EMDR Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Healing Trauma

EMDR Therapy explains the processes of healing the emotional wounds in an individual’s life within specific periods of time. EMPeriods treat both complex cases of trauma and single distressing events. Mental health practitioners have come to recognize the great significance this approach has towards emotional healing.

This therapy is an innovation of Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. EMDR is an acronym for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Unlike other forms of talk therapy, which tend to be lengthy, EMDR aids patients within a specific period by helping the person shift trauma-related experiences through the use of bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements. This enables the person’s brain to effectively integrate memories that are no longer useful.

In other words, repeating self-destructive and painful memories becomes easier, due to reducing the emotional weight attached to painful memories. EMDR therapy is termed the buzz in the therapy world today. It has become exceptionally popular due to helping people feel mentally and emotionally free.

Let us now focus on discussing how EMDR operates, why it is so effective, and who can harness this strong therapy.

What EMDR Therapy Is and How Does It Work?

With EMDR, psychotherapy aids in the healing of people by helping them to reprocess the traumatic memories they have for their emotional detriment. The phrase is simple yet deep at the same time “stuck” memories in the brain. Whenever someone reminds you of your trauma, memorize and jog your body reflex like it is physically happening once again. EMDR helps unstick such memories.

The following is what happens in an EMDR session.

1. You tell your therapist about a negative distressing memory you have, along with associated damaging beliefs that come with it such as “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault.”
2. The therapist puts you through guided sets of tapping, rapid eye movements o, and auditory tones while you concentrate on the memory and starts guiding you through them.
3. This stimulation taps into the brain’s natural healing processes.
4. Gradually, memories unsent distressing levels also do your beliefs regarding it.

While EMDR might sound a little strange at first, the therapy has been proven by numerous studies. The therapy has also been approved by the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and the Department of Veteran Affairs as a reliable tool for treating PTSD among other conditions.

Why EMDR Therapy Is More Than Just a Trend

In this vast landscape of therapeutic treatments, EMDR seems to catch some extra attention. Why? That is because EMDR heals trauma on a cellular level. Most EMDR therapists are deep into the science of therapy, but so many of them still depend on talking to do a lot of the healing work. EMDR, on the other hand, focuses on the brain’s functions.

Just like the body takes care of healing an injury, EMDR taps into your brain’s self-healing capacities. It is a little bit akin to working with the body. When we incur a wound, our body works energetically to seal the laceration and prevent further damage. Equally, when the brain undergoes some form of emotional trauma, it attempts to fix itself. However, if certain factors impede this process like the severity of the trauma or lack of help, the healing can get stalled. 

EMDR gets rid of the obstacles that impede proper healing, rest, and bring the brain to self-heal.

Patients who have tried everything like CBT, medications, and mindfulness techniques often turn to EMDR for the relief they have been yearning for. While the sessions might seem overwhelming, they end up feeling cathartic. Not only do patients with EMDR have the tools to deal with trauma, but they also have to pass the ordeal.

What EMDR Therapy Can Treat

EMDR isn’t only for people with severe PTSD. It can be used to tackle a variety of emotional and psychological issues. Some of them include:

• Trauma and abuse in childhood
• Panic and anxiety disorders
• Depression with a trauma history
• Grief and bereavement reaction
• Phobias and unreasonable fears
• Addictive and compulsive behaviors
• Performance anxiety or creative blocks

What makes EMDR so versatile is that it targets the emotional charge of the an experience. EMDR can provide relief if there is something in the past that continuously troubles you or that impacts how you respond in the present.

Who Can Benefit Best from EMDR?

Any person struggling with unresolved emotional issues is a good candidate for EMDR Therapy. It is mostly helpful for people who:

• Wish to change old repetitive emotional behaviors and cannot do so.
• Have negative thoughts or memories they are unable to stop thinking about.
• Skip certain activities, people, and places due to irrational fears associated with them.
• Have low trust in other people and even themselves.
• Have self-esteem issues or have deep-rooted shame.

All age groups from Children to teens and adults can be helped. It works particularly well in schools, with adolescents dealing with bullying, parental divorce, or loss. For adults, EMDR tends to reveal hidden long-term trauma that has been affecting their life choices, relationships, and personal image on a subconscious level.

What to Expect in Your First EMDR Session

Finding the courage to start EMDR sessions for the first time can be daunting, particularly if you’re new to the concept, but it’s a structured and safe process.

During the first few sessions, your therapist will conduct a detailed intake to formulate a history, and aid you in creating target memories. Together you will develop coping mechanisms and grounding techniques. Emotional safety is crucial, and so is your perceived sense of readiness. Once you feel prepared, reprocessing will commence.

Sessions typically take 60 – 90 minutes, and the number of sessions depends on the specifics of the trauma. A few clients report feeling better after a couple of sessions, while others need more long-term work.

A major advantage of EMDR is that clients do not have to go over every aspect of the trauma. You attend to what you are experiencing and feeling when the therapist is doing bilateral stimulation. It is intense but also private and very personal.

Is EMDR Therapy Safe

With a trained therapist, EMDR is regarded as very safe. Like any therapeutic approach, it can be intense. There are no physiological risks associated with EMDR, but some patients do become emotional when discussing certain topics which is a sign that the brain is working on active memories.

After each session, therapists normally help the client “close” the experience using grounding techniques. These techniques help calm the client in anticipation of leaving the office and make the session easier.

Real Results: Patient EMDR Experiences

Reportedly, many EMDR patients notice deep shifts in their emotional states. They may begin to sleep more restfully, feel calmer, and have less reactivity.

“I remember the worst moment of my life like a TV show I could fast forward through, and I could slowly turn down the volume.” “I feel like myself again after years,” said one client, reflecting on the emotional numbness that engulfed them for years.

While results may differ, one common factor remains true—the goal of EMDR therapy appears to be change and not only respite.

Finding an EMDR Psychiatrist in Your Area.

If you want to undergo EMDR therapy, you should work with someone who has gone through specific training. For example, not every therapist is trained in EMDR. So when inquiring with a therapist, make sure to get information regarding their credentials and their working experience with the practice.

Look for a professional who specializes in trauma, has a proven track record with clients, and provides a safe therapeutic, accepting environment. This type of EMDR therapist is crucial because you want to feel safe and supported when engaging in emotionally sensitive material.

Nowadays, numerous mental health practices incorporate EMDR into treatment programs. This could be beneficial to people who have an underlying condition such as trauma, depression, anxiety, or addiction.

The Shift of People Towards EMDR Therapy

People are searching for solutions that are healthier and go beyond just controlling symptoms due to the newfound focus on mental health awareness. For individuals looking to unravel the core problems of their issues rather than simply suppressing them, EMDR is the best fit.

It’s more attractive because it doesn’t depend on medications or years of talking every week. Instead, EMDR provides a well-organized, concentrated, and incredibly efficient route to recovery.

If you find yourself thinking, “Why do I still feel pain after discussing this trauma so many times,” then EMDR is the right choice for you.

We Can Help You With The Next Step TTowardHealing

California Mental Health is well aware that there is no universal solution for mental health issues. However, countless people have managed to regain control of their lives due to EMDR therapy. EMDR therapy is known to provide a greater sense of safety within the mind and body by addressing trauma from its roots, allowing individuals to feel more at ease. It works on more than just surviving, it helps people thrive.

For you or someone you love who suffers from trauma, anxiety, or emotional discomfort, contact California Mental Health today. Their caring professionals offer supportive environments for EMDR therapy. You do not have to hold onto the baggage of the past anymore as the door to recovery is wide open.