WHAT IS EMDR AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy?
EMDR is a psychotherapy modality that empowers individuals to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are a result of debilitating life experiences. It is a therapeutic approach proven by research designed to treat PTSD among other mental health problems. EMDR, likewise with most treatment approaches, centers around the individual's present concerns. The EMDR approach proposes that emotionally charged encounters in the past could significantly influence your present feelings, sensations, and cognitions.
The objective of EMDR is to accomplish the most significant and far-reaching treatment impacts conceivable in the smallest timeframe while protecting the client’s stability within a balanced framework. EMDR processing helps you break through the emotional blocks that are causing a hindrance from living an adaptive, emotionally healthy life.
How is EMDR therapy different?
EMDR centers on the brain’s capacity to invariably learn, taking past encounters, and refreshing them with present data. Robust learning is constantly refreshing memory network systems and past emotional experiences usually interfere with your updating process. EMDR breaks through this interference and helps let go of the past by restoring healthier present experiences. It utilizes a set of procedures to regulate your negative and positive emotions as well as your thoughts and then uses rapid sets of eye movements or alternate tapping as a method to help you work through those disturbing memories.
The treatment process
During EMDR processing, the client is in full control. Emotions and sensations may come up during processing; although, you will be prepared and your therapist will help you safely manage them. The therapist also helps you to understand the complexities of your present concerns and how to adaptively manage them. The length of the EMDR treatment varies upon the complexity of the problems. During the EMDR session, you are asked a series of questions to access and activate the negative experience and the desired adaptive resolution. Sets of rapid eye movements are applied and the client is asked to freely associate and permit the brain to work through the experience. Sets of eye movements are interspersed with brief reports regarding what you are experiencing. The EMDR processing continues until the past memories are updated with an adaptive present perspective. Once the unpleasant memories have been updated, you and your therapist will work together to assimilate these new insights into your daily life.
The treatment approach comprises of eight distinct phases that begin with the therapist’s initial contact with the client. These include taking a thorough client history, preparing the client for the EMDR Therapy process, setting up the protocol, desensitizing and reprocessing the trauma, installing a positive cognition (PC), doing a body scan to check for residual trauma, closing down a session, and re-evaluating the status of a trauma.
EMDR therapy is viewed as a safe treatment approach with no side effects. Clients conclude that EMDR therapy leaves them feeling empowered by the very experiences that once degraded them.
BENEFITS OF EMDR
EMDR is effective for individuals struggling with past memories and experiences such as Sexual Abuse, Combat Experiences, Physical Assault, Car Accidents, Sudden Death of a loved one, PTSD and other life experiences.
EMDR is used to help individuals struggling with:
PTSD
Depression
Anxiety
Panic Attacks
Eating Disorders
Addictions
If you think EMDR therapy is right for you, contact Vaughan Counselling and Psychotherapy at 647-267-9853 to make an appointment with our licensed EMDR therapist.