The Benefits of EMDR Therapy
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic treatment that was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Francine Shapiro to help people who suffer from trauma. The theory behind EMDR is that when we experience a traumatic event, our brains are often unable to process the information correctly on their own. When we experience something traumatic, many of us retreat, we go inward, process in isolation, and repress what has happened to us. Especially when we feel alone with no one in our lives who can relate to our experience or whom we feel will believe us. This can lead to trauma survivors feeling alone and trapped in the past. Causing them to relive their trauma over and over again.
EMDR therapy has been proven to be an effective treatment for PTSD. It can also help with other conditions such as anxiety, depression, and phobias. EMDR is conducted by a trained EMDR therapist who will guide you through a series of eye movements, taps/vibrations, or auditory tones while you focus on the memory of the traumatic event. The goal of EMDR therapy is to help desensitize you to the activation of the trauma and help your brain reprocess the memory so that when it is recalled you feel more in control and can move through the memory more productively.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR therapy works by activating both sides of the brain. Using bilateral stimulation through sensory activation. This helps to release memories that are stuck in the limbic system. Which is responsible for our emotions and survival instinct. When these memories are released, they can be reprocessed by the neocortex, which is responsible for our reasoning and logic. This type of processing allows us to put the memories into perspective and see them for what they really are. A memory of an event that happened in the past that does not have to control our lives now.
What our brains protect us from (through cognitive dissociation), our bodies remember. A critical piece of the puzzle in finding freedom from these areas where we feel stuck is the integration of cognitive processing in conjunction with releasing what is also locked in the body. This is why talk therapy alone can often grow redundant. It often lacks somatic processing, a crucial piece of the puzzle.
What Happens During an EMDR Therapy Session
During an EMDR session, the EMDR therapist will guide you through a series of bilateral stimulation “sets” while you focus on the memory of the traumatic event (ie. a car accident) or the cognitive distortion (ie, social anxiety, low self-esteem, etc). The bilateral stimulation is thought to help "process" the memory or cognitive distortion so that it is less distressing, followed by reprocessing the experience and teaching the brain to communicate with the body to feel safe, reintegrating your nervous system. A disintegrated nervous system often finds itself stuck in fight or flight when we should be resting and digesting more often than not.
During EMDR therapy, you will be asked to talk about your thoughts, feelings, and reactions to trauma memories or cognitive distortions. You may also be asked to do some homework between sessions. Such as keeping a journal or practicing ongoing mindfulness techniques to retrain your nervous system.
EMDR Therapy Relieves Symptoms of Trauma
EMDR therapy can be helpful in resolving some of the symptoms of trauma, such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and depression. EMDR therapy may also help improve your relationships and overall life satisfaction by freeing you from the feeling of being trapped by emotional dysregulation.
I am a trained, Attachment-Focused EMDR Therapist (AF-EMDR). Integrating many elements into the therapeutic process from creativity to trauma-informed yoga and breathwork to guide you in reprocessing both cognitively and somatically in order to heal.
If you have questions about EMDR or to schedule a 15-minute consultation, please contact me. I am always happy to answer any questions you have about EMDR or the process.
Ready to Begin EMDR Therapy in Pasadena, CA and Los Angeles, CA?
Are you tired of being haunted by your past trauma, anxiety, depression, & more? Take the first step towards healing and reclaiming your life by seeking EMDR therapy. At Thomas Blake Therapy, I can guide you on a journey toward lasting recovery and teach you healthy coping mechanisms for a brighter future. Don't let your symptoms define you any longer; reach out and embrace a life free from the chains of your symtpoms. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
Schedule a free, 15-minute consultation to see if EMDR Therapy is right for you
Begin meeting with Thomas Blake, skilled EMDR Therapist
Start healing from your trauma, anxiety, and more!
Other Services Offered at Thomas Blake Therapy
At Thomas Blake Therapy, I understand that you may be struggling to overcome more than one issue. So in addition to offering EMDR Therapy to help you with your symptoms, I offer LGBTQ Affirming Therapy to support and advocate for the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, Narrative Therapy where I will work collaboratively with you to dissect the problematic story of your life and reshape that dialogue, and Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy to accelerate healing in patients who have struggled to heal from chronic emotional pain due to treatment resistance. If any of these services resonate with you feel free to reach out. My online therapy services are offered in the states of California and New Jersey. For more about me and my services, check out my Bio and Blog!
