Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Enhancing The Way We Do Psychotherapy

 

 

 

 

 

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Do you experience the following concerns:

 

• Self-blame, low self-esteem, shame and/or guilt

• Chronic or excessive anger

• Indecisiveness, confusion, difficulty thinking

• Worry, anxiety, obsessive thinking, phobia, shyness, social anxiety 

• Unpleasant feelings, emptiness, mood swings

• Negativity, pessimism, irritability

• Trauma, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, PTSD

• Sexual dysfunction

• Cravings related to addiction (i.e. smoking, alcohol dependence, and other substances)

• Anxiety, panic attacks, depression ​

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If so, EMDR is a powerful short-term therapeutic intervention designed to address the above concerns. If you had talk therapy in the past, and found yourself still "stuck", EMDR may prove beneficial. This form of integrative psychotherapy allows you to stay in control while your brain does the healing.  

 

EMDR is an eight-phase treatment approach (not 8 sessions) that focuses on the past and present experiences, with an emphasis on developing new skills and behaviors for the future. Those with single adult onset trauma can be treated in less than 5 hours; whereas, those with more complex trauma (more than one), may require longer treatment. 

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Eight phases of EMDR​

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Phase 1: Client History and Treatment Planning

Phase 2: Preparation and coping strategies 

Phase 3: Assessment

Phase 4: Desensitization/Reprocessing

Phase 5: Installation

Phase 6: Body Scan

Phase 7: Closure

Phase 8: Reevaluation 

 

Research shows that EMDR is rapid, safe, and effective. It is a simple, non-invasive patient-therapist collaboration in which healing can begin effectively. Remember, you are in control!

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EMDR is safe with children, adolescents, adults, and couples.

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Resources

 

For printable EMDR material click here 

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For more information please visit The EMDR International Association: https://www.emdria.org

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Watch this helpful video from 20/20 about EMDR: https://youtu.be/hYy2NBXkPSo

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Watch this video from Tedx Talks about the efficacy of EMDR: https://youtu.be/lOkSm90f2Do

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