What to expect with EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful psychotherapy method designed to alleviate distress associated with disturbing or traumatic memories, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here’s how EMDR works and why it’s effective:
The EMDR Process:
- During EMDR sessions, individuals recall distressing experiences while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This can involve side-to-side eye movements, alternating buzzers, or physical tapping on the body.
- The treatment follows standardized procedures, focusing on spontaneous associations related to traumatic or disturbing images, thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations.
The Adaptive Information Processing Model (AIP):
- Developed by Francine Shapiro, the AIP model explains how the brain stores memories differently during normal events versus traumatic events.
- Traumatic memories often lack proper networking within the brain, leading to distressing symptoms and harmful coping strategies.
Four Key Stages of EMDR:
- Establishment of Safety: Therapists help clients create feelings of protection and comfort before reprocessing trauma.
- Activating the Traumatic Memory Network: EMDR targets distressing memories, allowing the brain to resume its natural healing process.
- Changing Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors: Rather than detailed verbal discussion, EMDR focuses on altering emotional responses associated with trauma.
- Integration and Healing: By reprocessing memories, individuals experience relief from symptoms.
Who Can Benefit from EMDR?:
- EMDR is effective for adolescents, teenagers, and adults of all ages.
- It’s not limited to PTSD; its use is expanding to treat various mental health conditions such as: Anxiety - Depression - Phobias/Fears - Grief/Loss - Birth & Medical Traumas - Negative core beliefs - And more…
Why EMDR Works:
- Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require extensive discussion of distressing events. It aims to change emotional reactions directly.
- By facilitating adaptive memory processing, EMDR helps individuals heal from trauma at a faster pace.
In summary, EMDR offers a unique approach to trauma healing by reprocessing memories and changing their impact on emotions and behaviors. 🌿🌟
Source: Cleveland Clinic
FAQ's about emdr treatment
Who does EMDR work for?
EMDR has been shown to help people who have experienced trauma, stressful events, or persistent anxiety/depression. It can help others, and below are the treatment areas we can target either in-person or online:
PTSD - Anxiety - Depression - Phobias/Fears - Grief/Loss - Birth & Medical Traumas - Negative core beliefs - And more…
How long does emdr take to work?
With all therapy approaches and unique individual goals/concerns, it depends. Some people who have one isolated incident of trauma can process material in just a few sessions. Some people who have gone through complex events over many years may take a year or longer to target all of the material with EMDR. This will be something that you and I can talk about together to come up with the most beneficial and supportive length of treatment for you.
How does emdr work?
EMDR works by gently bringing the targeted material to mind, and pairing it with bilateral stimulation (this can be done with eye movements or dual attention stimuli with buzzers, lights, or tapping). These movements are regulating for the nervous system and allow the level of disturbance to decrease. In my office, I have buzzers that altnerate in each hand and can be a good option if eye movement is not an option for you. We can also use an online platform that allows for eye movement or use other forms of Dual Attention Stimuli such as tapping or sound.
How much does emdr therapy cost?
There is no cost difference with EMDR unless we do 90-minute sessions, which is the recommended amount of time for EMDR. We can do 50-minute sessions, it just may take longer to work through a target. You can refer to my rates page for more information.
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is a powerful approach to healing trauma, recognizing that traumatic experiences are not only stored in our minds but also imprinted in our bodies. Here’s how it works and why it’s effective:
Body-Focused Approach: Somatic therapy emphasizes the mind-body connection. It acknowledges that trauma can register within our bodies on a cellular level. By tuning into bodily sensations, we can release trapped energy and promote healing.
Origins of Somatic Experiencing: Developed by Peter Levine in the late 1970s, Somatic Experiencing (SE) aims to help clients draw their attention to their bodies. It focuses on two types of awareness.
- Interoceptive: Internal awareness of bodily sensations.
- Proprioceptive: Spatial orientation of the body.
Revisiting Trauma Safely: Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic therapy allows individuals to revisit trauma without necessarily recalling specific events or emotions. Instead, they focus on physical sensations. This approach is particularly helpful for those with chronic stress or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Completing Unfinished Responses: Trauma disrupts our natural responses (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn). Somatic work provides the body with time and space to complete what it needed to do during the traumatic event. It helps us move beyond being “stuck” in survival mode.
Emotional Regulation: One of the main goals is to develop a strong body-mind connection and enhance emotional regulation. By integrating body-oriented techniques like deep breathing, relaxation exercises, and meditation, somatic therapy helps manage distressing symptoms.
Research Support: Emerging research shows that somatic therapy is effective for trauma recovery:
- A study with 63 participants found that somatic experiencing helped relieve symptoms of PTSD and depression.
- Another study involving 91 people with lower back pain and PTSD suggested that brief somatic experiences reduced pain and PTSD symptoms.
In summary, somatic therapy offers a holistic path toward healing by honoring both our physical and emotional selves. 🌿🌟
Parts/inner child work (ifs-informed)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy is a powerful approach that views the mind as a complex system composed of various “parts.” Developed by Richard Schwartz, IFS recognizes that we all have multiple sub-minds interacting within us. These parts play distinct roles and have their own beliefs, feelings, and characteristics. Let’s explore how IFS can be used in therapy to heal trauma:
- Managers: These protective parts aim to keep us organized and safe in our day-to-day lives. However, over time, they may push for perfectionism or even cause harm in their pursuit of safety.
