EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)

Why eye movements?

Eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation seem to activate your problem solving process, something that happens during REM sleep when your eyes are darting back and forth. By focusing on a specific problem, and both its negative and positive emotions, sensations and beliefs, then adding bilateral stimulation, your brain begins problem solving. Since you are focused on the specific problem, your brain is able to work through it more effectively than if it randomly comes up while you are sleeping. (Kiessling, 2019)

How does this help?

When trauma happens, the results (painful memories or negative beliefs about ourselves) get stuck in our body, heart and mind. Memories can get stuck through images, negative beliefs, sensations in our body, sounds, smells or emotions. Sometimes something in the present day happens that reminds us of the traumatic/painful experience (This is a trauma trigger.) and our body reacts as though the trauma/painful experience is happening “all over again.”

We may feel at the mercy of these trauma responses and have difficulty getting them under control. We may be flooded with an emotion/feeling, negative reaction or body sensation that can last hours, days or weeks.

Over the last 18 years as a counselor, I’ve noticed themes surfacing over and over:  

• feeling abandoned or rejected

• feeling worthless or not good enough

• feeling unlovable or unworthy of love

• feeling helpless or the need to be in control

These themes can be tied to past or current painful events. By focusing on these memories, coupled with eye movements, it activates our brain to begin a problem-solving process. Traumatic and highly painful events become less and less vivid and less emotionally upsetting.

Who does this help?

Individuals who have experienced or are suffering from:

• PTSD

• Trauma

• Anxiety

• Addictions

• Spiritual Abuse

• Racial Trauma

• Accidents

• Sexual Assault

• Abuse (Physical, Sexual, Emotional)

• Low Self-Esteem

• Depression

• Grief & Loss (reducing the trauma surrounding the loss)

For more information on EMDR, please watch this informational video, read the FAQ’s or contact me with further questions.