EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987, is a highly sought out

psychotherapy approach used to help treat stress and trauma. 

 

• Focus on traumatic memories: During EMDR, a therapist guides the patient to focus on a specific traumatic memory while simultaneously performing bilateral stimulation, which can be done through eye movements, alternating sounds in each ear, or tapping on opposite sides of the body. 

• Adaptive Information Processing Model: The theory behind EMDR is based on the idea that traumatic memories can become "stuck" in the brain, preventing proper processing and causing distress; EMDR aims to help the brain reprocess these memories and integrate them in a more adaptive way. 

• Eight-phase structure: EMDR therapy typically follows a structured eight-phase process, including taking a history, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation of positive beliefs, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. 

• Widely used for PTSD: While EMDR can be used for various mental health conditions, it is most commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Unlike talk therapy methods, EMDR does not require patients to extensively describe or verbalize their traumatic experiences.
 

​Contact me for a free consultation and I can tell you more about how I practice EMDR and what it can do for you.