“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.”
Nikos Kazantzakis
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing-EMDR
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a mind-body therapy that helps people to identify, process and release memories and emotions that are blocking them from being happy and/or from achieving their goals.
What happens during EMDR?
What happens during EMDR may be the same as what occurs during REM or dream sleep – the bilateral stimulation may help to process unconscious material.
When a disturbing event occurs, it is stored in the central nervous system along various neurological associational pathways. Then the actual memories of the event can recede into unconsciousness. For example, we may recall all, or some or none of the details of an original experience. Recollection comes through mental pictures, sounds, thoughts, feelings, body sensations. EMDR seems to facilitate the central nervous system in processing and releasing conscious and unconscious stored experiences.
How does EMDR work?
- We work together as partners in the process, and we stop anytime you feel the need to.
- During the process itself, you (as the client) recall a situation you want to work on, along with your thoughts and feelings about it. I simply ask you questions related to the experience and implement bilateral stimulation simultaneously throughout the process.
- Then we stop to talk about your experience.
- Each time something new comes up for you, the process is repeated.
What is bilateral stimulation?
- Stimulating the body bilaterally in EMDR is done in the following ways:
- The client’s eyes follow the therapist’s hand as it moves back and forth during the process. Sometimes a light bar is used instead of the therapist’s hand. In this case the client follows a light that moves back and forth.
- The client’s knees are tapped, first one knee then the other.
- The client listens to specially designed music through earphones.
- The client holds theratappers, one in each hand. They vibrate at varying times, first one then the other, thereby creating bilateral stimulation to the body.
- Client’s can experiment with these methods and choose the one they like best.
Important things to know about EMDR therapy!
If you decide to pursue EMDR therapy, there are some important things for you to know.
- You are in control of the process and it is your own brain and central nervous system that does the healing.
- EMDR may bring up strong emotional responses. This is an expectable part of the healing process.
- We work together as a team in the EMDR process.
- Memory processing may continue between sessions via memories, dreams, emotional surges and/or physical sensations. This is expectable.
For more information, please call Michele at 203-852-9874
