Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched and effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences.
EMDR therapy works to connect the memory to what’s called the “adaptive neural network.” Because traumatic memories are stored in their own encapsulated neural networks in the brain, these memories become “stuck”, resulting in high levels of anxiety, fear, and distress when the memory becomes triggered. Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.”
Fortunately, our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, other times they cannot be effectively processed without help.
EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The memories don’t go away, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved. This helps the memory become part of a narrative memory with less visceral activation and power over someone’s system.
How is EMDR therapy different?
EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. Rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, EMDR therapy allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. Most clients complete EMDR therapy in fewer sessions that other psychotherapies.
Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?
EMDR therapy can help children and adults of all ages. Therapists use EMDR therapy to address a wide range of challenges, including (but not limited to):
Anxiety + phobias
Chronic pain
Depression
Dissociative disorders
Eating disorders
Grief/loss
PTSD/trauma
Sexual assault
Sleep disturbance
Substance abuse + addiction
Violence + abuse
Visit our Meet the Team page to learn who on our team offers EMDR therapy.
Learn about EMDR Intensives.
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