EMDR

Why can’t I simply get past this?

One minute, you’re at work, deeply involved in a project – the next, you’re shutting down in panic and fear.

You’re hesitant to go out with friends because the flashbacks could come, and there you are, in front of everyone, letting it get the best of your emotions, your self-control, and even your gut.

Sometimes, all you want to do is crawl into bed and sleep – if only you could. When rest does come knocking at your door, he’s not doing you any favors, either. One by one come the nightmares. You wake up, jaw clenched, an oppressive heaviness in your chest, body covered with sweat.

You’ve always been able to handle anything, but this is different. It refuses to go away, and you wonder if you’ll ever get over it.

But there’s hope. And you can. Through EMDR.

Most of the time, your body can manage new information and experiences without ever being aware of it.

However, if you’re traumatized by an overwhelming event (e.g., a car accident) or by being repeatedly subjected to distress (e.g., childhood neglect), your natural coping mechanism can become overloaded.

Any experience similar to your past trauma can trigger your limbic system. But EMDR can help to reprogram the way your brain works to process these memories.

EMDR is an evidence-based modality of therapy that helps create connections among your brain’s memory networks, enabling your mind to process the memory very naturally. EMDR can help you cope successfully with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, phobias, and even grief and depression.

Why EMDR?

It opens a window to your brain.

When you’ve suffered something so traumatic that your brain simply cannot process it, your memory becomes overloaded.

When this happens, your brain may freeze or cannot process the disturbing experiences. Such unprocessed memories and feelings are stored in your brain’s limbic system in a “raw” and emotional form, rather than in a verbal “story” mode.

All that it takes is something as small or simple as a bodily sensation, emotion, negative belief, or a single image, sound, smell, or taste to “trigger” these negative experiences.

During trauma, our brain processes and stores memories incorrectly.

This incorrect storage can lead to memories feeling very present.

EMDR therapy corrects this mis-storage so that the painful memories associated with the trauma lose their charge. The client can react to stimuli in the present without the past interfering.

Strange, but it works.

Most people say this very thing after a session of EMDR. And I get you.

Everything about it seems strange.

After my own experience using EMDR, I can tell you it’s NOT voodoo – it truly can lead to transformative change.

Will I remain in control during EMDR?

Yes. You will remain in control, fully alert, and wide-awake.

Throughout the session, I will support and facilitate your self-healing and intervene as little as possible.

People usually experience reprocessing spontaneously and feel new connections and insights arising quite naturally from within. As a result, most people experience EMDR as very empowering therapy.

Is it for me?

EMDR is excellent for you if you have supports in your life, when your environment is stable (meaning not worried about food, shelter, or survival), and when you can move from an activated emotional state (like anger or fear) to a more regulated state (soothed).

If you’d like to know more or ask questions about your specific situation, reach out.

I’d love to help you reclaim control over your life. Call me at (806) 450-1699.