EMDR
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a specialised and evidence-based approach that can be highly effective in addressing various mental health concerns and in particular is a leading technique for recovery from trauma and PTSD, as recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The central premise of EMDR therapy is that distressing experiences can become "stuck" in the brain, contributing to ongoing emotional and behavioural difficulties. Through a structured process, EMDR helps facilitate the reprocessing of these experiences, allowing for adaptive resolution and the integration of more positive beliefs and emotions.
EMDR works with both the mind and body. Before processing begins, we identify the target memory's component parts; images, beliefs, emotions and bodily responses. We then work to process all of these layers, so that body and mind are in unison and telling the same story.
The central premise of EMDR therapy is that distressing experiences can become "stuck" in the brain, contributing to ongoing emotional and behavioural difficulties. Through a structured process, EMDR helps facilitate the reprocessing of these experiences, allowing for adaptive resolution and the integration of more positive beliefs and emotions.
EMDR works with both the mind and body. Before processing begins, we identify the target memory's component parts; images, beliefs, emotions and bodily responses. We then work to process all of these layers, so that body and mind are in unison and telling the same story.
What happens in an EMDR session?
During an EMDR session, I will guide you through a series of bilateral stimulation, which can involve eye movements, hand taps, or auditory tones. This stimulation helps activate the brain's natural healing processes, facilitating the reprocessing of traumatic memories and associated thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations.
Unlike talking therapy, EMDR does not require clients to talk in detail about memories, thoughts and experiences. This can be particularly appealing for clients who do not feel comfortable giving detailed descriptions of past events or maybe those who experience disturbance more somatically in the body, without clear links with the past.
In EMDR, we often observe that by targeting early memories of distress or memories which hold a lot of emotional "heat," can have a ripple effect on other, less distressing memories, blocks and beliefs. We might therefore look to target these for processing first, however if you do not feel ready to start there, we can identify memories with lower levels of disturbance to begin with, as you get used to the process.
Unlike talking therapy, EMDR does not require clients to talk in detail about memories, thoughts and experiences. This can be particularly appealing for clients who do not feel comfortable giving detailed descriptions of past events or maybe those who experience disturbance more somatically in the body, without clear links with the past.
In EMDR, we often observe that by targeting early memories of distress or memories which hold a lot of emotional "heat," can have a ripple effect on other, less distressing memories, blocks and beliefs. We might therefore look to target these for processing first, however if you do not feel ready to start there, we can identify memories with lower levels of disturbance to begin with, as you get used to the process.
What can EMDR be helpful for?
|
|
You might choose EMDR if:
You would like more rapid relief from past distress without the need to talk in depth about experiences.