- Exiles: Exiles represent the wounded parts of us that have experienced trauma. Managers often try to keep these exiles hidden, but they can become extreme and override the system, shaping our behavior and emotions.
- Firefighters: These parts act as emotional firefighters, attempting to extinguish distress at any cost. They may engage in unhealthy behaviors like substance abuse or eating disorders.
Inner Child Work is closely related to IFS. It involves connecting with the younger versions of ourselves—the inner child—who carry memories and emotions from our past. By nurturing and healing these inner child parts, we can address unresolved trauma.
How Does It Heal Trauma?
- Integration: IFS aims to integrate these parts by helping clients access their true Self—the core of their being. When Self is present, it can provide compassionate leadership to all parts.
- Unburdening Exiles: By acknowledging and healing exiled parts, clients release emotional burdens and find relief from trauma-related symptoms.
- Empowerment: Clients learn to relate to their parts with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment. This empowers them to transform their inner dynamics.
- Body-Mind Connection: IFS recognizes that trauma affects both the body and mind. As clients work with their parts, they often experience physical sensations shifting alongside emotional healing.
In summary, IFS and inner child work offer a holistic approach to healing trauma by honoring the complexity of our internal world and fostering self-compassion. 🌿🌟
creative-based & experiential therapies
Experiential therapies and creative-based therapies offer unique pathways to healing trauma by engaging the mind, body, and emotions in profound ways. Let’s explore why these approaches are so effective:
Art Therapy:
- Expressive Outlet: Art therapy allows individuals to express their inner experiences, emotions, and memories through visual art. Whether it’s painting, drawing, or sculpting, the creative process becomes a safe container for exploring trauma.
- Non-Verbal Communication: Trauma often defies words. Art provides an alternative language—a way to communicate without relying solely on verbal expression. Clients can externalize their pain, fears, and hopes onto the canvas.
- Empowerment: Creating art empowers individuals by giving them agency over their narrative. They can transform pain into beauty, reclaiming their sense of self.
- Integration: The act of creating art integrates cognitive, emotional, and sensory aspects. It engages both hemispheres of the brain, fostering holistic healing.
Music Therapy:
- Rhythmic Resonance: Music has a powerful impact on our nervous system. Drumming, singing, or playing instruments can regulate heart rate, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation.
- Emotional Release: Music taps into deep emotions. Composing or listening to music allows individuals to release suppressed feelings associated with trauma.
- Narrative Building: Music therapy helps construct narratives. Lyrics and melodies become vessels for storytelling—capturing memories, grief, and resilience.
- Community Connection: Group music-making fosters connection and a sense of belonging. Trauma often isolates; music brings people together.
Drama Therapy (Informed by Gestalt Therapy) :
- Role Play and Rehearsal: Drama therapy invites clients to step into different roles—sometimes even embodying their trauma or parts of themselves. Through role play, they gain insight and rehearse new responses.
- Safe Distance: Drama provides a safe distance from personal experiences. Clients explore trauma indirectly by portraying characters or situations.
- Catharsis: The act of performing—whether in improvisation or scripted scenes—allows for emotional catharsis. Tears shed on stage can release pent-up emotions.
- Body Awareness: Drama engages the body fully—gestures, movement, voice modulation. This somatic awareness helps process trauma stored in bodily sensations.
Nature-Based Therapies:
- Ecotherapy: Connecting with nature soothes the nervous system. Forest bathing (shinrin-yoku), gardening, or simply being outdoors can reduce stress hormones.
- Metaphors in Nature: Nature mirrors our inner landscape. Seasons change; storms pass; seeds grow. Clients find metaphors for their own healing journey.
- Grounding Techniques: Walking barefoot on grass or feeling the earth beneath one’s feet grounds individuals in the present moment—a powerful antidote to trauma’s disconnection.
In summary, experiential and creative therapies honor the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—offering transformative tools for healing trauma’s wounds. 🌿🌟
polyvagal therapy
Polyvagal Theory, introduced by Stephen Porges, offers a profound approach to understanding and healing trauma. Let’s delve into why it’s so impactful:
Understanding the Nervous System:
- Polyvagal Theory highlights the vagus nerve’s role in emotion regulation, social connection, and fear response.
- Trauma survivors often experience physiological changes due to their nervous system responses.
Three Key Principles:
- Hierarchy: The nervous system operates in three states:
- Ventral Vagal: Safety, connection, and calm. Our desired state.
- Sympathetic: Mobilization for fight or flight.
- Dorsal Vagal: Shutdown, collapse, or numbness.
- Neuroception: Our nervous system scans for cues of danger. It determines our state based on the environment.
- Co-regulation: The need for safe connection with others—essential for survival.
Clinical Application:
- Clinical social worker Deb Dana adapted Polyvagal Theory for therapy.
- She emphasizes understanding the nervous system to navigate life’s challenges.
- By recognizing our nervous system’s responses, we can foster safety and resilience.
Healing Trauma:
- Polyvagal Therapy teaches clients to calm hyperactive brains associated with fight/flight/freeze responses.
- It provides practical tools for neuroception—detecting safety cues.
- Co-regulation in therapy fosters mutuality and reciprocity.
In summary, Polyvagal Therapy offers a roadmap to healing by honoring our body’s wisdom and promoting safety. 🌿🌟