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EMDR Therapy

“In order to change, people need to become aware of their sensations and the way that their bodies interact with the world around them. Physical self-awareness is the first step in releasing the tyranny of the past.” -Bessel Van Der Kolk

Are You Looking For An Effective Way To Overcome Trauma?

Do the effects of unresolved trauma continue to impact your life negatively? Perhaps you have never been able to completely shut the door on disturbing events from the past and, as a result, they sometimes creep back into the present moment. Whenever something jogs your memory of that past event—a sight, sound, or smell—your body might react like you have been taken back to that moment and are reliving it. To avoid re-experiencing these traumatic memories, you might resort to substances or other unhealthy behaviors to block out the pain.

The way that our brains store memories can be likened to a computer. While most get filed away in our long-term memory, emotionally intense memories that evoke fear, sadness, and other deeply felt emotions can get frozen both in the body and the psyche. You can think of them as corrupt files—rather than being processed and filed away appropriately, they are misfiled into other parts of the brain’s memory network. Here they are easily accessed whenever we feel unsafe or activated by something that reminds us of this traumatic event.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that takes advantage of the brain’s resilience to process and resolve traumatic memories more adaptively. Primarily used to treat trauma-related mental health disorders, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EMDR therapy involves a combination of techniques—including eye movements, sounds, and tapping—to help individuals process traumatic memories, overcome emotional dysregulation, and foster psychological flexibility. This subtle yet effective eye movement therapy allows those who have long lived with the negative effects of trauma to restore a sense of calm and well-being in their lives.

The Trauma Resolution Therapy EMDR Protocol

At TRT, we have developed a well-rounded protocol to treat trauma, which includes EMDR. In addition to EMDR therapy, we blend a series of effective, evidence-based techniques and strategies to support the healing of past traumatic events, nurture neurological resilience, and shift focus away from entrenched thinking patterns to enhance positive core beliefs. By integrating the traditional 8-phase protocol of EMDR therapy with the Polyvagal work of Dr. Steve Porges, the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, and other Eastern and Western modalities, we offer clients a robust treatment we call Trauma Resolution Therapy.

In addition to EMDR, our protocol for trauma treatment includes Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). We also utilize stabilizing modalities such as mindfulness, grounding exercises, cognitive restructuring, and fostering a post-traumatic growth mindset to enhance the efficacy of EMDR therapy. Research in recent decades has confirmed that the brain’s neuroplasticity makes it possible to heal from PTSD. [1] By blending resourcing and repatterning with the reprocessing benefit of EMDR therapy, clients can resolve traumatic memories and make a full recovery.

 

How Is EMDR Treatment Incorporated Into Therapy?

EMDR treatment is a non-invasive process that can be conducted in person or online. Once a memory has been identified for processing, you will be guided by the therapist to focus on the memory while simultaneously engaged in bilateral stimulation, such as repeated eye movements, finger tapping, or listening to binaural sounds. The method of bilateral stimulation you choose—visual, audio, and tactile—will be determined by your preference. As both hemispheres of the brain become activated, you will gently observe the thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations you are experiencing. The desensitization and reprocessing that occurs in an EMDR therapy session allows the traumatic memory to diminish in intensity and find its way to the part of the brain where long-term memories are stored.

Who Can Benefit From Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy?

Trauma Resolution Therapy that includes EMDR can help resolve PTSD related to childhood trauma, sexual assault, emotional abuse, and bullying. In addition to offering effective treatment for first responders who are exposed to ongoing trauma on the job, EMDR therapy can address single-incident trauma, complex trauma, certain phobias, addiction-related trauma, and negative core beliefs related to traumatic incidents. Panic disorders, depression, and anxiety related to unresolved trauma can also be diminished after EMDR treatment.

The benefits of using EMDR therapy include:

  • Reduced symptoms of PTSD, such as flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance;
  • Faster recovery from traumatic events than other forms of therapy;
  • Improved emotional regulation, including managing reactions to stressors more effectively;
  • Enhanced self-esteem and a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence.
  • Increased insight, self-awareness, and understanding.

Unlike the top-down approach of more traditional talk therapy, EMDR bypasses the analytical part of the brain and directly accesses the area where memories are stored to address trauma at its core. With its bottom-up approach, clients report that they experience more immediate results that can be felt both in mind and body. Another benefit of EMDR therapy is that it doesn’t require you to talk directly about traumatic memories with your therapist unless you choose to do so.

Why We Incorporate EMDR Therapy Into Our Practice

Each of the counselors at Trauma Resolution Therapy is trained in EMDR. Collectively, our team has many years of experience working with people through a trauma-informed lens. After witnessing its transformative effect on our clientele over the years, we believe that our EMDR model for treating trauma is a game-changer. We have had clients describe that before EMDR treatment, their thoughts, feelings, and experiences were all tangled like a ball of yarn. Utilizing our multi-pronged approach, they have been able to untangle them, finding peace and a more positive mindset.
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Learn How EMDR Therapy Can Help You

Utilizing an approach that incorporates EMDR into a trauma-focused treatment model, you can go beyond the parameters of traditional talk therapy and find healing. To find out more about EMDR therapy with Trauma Resolution Therapy Group, please visit our contact page. [1] https://evokeneuroresearch.com/ptsd/neuroplasticity-and-ptsd-rewiring-the-traumatized-brain/