What is EMDR for?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy that helps you heal from the emotional distress that may linger after experiencing a painful life event. These events, whether big or small, can leave you feeling anxious, unsure of yourself, depressed, or powerless. And, traumatic events can contribute to harmful self-beliefs, insecurities, and feelings of unworthiness. If your days and nights are affected by these stifling feelings, working with an EMDR therapist may be beneficial for you. EMDR therapy can help you live your life more fully by desensitizing the sting left by unresolved emotional wounds.
EMDR Heals the Brain from Trauma
Research shows that the human nervous system can heal from psychological trauma with EMDR therapy much like the body heals itself from physical trauma. When you scrape your knee, your body naturally works to repair the wound. However, if you keep getting injured in the same spot or something irritates the wound, the healing process is blocked and you continue to feel pain. Once the block is removed, healing can resume. With EMDR therapy, a similar series of events occurs for mental and emotional healing.
Our brains are designed to naturally move towards emotional wellness. However, if the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound is unable to heal. This results in the distress you may feel after a traumatic or disturbing event. Once EMDR therapy helps remove the emotional block, your brain will resume healing. Subsequently, symptoms of trauma can decrease.
EMDR Therapy is Effective
Studies show that EMDR can speed up the therapeutic process. This means that EMDR therapy can give you emotional relief quicker than traditional talk therapy. EMDR therapy is a highly effective, specialized approach. One reason EMDR is so effective is because of its ability to help you get to the root of your current issue. Further, another reason it is so effective is due to its lasting results.
What are Symptoms of Trauma?
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Obsessive thinking
Irritability
General uneasiness
Numbness
What Happens During EMDR?
The first step of EMDR therapy is for you and your therapist to discuss if it is a good fit for you. Once this is decided, your therapist will teach you grounding techniques to use if uncomfortable emotions arise as your memories are further explored. These grounding techniques act as mental exercises you can do to feel safe in case this happens.
Once this foundation is set, you will be asked to focus on a specific life event that continues to hold a disturbing emotional charge for you. While you focus on the upsetting event, you will also be watching your therapist. They will begin helping your eyes make sets of side-to-side eye movements. Or, they may use sounds or taps. You can discuss whichever technique feels most comfortable to you with your therapist.
What is the Result of EMDR Therapy?
During this process, you may experience shifts in insight or changes in images, feelings, or beliefs about the event. After each set of back and forth movements, your therapist will ask for a snippet of what came to mind for you. Then, you can discuss further if you'd like, or continue working through the memory. If you choose to continue, the sets will be repeated until the memory and corresponding negative beliefs become less disturbing. Above all, it is important that you know you will always have full control to stop the EMDR process at any point.
It is known that “the past affects the present even without our being aware of it.” So, EMDR therapy doesn’t stop at processing old memories. The next step is to use the same techniques to address your present challenges. This can help you grow into your future desired state. The goal of EMDR therapy is to address the entire mental wellbeing in order to allow for emotional healing for the past, the present, and the future.
Begin EMDR Therapy in San Luis Obispo, CA
You deserve to heal from the past and thrive in your future. I would be honored to be a part of your journey. To get started at Hope Harmony Healing Therapy Services, follow the steps below:
Fill out the contact form for a free consultation call.
Get in contact with Vanessa and chat about your counseling goals.
Begin EMDR therapy and working toward your future.
Not only do I provide EMDR therapy to help you heal from trauma, but I also offer Personalized Therapy for your other mental health needs.