Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

You can find healing with this specialized treatment…

EMDR was created to help those suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), grief and loss, or low self-esteem.

Creator Francine Shapiro was walking one day and realized that moving her eyes from side to side reduced the impact of disturbing memories and negative beliefs. She was curious about the phenomena so went on to study it for her doctoral dissertation and developed EMDR. Since then, thousands have been treated and have seen amazing results.

“How does it work?” you ask.

Well, when you come into my office and I take a developmental history of any events that feel disturbing to you, these are the targets. Once we have decided on the targets, we begin to process them, one at a time (not all at once).

I will hand you some tappers that you will place in your hands. These tappers will buzz back and forth (this mimics the eye movement). I will then ask you a series of questions to help recall the memory, and I turn on the tappers. While the tappers are on, you’ll notice that you’re recalling different memories. It’s like watching a movie of your life. Every now and then, you’ll open your eyes and tell me about the story that’s unfolding.

My job is to make sure your story is still connected to the original memory. If it is, you’ll hear me say, “Go with that,” and you’ll keep going. What’s so interesting about the process is that as you watch the story, you’ll start to notice it doesn’t feel quite as disturbing, you’re feeling more empowered, or you realize you’re feeling safe. Exactly how this happens even neurologists can’t explain, but I can tell you after working with dozens of clients, it works.

Suddenly, you’ll notice that the story (or memories) end. Why do they end? Because the memory trail you are on was complete. Then I ask you to go back to the original memory, and you will notice that you can recall the memory without the physical and emotional response. You will be able to look at it, poke it, talk about it, and it will feel as if it’s far away, no longer hiding in the recesses of your mind ready to jump out at any time. And the bonus… it will no longer disturb you in your dreams!

As you do EMDR, you’re awake and in charge, and I am with you on the journey.

Justin* did EMDR to help with trauma from his military service.

He had struggled for several years before finally telling someone that he needed help. When he came to me for treatment, he felt hopeless. I assured him that there was hope, and he could heal.

When Justin came for his sessions, we started off with a “check in” to see how his week went. Then we began the EMDR. I handed Justin some tappers to hold in his hands and asked him to tell me the image that felt disturbing, along with a series of other questions that centered on his emotions, body sensations, and negative beliefs. Then I turned on the tappers. They buzzed in Justin’s hands and went back and forth between his left and right hand. I instructed him to think of the memory and to let whatever happened happen without censoring it.

I sat while Justin processed his memories, tracking his processing to make sure he wasn’t having any problems while processing the memories and that his memories were changing and not repeating.

He opened his eyes when he felt he wanted to talk about what came up for him. During those moments, we stopped and talked about his memories… and then returned to reprocessing.

Justin didn’t understand how it was helping, but he trusted the process and kept moving through. Memory by memory, he processed the emotions, the negative beliefs, and the body sensations until suddenly the memories stopped. He couldn’t think of anything else.

When I checked back in with him on the original memory, Justin stated, “I can’t believe it! For the first time in years, I can look at the memory and it feels far away! I can touch it, think about it, and talk about it without having any reactions!” He smiled with tears of joy rolling down his cheeks.