Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Memories are standing in your way.
There are two kinds of trauma that can get recorded in our brains and bodies. One is a single event trauma. These are what most people think of as traumatic experiences. For example, being present for a disaster like a hurricane or flood, experiencing a violent act like a robbery or rape, or witnessing a friend being harmed in some way. Police officers, soldiers, and first responders, as well as a lot of other professions, experience these kinds of scenes all the time.
The second kind of trauma are little events that add up over time. These kinds of things are usually very specific to the person and become represented in our memories. An individual who has a belief that they are not valuable in this world may hold a number of memories that, in some way or another, confirm that belief.
No matter which kind you are experiencing, EMDR may be an approach that can help.
Charles was one such case
He had been to therapy for years and nothing seemed to help. He had experienced a traumatic event while serving in Iraq. He had trouble even talking about the event itself and usually after a couple of months of treatment with a therapist he would begin to feel hopeless and give up.
It didn’t help that he was addicted to alcohol. He often wondered if he would just have to accept that he felt that way. He also wondered about ending his life.
It took everything Jessica had in her to get herself out of bed in the morning.
It’s not that Jessica was even that tired. She had no energy left in her – and no will to move around. It felt like there was no point anymore.
She had a good-paying job, a long-term relationship with a good partner, and children she loved. Yet, she still felt incomplete, hopeless, and even shameful at times.
Jessica tried going to the doctor, who gave her one medication after the other. Some medicines helped a little, but they didn’t meet the deeper need. Little experiences had built up over time. She needed something more than a pill.
At first, therapy was just about coping.
Charles learned some skills for relaxation and how to interrupt his brain’s incessant spinning. He found new ways to keep from drifting into disaster thinking.
Jessica learned ways to increase her energy, improve her focus, and remind herself of who she wants to be for herself and as a mother and partner.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing. It uses bilateral stimulation to trigger the brain’s natural healing processes that normally take place during REM sleep.
Charles discovered trauma and patterns in his life that made his anxiety worse over time. He began a course of EMDR treatment and worked really hard to build his own resources for managing distress. Over time, he began to notice a difference. His brain was helping him to reprocess difficult memories so that he could experience them differently when he recalled them.
Jessica uncovered a set of experiences that reinforced the belief that she is not worthy of happiness. Through EMDR, she was able to reprocess many memories. Her self worth changed dramatically.
A more satisfying life is only a phone call away.
These are just a couple of examples of persons who have benefitted from this type of therapy.
There is no reason to continue living with negative beliefs about yourself. Help is available!
It’s time to rewrite your story and live your life more fully than you ever thought possible.
Click here to set up a free consultation!
*Names and details changed to protect client confidentiality.