EMDR Therapy

You still can’t believe it happened.

You weren’t expecting it. That car accident, loss of a loved one, sexual assault, unexpected health issues.

Now certain thoughts and memories play on repeat. You wish you could forget and get over it.

It’s changed you from a being a happy-go-lucky person to an overly cautious version of yourself. You feel ashamed that it still bothers you.

Sometimes you think to yourself, “What’s wrong with me?” Other times you just feel numb. It’s hard to imagine that there’s a way through it all.

It’s hard to know where to turn when a sudden change happens in our lives.

All you want is to feel a little relief and hope again.

Healing is possible. EMDR therapy can help. It’s a specialized type of therapy designed just for dealing with and healing from tough, traumatic life events in a focused manner.

But don’t just take my word for it. EMDR has been widely studied and approved by the Veterans Association (VA), World Health Organization (WHO), and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

How does EMDR work?

EMDR is a brain-based therapy. Which simply means, EMDR therapy focuses on the fact that during and after traumatic events there are changes that have happened in our brain. That’s why the healing process is more complex than just “thinking positive.”

EMDR therapy activates the brain in a way that assists in processing memories, so they don’t have that same stressful “charge” anymore – like panic, flashbacks. Or it can also mean the memory doesn’t completely “depress” you to think about.

Comments from former clients

Here are some examples of the results of EMDR therapy clients have shared with me:

“I know it happened, but it really doesn’t bother me anymore”

“The way I remember what happened feels different… better.” .

“I don’t have to avoid thinking about it anymore… I know and accept what happened. And the best part is, I finally feel good about myself.”

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

The sooner you start working through the difficult experiences, the quicker you’ll experience positive changes within yourself.

The hardest part is just taking the first step of doing something new. Reaching out.

I know that talking about traumatic events is hard. So, our phone call will be short, simple, and easy. That’s why it’s just 15 minutes in length.

Once we meet for your first appointment, we can figure out how EMDR therapy can help and make sure it feels like the best approach for you.

Let’s talk! It’s easy to take the next step. Go ahead and Schedule a Call at a convenient time.

Frequently asked questions about EMDR therapy

How do I know if EMDR is right for me?
During our first few sessions, we’ll talk and figure out if EMDR is right for you. There are many ways we can process through things to help you in reaching your goals. You’ll be an active part of the process in figuring out if it’s a “right fit.”
Ok, that’s good to know. I have a lot of options! But I’d still like to know more about how EMDR works?
EMDR stands for Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. We discuss the course of sessions, the areas which are causing you most distress, and work together to decide which memory to focus on first.

We also identify a negative thought that identifies the way you feel about yourself as you think about the memory, as well as how distressing the memory is to think about, feelings, and where you feel any tension in your body.

As you work through the difficult memory, we use different types of bilateral simulation (moving your eyes back and forth, tapping back and forth). Together, we determine which type or types are most appropriate for you.

Through working on the memory, we’ll continue to track the distress you feel as you think about it. Over time, this distress will decrease significantly.

It’s challenging to summarize the whole EMDR model of therapy in this section. But I’ll add that if you decide to begin EMDR therapy with me, I will direct you to books, pamphlets, and websites to assist you, so you’ll feel well informed about EMDR.

So, what’s the difference between general “therapy” or “talk therapy” and EMDR?
It depends on why you came to therapy and what you feel you’d like to focus on in therapy. The therapy process looks a little bit different for everyone, since it is personalized for you.

In general therapy or “talk therapy,” we’re usually working on a few things at once. For example, we might be talking about your anxiety, but also about your relationships and work stress that contributes to your anxiety. With EMDR, we’re really focused on one event that we determine is contributing to your symptoms.

If I don’t like EMDR, what else can we do to work on difficult life events or trauma?
Great question. I have a lot of experience working with hard and unexpected life situations, often called “trauma.” In addition to EMDR, I utilize talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, guided imagery, internal family systems (IFS) or “parts” work, and attachment theory – all of which, in a nutshell, help to treat traumatic events.

We’ll be working together to make sure therapy feels like a meaningful and valuable process for you.