Supporting the nervous system to process and recover from trauma, distress and pain
Traumatic and stressful experiences get stored in both the body and brain.
EMDR (short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one way of accessing and supporting the brain and body to process and move on from difficult memories, images, thoughts, emotions and body sensations.
EMDR can be beneficial for people dealing with:
trauma: childhood trauma, violence, accidents or loss
anxiety and depression symptoms
chronic pain/illness
distressing life experiences
and more
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR is a a structured therapy that guides clinicians and clients through the process of building resources and skills to support regulation and function, as well as accessing and processing memories and formulating steps forward for the future.
Unlike some other talk therapies, EMDR does not require a lot of talking in order to be effective. This can make it more accessible to people who don’t want to discuss details or may have difficulty with language barriers.
EMDR is an evidenced based approach which has been highly researched and recommended as a therapeutic approach to support people dealing with trauma by prominent organizations such as the World Health Organization and many health care practitioners.
A key component of EMDR is the use of bilateral stimulation of the body or BLS which has been found to accelerate skill building and reprocessing. (Bilateral simply means two sides. In this case the two sides are the left and right side of your body.) Originally, this BLS was done via eye movements, hence the reference to Eye Movement in the first two letters of the EMDR therapy name. However, BLS can also include sounds, light tapping, or holding special EMDR buzzies on the right and left side of the body at a set speed. Working out what feels most comfortable for you is an important part of EMDR therapy.
EMDR reprocessing works through intentionally accessing a distressing or traumatic experience with a trained therapist to support your safety while simultaneously engaging in stimulation of the left and right side of the brain.
What does EMDR therapy look like?
While EMDR is a structured therapy, it will be delivered at a pace that is tailored to meet your needs and life circumstances.
The bilateral stimulation (stimulation of the right and left side of the brain/body) is an important part of EMDR therapy and we’ll work together to determine the best method of stimulation for you. This can be through sound, tapping your body, eye movement. All of which can be done online!
I’ll work with you collaboratively to develop a plan, build resources and skills to support you to process trauma or distress in session and function more fully in your every day life.