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EMDR

  • What is EMDR?

  • What types of situations can EMDR help?

  • How is EMDR different from other forms of therapy, hypnosis or coaching?

  • Why Eye Movements or Bilateral Stimulation?

  • How effective is EMDR?

  • How does EMDR work?

  • What happens during an EMDR session?

  • How many sessions will I need?

  • What are the benefits and advantages of EMDR?

  • How do I know if EMDR is right for me?


    • What is EMDR?

     EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is a brain based approach to adapting or reprocessing information (images, thoughts, emotions, physical sensations) that have gotten stored in your brain in a way that causes you problems in terms of how you think and feel about yourself in certain situations and how you relate to others or behave in certain situations.

    EMDR is a physiologically based approach to psychotherapy and performance enhancement that facilitates the processing of images, thoughts, emotions and physical sensations by engaging the right and left hemispheres of the brain while you are fully awake and thinking about an issue.

    What types of situations can EMDR help?
  • Anxiety
    		•
  • Rejection, Loss
    		•
  • Panic Attacks
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  • Criticism, Embarrassment
    		•
  • Phobias
    		•
  • Upsetting memories
    		•
  • Performance Enhancement
    		•
  • Recurring bad dreams
    		•
  • Self-doubt, Inner Critic
    		•
  • Body image issues
    		•
  • Childhood Trauma and PTSD     
    		•
  • Relationship problems
    		•

    How is EMDR different from other forms of therapy, hypnosis or coaching?

     An EMDR therapist’s orientation is to look at how memories of experiences from childhood and more recently are contributing to present day problems. EMDR is a standardized protocol that integrates elements of psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and client centered therapy. It works much faster than other forms of therapy or coaching, because it engages your brain’s natural abilities to process information and it targets all aspects of a memory or situation - - images, thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and meaning you associate with the event.

    EMDR is not like hypnosis. The client is not in a trance like state and the EMDR therapist is not suggesting anything to direct the client's processing. EMDR does not make you forget a memory and does not create false memories. When you have finished processing a targeted memory, you will still remember all the details of the memory, but it won’t be as emotionally distressing. When you think about the memory or a related future event, you will not associate it negative beliefs about yourself.

    Why Eye Movements or Bilateral Stimulation?

     Bilateral stimulation (right-left movements) of the brain hemispheres accelerates your ability to move information through the brain to process and resolve memories of disturbing events and negative beliefs about oneself that contribute to present day problems. There are various ways we can engage the information processing power of the right and left hemispheres of the brain: moving your eyes back and forth from right to left, or listening to an audio tone that alternates in your right and left ear, or alternating physical taps in your right and left hand. Clients choose the method of bilateral stimulation that is most comfortable for them.

    How effective is EMDR?

     EMDR has been extensively researched since it was developed in 1987. It has been found to be the most effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. It is estimated that over 2 million people have reduced their psychological distress and enhanced their performance through the use of EMDR.

    As with all forms of therapy, the client-therapist relationship plays an important role in the effectiveness of the work. EMDR can only be provided by licensed therapists who have completed specialized training offered through The EMDR Institute and approved by The EMDR International Association.

    For research, articles and more information on EMDR, go to:
    www.emdr.com
    www.emdria.org
    www.sandiegoemdr.com
    www.emdrtherapistnetwork.com

    How does EMDR work?

     EMDR appears to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information. We know that when we are in the middle of a stressful or upsetting event, our brain cannot process information the way it ordinarily does. As a result the thoughts, emotions and physical sensations we experienced during the upsetting event get stuck or frozen in our brain. These stuck experiences influence how we perceive ourselves, the world and how we interact with others.

    The bilateral stimulation process used during EMDR helps the information get unstuck and helps the client connect that information with other information in the brain so the information is stored in a way that is more helpful to the client. As the information is processed, the memory becomes less upsetting and the client is able to have more positive beliefs about one's self. The client retains the memory of the disturbing event, but it no longer has the same emotional charge and it is much less likely to get activated during present day events.

    During an EMDR session, a client may experience intense emotions, but by the end of the session, most people report feeling less distress and feeling more confident and comfortable with who they are and how to handle future situations that in the past were stressful or anxiety provoking.

    What happens during an EMDR session?

    During an EMDR session, the client begins by thinking about the memory of an upsetting event and the negative belief about oneself associated with that memory, and then from that starting point the client just lets their mind wander and periodically briefly shares with the therapist whatever images, thoughts, feelings or physical sensations the client is experiencing. The therapist is monitoring the process to insure that the processing is moving forward and to determine when it is completed.

    To facilitate and accelerate the processing of this information, we engage the right and left hemispheres of the brain with alternating eye movements or audio tones. I do this by having the client look at a dot of light moving from right to left across a bar or the client wears an audio headset with a tone that alternates in the right and left ear. Eye movements or alternating audio are effective means of activating the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This alternating movement, called bilateral stimulation, is what facilitates the movement of information in the brain, so the information is adapted and stored in a way that helps the client rather than causing distress or negative associations. A typical EMDR session is 90 minutes.

    How many sessions will I need?

     The standard EMDR protocol is an eight step process that includes: goal setting, history taking, identification of associated memories and beliefs contributing to present day problems, strengthening of positive beliefs about one’s self using EMDR, processing of selected past, present and future scenarios using EMDR, talk therapy around insights and issues that arise during processing and between sessions, completion, and follow-up. As with any form of therapy, the relationship between the client and therapist plays an important role in the effectiveness of the work. It is important that we have several sessions prior to the actual EMDR session to clearly define the problem, plan the work and develop a rapport and relationship where you feel comfortable.

    What are the benefits and advantages of EMDR?
  • EMDR reduces anxiety, generates insights, resolves problems and    increases feelings of well-being much faster than traditional talk therapy    or executive coaching.


  • EMDR works on the images, thoughts, emotions, physical sensations and    meaning associated with a past, present or future event.


  • EMDR helps a client access and process their thoughts and feelings    without having to discuss the upsetting event in great detail with the   therapist.


  • EMDR is client centered and the client is completely in control.    Throughout the EMDR process, the client is completely awake, and    therapist is not making any suggestions or directing your thoughts.    EMDR processing relies on your own beliefs, values and thoughts about a    situation. It will not change any information that you want to hold on to    or that serves you well.


  • EMDR is a drug-free approach that relies on the brain’s natural healing    abilities.


    • How do I know if EMDR is right for me?

    I’ll be happy to discuss your situation and questions by phone prior to you scheduling an appointment. Just give me a call at 770-310-9305 or email me at     kalpana@genuineconnection.com.


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