EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful therapy approach that can help treat trauma, anxiety, depression, and even chronic pain. The method works by reprocessing distressing images, thoughts, feelings, and body sensations so they no longer negatively impact you.
The process relies on dual awareness, in which you remain aware of the safety and connection of your present moment in therapy, while simultaneously addressing past trauma or struggles. You can think of this as having one foot in the present and one foot in the past.
What is Bilateral Stimulation?
Bilateral stimulation (BLS) is the key to this process. It may look like rapid eye movements or physically tapping on your arms or legs while listening to audio cues to activate both sides of your brain as well during therapy.
Traditionally, EMDR therapy has been applied to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from traumatic events such as sexual assault, auto accidents, or combat experiences. More recently, EMDR therapy has been adapted for application to a wide range of diagnoses and conditions like anxiety, depression, chronic pain, eating disorders, and addictions.
How Does EMDR Treatment Work?
We all have negative thoughts and feelings that may appear in our present life, usually from unprocessed past experiences. Even if you haven't experienced a traumatic event, EMDR can help you process "sticky" or "unprocessed" things that still impact you to this day, so you can show up as your most regulated, authentic adult self. Everyone can benefit from this trauma-informed and safe approach to healing.
EMDR can help you feel not only neutral toward the disturbing event in your life but also positive, with new insights with an increased sense of resolution. Rather than talking about the event or your struggles over and over again in therapy sessions, EMDR allows your brain and body to process your feelings and memories in a safe way without needing to verbalize every detail. This allows you to go deeper than traditional talk therapy.
What Are Therapy Sessions Like?
Often, people who request EMDR counseling want to jump directly into the “big stuff” or the traumatic event they understandably want to be free from right away. Healing trauma however takes time, and for change to be effective, it’s imperative to move through each step. Additionally, EMDR does not require that you tell the trauma story if you don’t want to; instead, you visualize the trauma and track your bodily sensations, thoughts, and images.
EMDR relies on eight phases of treatment. Each phase in the process provides benchmarks for success where you can see tangible changes in your life from the first session on.
Eight Phases of EMDR Treatment
Phase 1 is History taking and treatment planning. During this phase, we will get to know your past and help you get comfortable with the EMDR process and with your counselor.
Phase 2 is Preparation when you’ll learn the resources and mental skills to help react and manage triggers outside of therapy sessions.
Phase 3 is Assessment when we look for a “cluster” of memories to focus on, all with a similar negative core belief. Each memory will become a “target” that you’ll work on in the desensitization phase of therapy.
Phase 4 is Desensitization when you’ll reprocess those “target” memories. You’ll be asked to recall the memory using bilateral stimulation (BLS). You’ll experience BLS for about 30 seconds, followed by a brief reflection on what just happened. We repeat this process until the memory in question is no longer dysregulating.
Phase 5 is Installation when you’ll have the chance to “install” a belief about yourself and the situation that is more positive and not dysregulating.
Phase 6 is called Body scan, during which you’ll think of the incident and the positive belief developed during the installation phase. You’ll check your body’s physiological responses to see if feelings of stress or discomfort remain.
Phase 7 is Closure when we’ll make sure you are regulated to move out into the world and take time to notice a sense of completion around an event that once disturbed you and is no longer distressing.
Phase 8 is Reevaluation when you’ll evaluate the reprocessing and assess if there are any issues left to tackle.
EMDR Resources
During the preparation phase of EMDR, you will get the chance to develop “resources” with your counselor that will help you handle the frightening and sometimes overwhelming emotions you may experience.
These resources include deciding what a “safe place” looks like for you, where your body and mind can feel at ease and relaxed should you need it. The process of containment is another resource that enables you to keep your memories sort of “boxed” in mentally, so you can keep them there when you are not actively engaged in processing them.
Other resources provide support that helps calm and nurture you during the therapy process which can have life-long benefits as well. Over time, you will be able to develop an increased window of tolerance, which is the ability to stay with distress without it holding you back from living your life.
EMDR Works In Conjunction With Other Therapeutic Modalities
In addition to the eight phases of the process, your EMDR therapist will often utilize other modalities that include:
● Somatic Therapy - the study of the interactions among brain, mind, body, and behavior, and how these interactions impact psychological and physical health.
● Mindfulness-based therapy – an approach that promotes mindful awareness of the body while emphasizing an attitude of non-judgment and curiosity.
● Polyvagal Theory - rooted in an understanding of the autonomic nervous system, this model helps clients understand that physiological responses often determine behaviors and emotional experiences, especially those related to trauma.
At Third Nature Therapy, we are a virtual-only EMDR practice. The only difference with EMDR online is the method of bilateral stimulation (BLS), which your EMDR therapist has several options to try out to see what works best for you. The structured approach of EMDR allows clients to feel safe to move into painful memories with confidence that they'll be able to help themselves and regulate with my support if the experience becomes too big or too much.
Clients began to make changes in their lives that they didn't think were possible, all the while having a neutral or even positive relationship with difficult memories of the past. We highly recommend EMDR treatment and look forward to seeing the benefits it will have for you.
Get In Touch To Discuss EMDR With Third Nature Therapy
Given how EMDR can help with so many challenges like anxiety, depression, and trauma, it could be an incredibly powerful aspect of your counseling journey that can bring life-long changes. Reach out to Third Nature Therapy via our contact form for a free, 15-minute phone consultation to discuss our therapeutic offerings and the benefits of EMDR.
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Julie Goldberg
FOUNDER & EMDR THERAPIST
Our Rates
While we don’t accept insurance in our practice, we do offer Superbills to all clients, which they can submit to insurance for out-of-network reimbursement.
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You Can Cultivate A More Peaceful And Mindful Life
If you are looking for empathy and support in moving through the aftereffects of trauma, Third Nature Therapy can help you connect with your most authentic self and find a whole new perspective on well-being.
Please call us at 720-689-2706, utilize our contact page to set up a complimentary 15-minute consultation session and begin your healing journey.