Interested in learning more about EMDR Therapy and its effectiveness? Watch this NBC News report:
EMDR is an acronym for a therapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is a remarkable treatment method used to heal the symptoms of trauma, as well as other conditions like anxiety, panic, grief and has been shown effective in performance enhancement for athletes, entertainers, and business leaders. EMDR best know as a most effective and rapid method for healing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). EMDR Therapy uses bilateral stimulation, like right/left eye movement, tactile stimulation, or sound, which repeatedly activates the opposite sides of the brain to release emotional experiences that are “trapped” in the nervous system. This assists the mind and body in releasing and processing the upsetting memory in a healthier way. EMDR allows a person to process an emotional experience that he/she has difficulty talking about. Most importantly, it can reduce or eliminate current & future distress surrounding the memory of upsetting or traumatic events.
When used in conjunction with other therapy modalities, EMDR helps move a distraught person quickly from emotional distress to peaceful resolution of the issues or events involved. EMDR therapy works especially fast in children and adolescents. It also works remarkably quickly for adults experiencing distress related to a single traumatic incident (accidents, witnessing a death, discovery of infidelity, victim of a crime or natural disaster, medical trauma, etc.). Processing even the most difficult memories can be achieved in a fraction of the time it could take with more traditional therapy.
Traditional therapies might focus on talking about memories and then analyzing their meaning to gain insight into the problem. EMDR clients also acquire valuable insights during therapy, but EMDR can shortcut the process and go right to the releasing stage. The positive, long-term results of EMDR therapy affect all levels of a person’s wellbeing — mental, emotional and physical, so that their responses return to normalcy and health. Studies consistently show that the upsetting memories remain intact, but the negative response to them is neutralized.
I’ve never heard of EMDR — what research is available on this? For a current listing of research on EMDR visit http://www.emdria.org/?page=EMDRResearch.
Additionally, EMDR Therapy is listed in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense Practice Guidelines as “highly recommended” for the treatment of trauma: http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/treatment/therapy-med/emdr-for-ptsd.asp.
EMDR Therapy also has a high level of recommendation by the American Psychiatric Association and by the national mental health departments of Israel, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, and Australia.
Contact me to see if EMDR Therapy might be a good fit for you.