By: Dayna Sammartino
What does EMDR Therapy do?
EMDR therapy is a therapeutic modality that involves eye movement and other forms of bilateral stimulation to reduce the impact of distressing memories.
As a clinician at WellMinded Counseling, I was very skeptical about this type of treatment and believed it sounded too good to be true. The more research I did, the more I decided it would be beneficial for me to become trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) due to the wide variety of advantages the process can have for clients.
So How Can You Benefit From EMDR Therapy?
One of the first benefits of EMDR therapy is that it is medication-free and the client has full awareness while involved in the process.
In addition, there can be some reduction in symptoms as early as the first session of processing. Not only does EMDR therapy address past traumas, but it also helps a client explore current stressors and concerns related to future situations.
How Does it Compare to Other Treatments?
One part of the treatment I have noticed that many clients appreciate is that minimal language is needed to process the traumatic event, compared to other types of therapies. Also, compared to some other types of treatment, clients learn stabilization techniques, or coping skills in stage 2 of the treatment, called the preparation stage. By introducing these exercises, the client has almost a type of mental health first aid kit consisting of ways the client can stabilize through breathing exercises and guided imagery in the event a memory becomes overwhelming.
What Can EMDR Therapy be Used For?
EMDR therapy is commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, (PTSD), but new research is emerging that shows efficacy for clients with eating disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders, phobias, pain disorders, grief, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and a wide range of other conditions.
What to Expect During EMDR Therapy in Colorado
The process involves an 8-phase approach including history and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation.
The portion of the treatment where a lot of change happens is during phase 4 of desensitization. This phase involves a client briefly focusing on a memory or distressing concept while the trained EMDR therapist simultaneously produces bilateral stimulation to activate both sides of the brain. Typically, this is done with eye movement but can also be done through tactile and auditory methods. A typical session can last anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes.
Is EMDR Therapy Uncomfortable?
It is possible during processing that negative thoughts can arise or uncomfortable physical body sensations occur. However, the distress typically only lasts for a temporary amount of time, and the processing still continues. The whole purpose is that the intensity from the original memory fades over time and does not produce the same impact a client previously experienced.
Self-discovery and change can be extremely intimidating; although, therapy is a process where no one has to experience it alone. Talk to your therapist today to see if EMDR could be a positive resource for you. As Carl Jung said, “I am not what happened to me, I am what I chose to become.”
Feel Better & Start EMDR Therapy in Denver, Broomfield, or Anywhere in Colorado
Discover the effectiveness of EMDR therapy at WellMinded Counseling. Our Colorado-based EMDR therapists provide medication-free, awareness-focused sessions that address past traumas and current stressors. Learn practical stabilization techniques and coping skills that will help you build a resilient future. Take these steps today:
Make your first appointment for EMDR with one of our therapists
Start the down the road towards positive change and self-discovery.
OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED AT WELLMINDED COUNSELING
Therapy for depression isn’t the only service we offer. WellMinded Counseling offers the following counseling services: