|
Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful method
of psychotherapy. To date, EMDR has helped an estimated
two million people of all ages relieve many types of
psychological types of psychological distress.
What Kind of
Problems can EMDR Treat?
Scientific research has established
EMDR as effective for post traumatic stress. However, clinicians have
reported success using EMDR for numerous conditions. Renee
primarily uses EMDR to treat post traumatic stress,
sexual/physical abuse, disturbing memories, depression and
anxiety problems related to unresolved trauma. She utilizes
other therapeutic approaches in addition to EMDR to
compliment and supplement EMDR treatment. She will exclude
the use of EMDR if it isn't the best fit for the presented
problem(s) or client
How Does EMDR work?
No one knows how any form of
psychotherapy works neurobiologically or in the brain.
However, we do know that when a person is very upset, their
brain cannot process information as it does ordinarily. One
moment becomes "frozen in time," and remembering a trauma
may feel as bad as going through it the first time because
the images, sounds, smells, and feelings haven’t changed.
Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes
with the way a person sees the world and the way they relate
to other people.
EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain
processes information. Normal information processing is
resumed, so following a successful EMDR session, a person no
longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when the
event is brought to mind. You still remember what happened,
but it is less upsetting. Many types of therapy have similar
goals. However, EMDR appears to be similar to what occurs
naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
Therefore, EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically based
therapy that helps a person see disturbing material in a new
and less distressing way.
How Long Does EMDR Take?
One or more sessions are required for
the therapist to understand the nature of the problem and to
decide whether EMDR is an appropriate treatment. The
therapist will also discuss EMDR more fully and provide an
opportunity to answer questions about the method. Once
therapist and client have agreed that EMDR is appropriate
for a specific problem, the actual EMDR therapy may begin.
A typical EMDR session lasts from 60 to 90 minutes. The type
of problem, life circumstances, and the amount of previous
trauma will determine how many treatment sessions are
necessary. EMDR may be used within a standard "talking"
therapy, as an adjunctive therapy with a separate therapist,
or as a treatment all by itself.
information about EMDR on
this page provided by the
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
back to top |
