcome your pain
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy used to treat a variety of mental health conditions and disorders.
What is EMDR Therapy?
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While the exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, there are more than 30 controlled outcome studies that show 84-90% of acute trauma survivors no longer have PTSD after just 3 to 6 EMDR sessions. Once an experimental treatment, EMDR is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense.
Not only does EMDR have worldwide recognition as an effective treatment of trauma, it has also been shown to be highly effective in treating memories from situations that wouldn’t necessarily be labeled as “trauma” but also lead to low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness and the myriad problems bringing people in for therapy everyday.
EMDR therapy is conducted by a trained therapist who will guide you through a series of eye movements, sounds, and/or tactile sensations. Your therapist will also provide support and guidance throughout the session to help you understand and process any thoughts and feelings that come up throughout the experience.
While most studies of EMDR therapy have been related to its benefits in treating conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it is also helpful in treating other conditions, including:
- Grief
- Phobias
- Depressive Disorders
- Acute Stress Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures of EMDR, clinicians help to activate your natural healing processes.
EMDR is based on the theory that when we experience a traumatic event, our brains are unable to process the information correctly. This can lead to feeling stuck in a state of fear and anxiety. EMDR therapy helps by allowing you to access and process the negative memories of the traumatic experience so that you can move on from them.
EMDR therapy is done in a series of sessions, during which your therapist will guide you through different exercises. These exercises can involve recalling the memory of the disturbing events while paying attention to a specific object or movement, such as a light or a sound. As this happens, in a similar fashion to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) during deep sleep, internal associations arise and you begin to process the memory and disturbing feelings. In successful EMDR, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level – you still have the memory, it just doesn’t carry the same emotional charge.
The insights gained in EMDR therapy differ from those found in traditional talk therapy, in that they come from your mind’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processing rather than from the clinician’s interpretation of what you tell them.
Your therapist will also help you identify any negative thoughts or beliefs you have about yourself as a result of the distressing memories. Once these have been identified, your therapist will work with you to challenge and change these negative beliefs.
How I Can Help
EMDR Therapy is an effective treatment that has been shown to be helpful for people who have experienced a wide range of traumas, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence, natural disasters, etc.
If you are considering EMDR therapy, I will help you decide if it is the right approach for you. EMDR therapy can be a powerful tool in helping you to heal from trauma and related disturbing memories. Contact me today for a free consultation to learn if this treatment option is right for you and how you can get started.
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