A long time ago…

We used to believe that scary life events were better left ignored. To this day, we struggle as a culture to address the grief and trauma that will impact each of us at some point in our lives. If you have ever found yourself triggered by a sensory experience - a sound, sight, smell, etc. - and struggled to ground yourself in the moment, you may have unprocessed trauma.

But unprocessed trauma takes a toll on our self-esteem, self-confidence and relationships with others. Depression, anxiety and addiction all may be the result of unprocessed trauma in our daily lives.

Intriguing discovery

In the 1980s, Francine Shapiro discovered that asking a client to move their eyes from side to side while thinking about a traumatic event actually helped that client feel better and the treatment had a lasting effect. The EMDR Research Foundation estimates that there are at least 24 controlled studies that have consistently found EMDR to be effective at decreasing or eliminating PTSD symptoms in most patients.

One piece that sets EMDR apart from other modalities is that it does not require clients to talk in detail about what happened to them. Instead, EMDR asks clients to focus on the images, thoughts, body sensations and other sensory data. Applying bilateral stimulation (with a light board, pulsating tappers, or some other tool) while thinking of the traumatic experience helps the brain resume its natural healing process. For many, this treatment can be completed in fewer sessions than traditional psychotherapies. 

A variety of uses

The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) says the following issues may be effectively treated with EMDR:

• Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias

• Chronic Illness and medical issues

• Depression and bipolar disorders

• Dissociative disorders

• Eating disorders

• Grief and loss

• Pain

• Performance anxiety

• Personality disorders

• PTSD and other trauma and stress related issues

• Sexual assault

• Sleep disturbance

• Substance abuse and addiction

• Violence and abuse

Why choose an EMDRIA-Certified Clinician?

Achieving certification as an EMDR Clinician requires deep knowledge of the modality and demonstration of effective case management through supervision and study. As an EMDRIA-Certified EMDR Clinician, I maintain a high level of annual continuing education specifically in EMDR and personally supplement my training with individual supervision and reading of new materials. Please let me know how I can help you understand more about how EMDR could help you live a happier, more fulfilled life.