EMDR as a Treatment For Trauma

A person who has experienced trauma can move forward with life and feel as if they have “forgotten” it or have “dealt” with it. We call this avoidance, and it is one of the main problems with healing. Avoidance feels necessary because trauma memories feel so overwhelming. But avoiding the trauma leaves a person reacting to triggers and avoiding all over again. This cycle can look like:

   Trauma triggers can be quite cunning. A simple smell can trigger intrusive memories or someone talking about a certain subject triggers a picture in your mind or a feeling in your stomach. These triggers may not be easily identified as directly related to unprocessed trauma. Learning to not avoid is critical to the healing process.

   With EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, avoidance is directly addressed. EMDR is a way to allow your brain to process a traumatic memory in a non invasive or non traumatizing way. It doesn’t get rid of the memory, but helps the brain store it in the correct place so it isn’t so emotional and reactive. With EMDR, the memory is stored in the back part of the brain, which is our adaptive memory part of the brain. There, the memory is kept, but we don’t have to avoid or react to it.

   What can you expect from EMDR? EMDR uses eye movement to store the memory correctly so you’ll be asked to follow a movement with your eyes. You don’t have to recount the trauma. EMDR focuses on images and feelings in the body. Trauma is stored in our bodies. Either through common aches and pains, tenseness with anxiety, stomach aches or other ways. When using EMDR, many times the focus will be on where this is felt in the body. Focusing on this feeling without avoiding it allows the body and brain to work together to let go of the discomfort.

   I have provided EMDR therapy for many patients throughout the years with great success. It is an evidence based treatment and less invasive than traditional “talk” therapy. If you are looking at the possibility of EMDR treatment, I will meet with you a handful of times first to ensure your ability to use coping skills effectively. So early on there will be some work with developing coping skills and ensuring some emotional stability. Then we will begin the EMDR treatment, which many times can be just a couple sessions.

   Consider the possibility of living with healthy relationships, connected intimacy and an overall feeling of safety. Healing is possible. If you would like to schedule an intake with me, feel free to book an appointment online here!