EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Of course that doesn’t actually tell you anything about what it means! EMDR is a therapy used to help people overcome distressing memories, such as those from traumatic events. Here’s a simple explanation of how it works:
Imagine you have a memory that continues to upset or scare you every time you think about it. In EMDR therapy, a therapist will guide you to recall this distressing memory in a safe setting. While you focus on this memory, the therapist will also have you follow certain movements with your eyes, like watching their hand waving side to side, or listen to sounds that alternate between your ears. This process is thought to help your brain reprocess the memory in a way that reduces its emotional impact.
It's somewhat like editing a movie scene so it's less scary each time you watch it. Through EMDR, your brain learns to store the memory differently, making it less troubling and reducing its impact on your emotional well-being. This can help you feel calmer and more in control when you think about that past experience.
Don't stay stuck in your trauma
EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment that identifies and addresses experiences that have overwhelmed the brain’s natural resilience or coping ability, and has caused traumatic symptoms that are impacting your life. Here are the key phases:
History and Treatment Planning - Gather history of your experience and determine where to start treatment.
Preparation - Establish trust and explain the therapy process.
Assessment - Identify the traumatic memory and specific beliefs.
Desensitization - Use eye movements to diminish the emotions associated with the memory.
Installation - Strengthen positive beliefs related to the memory.
Body Scan - Check if the memory causes any physical response.
Closure - Return to feeling safe and secure in your life.
Reevaluation - Assess the success of the treatment and check for residual memories.
During EMDR treatment sessions, the therapist leads the patient in a series of lateral eye movements while the patient simultaneously focuses on various aspects of a disturbing memory, including thoughts, emotions, and body sensations. Other forms of bilateral stimulation such as auditory tones or taps may also be used.
Who Can Benefit from EMDR?
EMDR therapy is most commonly used to address issues stemming from PTSD, which may arise from experiences such as military combat, physical assault, rape, and car accidents. However, EMDR is also increasingly used to treat:
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Eating disorders
Addictions
EMDR can also be a powerful therapy for individuals who have not responded to other types of therapy, and it typically is less intense/uncomfortable than other trauma treatments.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy has numerous benefits, including:
Rapid processing of traumatic memories
Decrease in PTSD symptoms, such as flashbacks and nightmares
Reduction in anxiety and stress levels
Improved emotional stability
Enhanced self-efficacy and confidence
Studies have shown that EMDR therapy can rapidly produce improvement in the symptoms of PTSD and anxiety, often in fewer sessions than that typically required by other psychotherapy techniques.
Schedule your free consultation call today to learn more about how EMDR therapy can help you.
We specialize in treating trauma and anxiety
All clinicians at Pinellas Anxiety Specialists have trained and worked for years to help others overcome their trauma and anxiety symptoms. Not going to lie, we've all experienced plenty of stress and anxiety in the process, so we know how miserable it feels. We don't want you to struggle through that one more day than you have to. The skills we hope to teach you are the same ones that we use to ensure the time with our families is quality over just quantity.
Because it's our primary specialty, you better believe that we'll be ready to go from the start. We'll hone in on your specific challenges and build an individualized treatment plan to reach your goals as quickly as possible. You deserve the best treatment... and we will do our best to provide it.
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EMDR is considered to be safe with fewer side effects than many other treatments. Discomfort in recalling traumatic events can occur, but it's typically short-lived as these memories lose their intensity and emotional charge through the EMDR process.
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Yes, EMDR therapy is supported by more than 30 years of research demonstrating its efficacy in treating trauma and other adverse life experiences. Let us know if you’d like more detailed information on the research support.
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When you're overwhelmed, stressed, and anxious, it makes sense that you'd be hesitant to add one more thing (therapy) to your plate.
What our patients tend to find is that our work together helps them feel more energized and organized in their life so the challenges no longer feel insurmountable. Skeptics often turn into believers once they begin to enjoy the progress they've made.
Therapy is an investment in your personal well-being, and much like exercise it takes a bit of effort to see the best results.
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If we had a nickel for every time we heard this, we'd all be retired by now. We are sorry you've had that experience and it's understandable that you wouldn't want to waste your time trying therapy again.
We can tell you that we are constantly monitoring to ensure we're the right fit for our patients and have no problem referring you to someone who would be a better fit. If you ever feel your clinician is not the right one for you, we welcome that feedback so we can get you on the right path to feeling better. Your progress is most important, whether it's with us or not.
Another important aspect of EMDR is that it’s been shown to help individuals who may not have found success with other types of therapies.
We can never promise results, but we can promise we will always be working at least as hard as you.