Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
EMDR, as with most therapy approaches, focuses on the individual's present concerns. The EMDR approach believes past emotionally-charged experiences are overly influencing your current emotions, sensations, and thoughts about yourself. EMDR processing helps you break through the emotional blocks that are keeping you from living a healthy life. Using rapid sets of eye movements enables you to update disturbing experiences, much like what occurs when we sleep. During sleep, we alternate between regular sleep and REM (rapid eye movement). This sleep pattern helps you process things that are troubling you. EMDR replicates this sleeping pattern by alternating between sets of eye movements and brief reports of what you notice. This alternating process helps you update your memories to a healthier present perspective.
The EMDR session
You will be asked a set of questions to access and activate the negative experience and the desired adaptive resolution.
Sets of rapid eye movement (or other forms of bilateral stimulation) will be applied
You will be encouraged to think/feel freely and allow the brain to work through the experience
Sets of eye movements will be alternated with brief reports about what your are experiencing.
EMDR process will continue until the past experience has been updated to a present perspective.
Will I get emotional?
Yes, you may. Emotions and sensations may come up during processing; although, you will be prepared and I will help you safely manage them. Once they are processed, they rarely come back!
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No. During EMDR processing, you are present and fully in control.
Is EMDR a brief treatment?