EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is one of the most researched forms of therapy in the entire world and has been shown to be evidenced-based in the treatment of trauma and other clinical presentations. EMDR adheres to a structured protocol designed to target various regions of the brain where trauma may be stored. The aim is to facilitate adaptive processing, leading to a diminished sense of distress associated with the traumatic event. This process is facilitated through various types of dual-attention stimuli or bilateral stimulation of the brain. EMDR has also been shown to be effective through virtual means and there are many options to adapt this powerful therapy virtually.
Our bodies have an innate ability to heal and work through trauma.
Similar to the innate healing process of our bodies, where cuts mend without explicit instructions, EMDR operates on the principle that our minds and nervous systems possess self-healing capabilities when unobstructed. EMDR aims to tap into these inherent capacities, facilitating the natural processing of traumatic experiences within the body and nervous system.
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EMDR and hypnosis are very different. EMDR does not involve a state of hypnotic induction or trance and clients engaging in EMDR are not sensitive to any hypnotic suggestion. There has also been documented brain imaging that has shown there are different areas of activation in the brain during EMDR vs. hypnosis.
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EMDR works off of the principle of Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) which believes that the mind has self-healing capacities much like the body. Through the process of accessing multiple parts of the brain that hold various aspects of trauma combined with dual-attention stimuli and/or bilateral stimulation, the AIP system is able to metabolize and reprocess traumatic experiences and reduce the distress associated with the traumatic event.
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First, we'll revisit the coping strategies and resources you've previously learned. Then, we'll collaboratively choose a specific memory or event to focus on and assess different elements of that target. Afterward, you'll concentrate on aspects of the target while engaging in dual-attention stimuli, allowing you to freely associate and observe any emerging changes or new insights during the activation of your adaptive information processing system.