What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
Video provided Courtesy of EMDR International Association
EMDR can effectively treat:
• Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
• Chronic illness and medical issues
• Depression and bipolar disorders
• Eating disorders
• Grief and loss
• Pain
• Psychosis
• PTSD/CPTSD
• Sleep disturbance
• Sexual assault
• Substance abuse and addiction
• Violence and abuse
How does EMDR work?
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, others may not be processed without help. Stress responses are our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create feelings of overwhelm, of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.
EMDR International Association: (2022). EMDR THERAPY for Adults [Brochure].
Video provided Courtesy of EMDR International Association
Additional EMDR Resources:
You can learn more about EMDR and the 8 phases here:
EMDR International Association - About EMDR
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