EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

Recognized by the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association, EMDR has helped millions of people worldwide find lasting relief where other treatments have fallen short.

The Science behind EMDR

The mind can often heal itself naturally, in the same way the body does. Much of this natural coping mechanism occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Dr. Francine Shapiro developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 1987, utilizing this natural process in order to successfully treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since then, EMDR has been used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health problems.

Our bodies, specifically our nervous system is naturally built to respond to stressful situations by way of fight, flight, or freeze instincts. Our brain also has an information processing system, that essentially digests, discards and stores what is “adaptable” information in the memory system - more often than not this system gets blocked when a traumatic or adverse event occurs. When "stuck", these events can get locked in the brain with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings and body sensations. Whenever a reminder of the traumatic or adverse event comes up, those pictures, thoughts, feelings, and sensations can continue to be triggered.

According to Dr. Shapiro, many emotional problems and disorders are manifestations of these unprocessed trauma memories that are stored in the brain. EMDR therapy works by helping the brain reprocess these traumatic memories, and as a result alleviate and often heal emotional and psychological disorders.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR utilizes the natural healing ability of your body. After a thorough assessment and development of a treatment plan, you will be asked specific questions about a particular disturbing memory. Eye movements, similar to those during REM sleep, will be recreated simply by asking you to watch the therapist’s finger moving backwards and forwards across your visual field. Sometimes, a bar of moving lights or headphones is used instead. The eye movements will last for a short while and then stop. You will then be asked to report back on the experiences you have had during each of these sets of eye movements. Experiences during a session may include changes in thoughts, images and feelings.

With repeated sets of eye movements, the memory tends to change in such a way that it loses its painful intensity and simply becomes a neutral memory of an event in the past. Other associated memories may also heal at the same time. This linking of related memories can lead to a dramatic and rapid improvement in many aspects of your life.

How does virtual EMDR work?

Virtual EMDR therapy is conducted in pretty much the same way as face-to-face EMDR therapy, with some minor adjustments in relation to how the bilateral stimulation movements are carried out.

As with face-to-face EMDR therapy, bilateral stimulation (i.e. using eye movements, bilateral tapping and auditory tones) can be used in an online EMDR therapy session. With the exception of bilateral tapping (which is self-administered), eye movements and auditory tones will be carried out using a simple therapist-controlled computer program that will be explained to you. Clients need a desktop or laptop computer in a private, quiet and comfortable space.

Who can benefit from EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy can address a wide range of challenges:

Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
Chronic Illness and medical issues
Depression and bipolar disorders
Grief and loss
Pain
Performance Anxiety
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma and stress-related issues
Sexual assault
Sleep disturbance
Substance abuse and addiction
Violence and abuse

How is EMDR Therapy different from other therapies?

Most traditional talk therapies work by asking you to verbally process and reframe difficult experiences, often requiring you to revisit painful details repeatedly over many sessions. EMDR takes a fundamentally different approach, one that works with both the mind and the body.

No need to talk through every detail

Unlike conventional psychotherapy, EMDR does not require you to describe your trauma in depth or walk through your entire personal history. The healing happens through the brain’s own reprocessing mechanism, not through verbal analysis.

A somatic approach to trauma

EMDR is a somatic therapy, meaning it recognizes that trauma is held not just in the mind, but in the body. Sensations, tension, and physical responses that become locked in the nervous system during a traumatic event are addressed directly through the bilateral stimulation process, helping the body release what the mind alone cannot always resolve.

Designed for lasting results in less time

For many clients, EMDR produces meaningful results that years of traditional talk therapy have not been able to achieve, often in a significantly shorter timeframe.