Rapid Eye Movement Therapy (EMDR)
The impacts of trauma can linger even after the traumatic incident has technically “ended”. Some people struggle with being in noisy places, some struggle with driving, and others struggle with intimacy.
EMDR Treatment or Eye Movement Desenization and Reprocessing Therapy (I know, it’s a mouthful) is an evidence-based form of therapy with an individualized approach, that helps clients work through traumatic incidents and other diagnoses like grief, anxiety, depression and chronic pain. The premise of EMDR Therapy is to process your belief about what a traumatic memory says about YOU and to change that from a negative cognition to a positive one.
That begs the question, why would I want to relive a traumatic experience? Think of it this way: imagine that you are driving your car through dirt and mud and it gets all over your windshield. Instead of using your wipers or going to a car wash, you just leave the debris there. You can continue to drive, but the visibility isn’t great and it takes much more effort to navigate your car safely.
Trauma is similar in that you can continue to navigate your world after a traumatic incident, but it can feel much more complicated and exhausting. In this example, think of the therapist as your co-captain, being there with you, while using EMDR Trauma Therapy to work through the trauma at a pace that feels safe to you.
EMDR Certified Therapist in Northwest Philadelphia
I have completed training in EMDR Therapy, which I have found to be extremely helpful for many of my clients creating space between themselves and their traumatic experiences. In addition to being trained in EMDR, I have also been trained in chronic pain management using EMDR.
After addressing a traumatic event using EMDR, one of my clients expressed it as “I know it [the event] happened, but I don’t feel suffocated by it anymore”. I had another client, living with chronic pain, express that “the pain in my wrist went down from a 10 to a 1” during an EMDR therapy session.