Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
Under the supervision of highly trained and certified Wings Recovery staff, EMDR* (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) enables the full resolution of trauma memories. Contact our staff today to schedule a consultation and find out if EMDR therapy is right for you.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR therapy reprocesses memories to be less vivid or less disturbing, utilizing both halves of the brain via bilateral stimulation. Negative thoughts are reformulated as the client processes emotionally disturbing material in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus.
What Does EMDR Treat?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an innovative therapy option that can provide quicker healing compared to other modalities, addressing a wide range of challenges such as:
- Dissociative Disorders
- Grief
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depression
- Performance Anxiety
- Personality Disorders
- Sexual Assault/Abuse
- Night Terrors
- Substance Abuse
How Does EMDR Therapy Affect the Brain?
Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.
How Is EMDR Therapy Different from Other Therapies?
EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. Rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, it allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.
How Effective is EMDR?
- 100% of single trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims were no longer afflicted with PTSD after six 50-minute sessions.
- The US Department of Veteran Affairs uses EMDR as the primary modality for the treatment of PTSD.
*Information provided by EMDR institute