EMDR

To understand how eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) works, we need to understand how the brain responds to trauma.  The brain does not function normally during a trauma.  It shifts into survival mode, fight, flight, freeze or collapse.  If you do not have the support or internal resources to recover from the traumatic experience it can become frozen in our brain.  When this happens, we will have symptoms that interfere with our relationships, emotions and overall satisfaction with life.

EMDR helps the traumatic memories, emotions and body sensations process through our brain allowing us to benefit from past and present learning.  These stuck memories do not benefit from experiences and information that would help us feel safe, loved or important.  Understanding the mechanics of how this is actually processed in our brains is interesting.  I would encourage you to read about the Limbic System and neural networks if you are interested.  In my experiences in using EMDR people are able to change negative beliefs they have about themselves and have a significant reduction in problematic symptoms.

EMDR consists of 8 phases of treatment.  History taking helps to understand your past and what you have experienced.  Preparation gives you resources to help tolerate the intensity of processing trauma.  Assessment is to activate your system and begin the processing phase.  Desensitization processes the traumatic material.  Installation replaces your negative core belief with a positive core belief.  Body scan is to determine if any traumatic memory is still stored in your body.  Closure ensures the session ends with a feeling of safety.  Re-evaluation determines the effectiveness of treatment.

EMDR targets disturbing memories and the negative beliefs that were created at that time.  When EMDR is effective you will feel a shift in how you see yourself, the world, others and relationships.  You will no longer be influenced by negative beliefs that operate as thought they were real.  You will experience a deeper feeling of calmness, peace, belonging and love.