You can’t stop replaying what happened in your head. It’s like your mind enjoys reliving the event. The times you choose to think about what happened, you get upset. Incredibly, truly, really upset. You tell yourself it’s been long enough. You should be better by now. You’ve done all of the “self-care things” you could have done. Yet, you still don’t feel like you’ve recovered from what happened. Too many things are a trigger. Then, a glimmer of hope appears in your Google search for help:
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy.
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye-Movement Desensitization and reprocessing
Dr. Francine Shapiro developed EMDR in the late 80's to address PTSD. Since then, it has been researched for many different things. The list includes anxiety, phobias, OCD, depression, and more. It is well-established as an effective counseling model.
It is an integrative therapy that uses the brain’s natural healing abilities. This addresses physical symptoms and emotional pain. We find that this often goes with a traumatic event or difficult life experiences.
EMDR Stages
EMDR has 8 phases. Phase 4 uses eye movements. The rapid back-and-forth eye movements mimic REM sleep. They allow the body to reprocess disturbing memories and emotions.
What I like about EMDR is that we honor the client’s process. Their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations guide and inform the processing with minimal talking.
Quite different from talk therapy!
The result is emotional release, reprocessed memories, and changed meaning or impact. Some clients experience a notable difference within three 90-minute sessions. Others notice a difference within six 50-minute sessions.
EMDR therapy empowers and transforms!
EMDR therapy is an effective treatment for people who have endured trauma. While going through the process, you’ll notice the symptoms you used to feel gradually disintegrate. This can include nightmares, responses to triggering experiences, emotional deregulation, and more. Imagine not living with the mess your experiences have left you.
EMDR Therapy Phases
Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is a phased trauma treatment. This means that I, your therapist, will guide you through the treatment. I do so based on what I know works.
EMDR is a well-established approach to counseling and will allow you to “feel at peace with the past, empowered in the present, and able to make choices for the future!” (Francine Shapiro, 2001)
Phase 1
This phase involves taking a history. The completed questionnaire is our foundation for this phase. You may be thinking, “Wait a minute, you said minimal talking!” Yes, You are right. We don’t have to go in-depth when talking about your trauma. YOU are so much more than what has happened to you or what you are going through. We will talk about you and your goals. Once we have a complete picture, we will develop a plan for the therapy process.
Phase 2
It is my job to understand as much as possible what it is like to be you. We will discuss ways in which you have handled or reacted to distress. We can over-developed in ways such as overachieving. We can also under-develop in other ways, such as the ability to let things go. We will make sure you have the tools and resources necessary for memory reprocessing. Things like calming strategies, mindfulness, stress management, and much more. We will be very thorough during this process to make sure that you feel confident and solid.
Phase 3
This is the assessment phase. By now, you are ready to begin reprocessing and describe how the memory/symptom is affecting you NOW. What is it like today? We will go through a process to get an overview of what I call descriptive headlines. Headlines- because we will not go into detail. Descriptive-because we will identify feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and sensations. We'll see how they have been affected or changed by the incident or circumstances.
Phase 4
Reprocessing will begin. This is where eye movements are used. The goal is to remove the intensity of the memory and/or sensations..
Phase 5
The Installation phase. This phase focuses on the identified positive belief. You'll notice you will feel quite differently about the original event or circumstances. This phase strengthens and integrates the new adaptive pathway of this memory/symptom. Or, in other words, a more constructive experience of the original image.
Phase 6
This phase involves two components. The first component is noticing your physical sensations. Specifically, when thinking about the original memory. The second component is combining this with the positive belief you felt was the best fit for you. This is an important step.
Our bodies speak to us; we must listen!
As you observe different parts of your body, you can notice tension. You could also notice other strange sensations. These sensations will be processed with eye movements. This phase is complete once you experience a clear scan or one without any residual tension.
Phase 7
Closure. This phase will end the reprocessing and leave you in a positive frame of mind to leave the session. This is also a time for you to appreciate the work you have done! You can express your thoughts or remain relaxed and enjoy this newfound state of mind.
Phase 8
Re-evaluation. This phase will begin at the next session. We will reevaluate how well the memories/symptoms were resolved. We'll also see if you need any further processing. Depending on your trauma, your processing may occur in just a few sessions. Or, if it is more complex or chronic, a few months may be necessary to complete the work.
More EMDR Resources
Here’s a quick video explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKrfH43srg8
If you would like a more technical explanation, this video by Dr. Andrew Leeds is excellent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWyDWvMEl1E
Ready to Begin EMDR Therapy in the Fairhope, Daphne, and Eastern Shore Area?
Trauma can have lasting impacts on us that can trickle over into other areas. We find it hard to control our thoughts, and our lives for that matter. But, this isn’t something you have to do alone. When you’re ready to begin eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy with Julia W Stone, follow these three simple steps to get started:
Contact me to set up a 15-minute phone consultation.
Get to know me Julia W Stone, your new EMDR therapist.
Begin your healing journey to overcoming your trauma.
Other Counseling Services Provided by Julia Stone
Life doesn’t come with a manual. Sometimes, we find ourselves in very tough situations we may not be prepared for. In addition to EMDR therapy, I also provide an EMDR Intensive Retreat to enable faster symptom reduction. My counseling clinic in the Fairhope, AL area can help. I provide therapy for anxiety to help you develop coping skills and navigate what life throws at you. For those struggling with trauma, my services include trauma and PTSD as well as trauma from childhood. I also provide Single Session Therapy for those looking to address their specific issue and begin healing faster. I help my clients work through the aftermath. When you’re ready to take the next step, contact me.