Four of our six therapists over at Core Values Counseling have recently been trained in a mode of therapy called EMDR. EMDR stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing,” and it’s used in therapy to help process trauma. It’s quite a simple process, actually; this article perhaps describes it best:
“In EMDR, a person with trauma — the client — is treated with bilateral sensory input. The goal is to activate both sides of the brain with stimuli, such as side-to-side eye movements or hand tapping. These inputs mimic the rapid-eye-movement stage of sleep.
It takes the whole brain to help people process trauma. Processing allows trauma survivors to learn ways to manage the shutdown that can happen with traumatic memories. What’s more, it helps people learn to develop ways to stay grounded in the present moment, instead of feeling flooded by a body memory. Therefore, it enables someone with trauma to answer “yes” to: Are you safe now?”
In our practice, we’ve seen EMDR used to great success. Our team in particular uses this method combined with attachment therapy, where we explore and heal through your early attachment wounds. We’ve found that when we approach trauma from the point of view of early wounds, it can really unlock a pathway to healing. EMDR serves to open up that process and allow the brain to access healing in spaces that it may be blocking over otherwise — that is a trauma response. It’s our brains trying to protect us. In the trauma experience it does just that; it protects us. But in the healing process it can trip us up more profoundly than we even know. EMDR is a powerful tool to break through those blocks, and we see process made in leaps and bounds faster than standard talk therapy.
If you are feeling the after effects of trauma and would like to try EMDR therapy, contact us today and we’ll get you scheduled with an appointment.
