EMDR is an acronym for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. It is a therapy model used to treat trauma.
How EMDR works. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation. The therapist will use a series of back and forth movements, using taps, a light device or their fingers back. The client follows the movements with their eyes from right to left. Bilateral stimulation, moves the trauma memory from the right brain, where the trauma is stored, to left brain. The trauma memory is processed from right to left brain where the memory can be understood in a way that is
Why EMDR works. The mind body connection is essential for a sense of normalcy and emotional and physical well being. In normal memory, the body experiences an event as the brain takes in information about the event through the senses (what you see, hear, taste, touch), processes the event information (makes sense out of the event) and puts out event information in meaningful, useful ways.
The body and mind work differently during a trauma event. And the brain stores trauma memory differently. During a trauma event, the brain protects the body by numbing out certain aspects of the memory (Behaviors, Emotions, Body Sensations, Thoughts) in order for the person to cope, survive and get through to the other side alive. The trauma is stored in the right brain. After the trauma event has passed the aspects that were numbed get triggered by things that your brain learned to associate to the trauma event. These associations or triggers come through during the day in flashbacks and at night in dreams. EMDR retrieves the trauma event and then helps the brain and body take in, process and make meaningful sense of the event. Helping the brain to learn to respond vs react to the event.
EMDR therapy does not happen immediately upon entering therapy. Stabilization needs to occur first before trauma memory is processed.
EMDR is the most researched therapy on the planet and there are no reports of any person being harmed by this therapy modality.
As always, be your own advocate and do your own research and talk to your therapist about whether or not EMDR is an effective treatment for you.
How EMDR works. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation. The therapist will use a series of back and forth movements, using taps, a light device or their fingers back. The client follows the movements with their eyes from right to left. Bilateral stimulation, moves the trauma memory from the right brain, where the trauma is stored, to left brain. The trauma memory is processed from right to left brain where the memory can be understood in a way that is
Why EMDR works. The mind body connection is essential for a sense of normalcy and emotional and physical well being. In normal memory, the body experiences an event as the brain takes in information about the event through the senses (what you see, hear, taste, touch), processes the event information (makes sense out of the event) and puts out event information in meaningful, useful ways.
The body and mind work differently during a trauma event. And the brain stores trauma memory differently. During a trauma event, the brain protects the body by numbing out certain aspects of the memory (Behaviors, Emotions, Body Sensations, Thoughts) in order for the person to cope, survive and get through to the other side alive. The trauma is stored in the right brain. After the trauma event has passed the aspects that were numbed get triggered by things that your brain learned to associate to the trauma event. These associations or triggers come through during the day in flashbacks and at night in dreams. EMDR retrieves the trauma event and then helps the brain and body take in, process and make meaningful sense of the event. Helping the brain to learn to respond vs react to the event.
EMDR therapy does not happen immediately upon entering therapy. Stabilization needs to occur first before trauma memory is processed.
EMDR is the most researched therapy on the planet and there are no reports of any person being harmed by this therapy modality.
As always, be your own advocate and do your own research and talk to your therapist about whether or not EMDR is an effective treatment for you.
