Our brains have a natural capacity to heal when we have adverse life experiences that cause mental and emotional pain and suffering. However, sometimes when we experience traumatic or disturbing events, these experiences get stuck and the brain is not able to fully process the experiences. This results in the old experiences causing present-day problems. EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, can help the brain get unstuck and access it’s natural capacity to heal.
How does it actually work?
EMDR is a powerful treatment approach for a variety of problems. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones) to accelerate the brain’s natural capacity to process and heal past experiences that contribute to present-day pain and suffering.
Bilateral stimulation has a natural calming effect on the brain and body and gets the two sides of the brain communicating in a way that allows for adaptive reprocessing of old images, emotions, negative beliefs, and bodily sensations. Once this reprocessing occurs, the old experiences no longer impinge on and disrupt the present.
In addition to healing from past experiences, EMDR also helps people cope more effectively with current issues and can equip people with more adaptive strategies for handling future challenges.
Scientific research has demonstrated that EMDR is an effective approach for the treatment of many issues including trauma, anxiety, depression, childhood abuse, addiction, complicated grief, stress reduction, and performance anxiety.
To learn more about EMDR and find out if it’s right for you, please contact me.
Resources
- EMDR Institute (www.emdr.com)
- EMDR International Association (www.emdria.org)
- EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (www.emdrhap.org)
- Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy, by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.