Maybe you’ve seen Prince Harry’s recent interviews about how EMDR psychotherapy helped him heal or perhaps a therapist or someone you trust suggested EMDR might be helpful. Now you’re wondering…
What Is EMDR and does it Really work?
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy was developed by Francine Shapiro PhD initially for treatment of trauma. It’s been extensively researched and is a top-tier evidence based practice for treatment of PTSD by many US and international organizations. Millions of people have been treated successfully over the past 25+ years.
But it’s not just about trauma! Growing research has shown EMDR to be an effective treatment for other areas:
- Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
- Attachment wounds (unmet childhood needs due to neglect, abandonment, narcissism, emotionally unavailable caregiver(s))
- Chronic Illness and medical issues
- Depression
- Dissociative disorders
- Grief and loss
- Pain
- Performance anxiety
- PTSD and other trauma and stress-related issues
- Sexual assault
- Sleep disturbance
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Violence and abuse
How Does it Work?
EMDR is based on the rationale that all of us are born with the innate ability to grow and adapt. Your body is designed to heal itself. Just like it defends against a common cold, your system is primed to grow and adapt throughout your life. All the time you take in new experiences, and, consciously or not, evaluate them against past knowledge, take whatever is useful, and let go of the rest.
When people experience a traumatic event or painful past experiences this natural healing process gets interrupted and the memory gets stuck in the brain and the body with all the thoughts, sensations, emotions, responses that were happening at the moment.
So when something in your everyday life activates this unhealed memory triggers the same responses. Which can be very painful, frustrating, and disorienting. Regretfully we don’t have conscious control over what does and does not get frozen. Your brain and body do this automatically as a way to protect itself.
EMDR helps your brain and body to process your experience to complete the natural healing process that was interrupted. Thoughts, sensations, emotions, responses that are no longer helpful are released. What remains is whatever meaning and learning are important to better connects us to .
Short answer is YES!
Remember that the extensive research that proves EMDR’s effectiveness is based on people’s lived experiences. That means there are a whole lotta people in this world who are living proof (literally!) that EMDR changes lives.
Since I was trained in 2007 I’m grateful to have been a part of numerous clients’ healing and the significant impact it’s had on their lives. Not only do my clients report having less distress about previously painful experiences they report being more joyful, authentic, free, and connected to themselves and loved ones.
Contact us to see if EMDR psychotherapy may be right for you.
Want to learn more?
About EMDR Therapy – EMDR International Association (emdria.org)
Healing Trauma (video)
Experiencing EMDR Therapy (video)