Specialized EMDR Treatment
EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that goes to the original source of our challenges and heals the body’s reactivity, leading to resolution of present-day triggers and maladaptive coping patterns. This is done with a bilateral stimulation of the brain which helps to move the memory from the limbic system (emotional center of the brain) to pre-frontal cortex (reasoning part of the brain) I use primarily tactile stimulators which are basically buzzers that you hold in your hands while we process painful events. I also have visual and auditory processing available. A light is used for visual processing that you follow with your eyes or headphones that beep in your ears for auditory. This sounds unusual but it is not intrusive or painful. The varying bilateral movements activate both sides of the brain with the buzzing, light, or beeping, and help integrate the painful memories from one part of the brain to the other, resulting in a state of calm in the body.
EMDR is a body therapy that I call “Soul Surgery”. This is not a cognitive, logical process. Our bodies are carrying all of our history and associated beliefs on a tissue/visceral level. This often is the reason for our present-day triggers, chronic depression, anxiety, panic, substance abuse, negative relational patterns, self-esteem, etc. Our past negative experiences shape our coping skills and how we relate to ourselves and the world around us. EMDR helps with integrating the past with the present.
EMDR is a difficult and visceral process that can evoke significant distress in the body as we access past painful memories. When the trauma memory or painful event no longer evokes a negative visceral and emotional reaction, we know it is complete and integrated. Upon completion, most experience a sense of calm or a peaceful feeling and some have extraordinary sense of relief and inner freedom. Sometimes this process takes two hours, but it has gone up to four and longer. During this process the negative belief that was linked with the memory is also transformed. For example, if the original belief linked with the memory was that “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not safe,” by the end of the session the belief has shifted to “I am good enough” or “I am safe.” This is the reason I hold open ended, extended sessions so when patients leave my office their body is at peace, and we don’t have to restart all over the following week.
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What Kind of Problems can EMDR Treat?Scientific research has established EMDR as effective for Post-Traumatic Stress. However, myself and many clinicians in the EMDR community, have successfully used EMDR in treatment of the following conditions: Panic Attacks, Complicated Grief, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Self-Defeating Core Beliefs, Self-Esteem, Self-Worth and Confidence, Dissociative Disorders, Disturbing Memories, Phobias (bridges, crowds, airplanes, medical fears), Pain Disorders, Performance Anxiety, Stress Reduction, Addictions, Sexual and/or Physical Abuse, Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Personality Disorders, Birthing Trauma, etc. Please visit www.emdria.org for more information or contact me for at your convenience.
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Why Go Back to the Past?Most of us don’t like bringing up past negative events and believe we should leave the past in the past and move on. We often feel powerless in making any changes to how we feel about the things that have happened to us or mistakes that we have made. Sometimes we don’t talk about things because they bring up strong and uncomfortable emotions and other times, we have suppressed emotions so much that we believe those events don’t bother us anymore. Often this leads to repetitive emotional and relational patterns in our life that we become frustrated with and struggle to change. There are also self-defeating beliefs that go with these patterns such as “I’m worthless or a failure,” etc. Unaddressed negative past events often lead to self-sabotaging patterns in the present. During the assessment process we link present maladaptive/self-sabotaging behaviors and patterns to their original root cause, which is often during our younger years. These neuronal pathways become well-travelled paths of coping as we age and EMDR assists with deconstructing them. There are reasons why we believe what we believe about ourselves. There are reasons why we have strong emotional and physical reactions to certain things or repeat self- defeating patterns. These reasons become clear in the assessment and reprocessing phase of treatment. Once prepared, we re-process the original memories that have created these patterns in our lives with bilateral stimulation. Upon completion, the things that used to trigger us and lead to over reactions, avoidance, fawning, fighting, fleeing, or freezing responses, no longer evoke the same response.
Please visit www.emdria.org for more information or contact me for at your convenience.