Emdr

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro

 

Did you know that talk therapy doesn’t treat trauma? Due to the fact that unresolved trauma is stored in the deep limbic areas of the brain, when our mouths are moving the prefrontal area of our brain is activated and the deep limbic areas of the brain essentially go offline. The implications of this, are that we as humans are physiologically incapable of talking our way out of our unprocessed trauma memories. Recent advances in neuroscience and brain imaging have conclusively shown this. Instead, we need a therapy that can use words sparingly, while accessing traumatic memories, and while activating the limbic areas of the brain and the body’s stored memory of any given event. That is where EMDR comes in.

 

 “Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts and emotions may create feelings of overwhelm, of being back in the moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR Therapy helps the brain process these memories and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight or freeze response from the original event is resolved”, (emdria.org).

 

EMDR is fast, effective, and long lasting. Its applications go well beyond the realm of trauma and can be used for depression, eating disorders, addictions and current life stressors. EMDR is endorsed by SAMSHA, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Department of Defense and the American Psychiatric Association. 

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