EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based treatment for trauma which has been used by psychologists since the early 1990s. Like all trauma-focused therapies, the purpose is to help the client process and move through their trauma so that the brain is no longer perceiving or responding to a threat which does not exist in the current time and place.
EMDR involves bi-lateral stimulation (BLS) of the brain, which allows for processing of the trauma without getting “stuck” in a memory. There are eight phases to the treatment, with the length of each phase unique to each client and their situation. Perhaps the greatest benefit of EMDR is that overall, the number of sessions is normally far less than with talk therapy alone. Another benefit of EMDR is that, due to the effects of BLS on the brain, the client normally experiences less distress processing their trauma than is the case with traditional talk therapy alone.
If you are wondering if EMDR is right for you, please contact me for a free 15-minute consultation.
