“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day”–Sally Koch
Trauma
I often embed a trauma-informed approach in my work with clients. Trauma does not necessarily have to be an awful and scary event that you experienced, but can be what you did not experience: emotional attunement with your parents or caregivers that affects your relationships and mental health in the present. Unresolved emotional wounds and untended traumas affect everything in your life, from the way you feel to the way you’re in relationship; from the way you treat your body, to the way your mind works.
It’s possible you’ve noticed…
You may dismiss these things as normal stress, thinking “that’s just life,” or you “just have to live with it”. But this can change.
In addition to IFS and Somatic Experiencing, I am trained as an EMDR therapist as EMDR is often an effective approach in addressing not only trauma, but depression, anxiety and negative beliefs about ourselves. It can be an unconventional approach to many, so I encourage clients to check out this short video to learn how the approach works on a neurological level.
Why Use EMDR?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, is an innovative, research-supported approach to psychotherapy for resolving disturbing and traumatic experiences, whether they occurred recently or decades ago. Survivors of natural disaster, combat, abuse, assault, accidents, chronic illness and other incidents of traumatic stress have all benefited from the skillful use of EMDR. It is effective for children and adolescents as well as adults. Many people have also found EMDR effective as a mind/body approach to treat a broad range of other emotional and physical conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias and addiction. Others have used EMDR to enhance internal resources like self-confidence and determination, or to achieve peak performance in their professional or athletic endeavors.
What is EMDR?
Many types of therapy seek to resolve old trauma but EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information by accessing what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. In the late 1980s, Francine Shapiro, PhD, observed that eye movements could reduce the intensity of disturbing thoughts under certain conditions. She initiated the scientific study of this effect, and in 1989 the Journal of Traumatic Stress first reported the success of EMDR in treating survivors of trauma. Since that time, therapists and researchers all over the world have contributed to its development and evolution.
Today, EMDR is a set of standardized protocols incorporating elements of many different treatment approaches. The standard EMDR protocol is an eight-phase treatment to address therapeutic goals by targeting past memories, current triggers, and future responses.
How does EMDR work?
There is no simple answer to how any particular psychotherapy works at the neurobiological or brain level. We do know, however, that when we are very upset, it overwhelms our usual ability to cope so that the brain does not process information as it normally does. Instead, the disturbing event—and our unique stress response to it—is stored in a network of associated memories and experiences.
The event becomes “frozen in time” because the brain has not been able to process the associated images, sounds, scents, feelings, and body sensations. When the memory network is triggered, all or part of the traumatic reaction can occur again and again, often with the same degree of intensity. Over time this kind of traumatic stress can have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way we perceive the world and how we relate to other people. This type of stress can also take its toll on our body’s ability to maintain physical health. Headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, pain, fatigue, lowered immunity, and other health issues often accompany unresolved trauma and loss.
In EMDR sessions, the eye movements support more adaptive processing in the memory network so that we no longer “relive” the event when we bring it to mind. We still remember what happened, but it disturbs us less in the present and we stay more connected to our inner strengths and resources.
Myths about EMDR
MYTH 1: There is no research on the effectiveness of EMDR.
Over 20 randomized, controlled studies have investigated the effects of EMDR. These studies have consistently found that EMDR effectively decreases or eliminates the symptoms of post-traumatic distress for the majority of clients; moreover, clients often report improvement in other associated symptoms such as anxiety or low self-esteem.
MYTH 2: EMDR works in just one session.
Some people dealing with a single incident of trauma can often resolve the disturbing experience within three to four sessions. Others with more complex or multiple traumatic events can anticipate a longer series of sessions to address fully their treatment goals. In the first several sessions, therapist and client work together to develop a treatment plan, build trust and resources, and to prepare for using eye movements to desensitize and reprocess the targeted incidents.
MYTH 3: I’ll have to share the details of what happened.
Because EMDR accesses the brain’s own ability to “digest” trauma and store the memories in a more processed form, clients do not need to share the details of their experience. As with all psychotherapies, clients are in control of what and how much they share with the therapist.
MYTH 4: I’ll have to relive the trauma all over again.
EMDR does not require clients to relive the trauma intensely or for a prolonged time. In the actual reprocessing, many people get only a glimpse of the original experience. Others may feel a stronger degree of intensity but only for brief moments as the distress decreases quickly on its own. The EMDR therapist is also trained in techniques to help the client lower the emotional intensity and access positive coping when needed.
MYTH 5: EMDR is just moving your eyes back and forth; anyone can do EMDR.
EMDR is a comprehensive approach to psychotherapy that requires good clinical judgment and experience in treating trauma.
MYTH 6: The therapeutic effect of EMDR doesn’t last.
The American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies highly recommend EMDR as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress. Scientific and clinical evidence continues to show that EMDR can be an efficient and effective therapy. In addition, over two million people around the world are estimated to have successfully treated their symptoms and related concerns with EMDR.
I often embed a trauma-informed approach in my work with clients. Trauma does not necessarily have to be an awful and scary event that you experienced, but can be what you did not experience: emotional attunement with your parents or caregivers that affects your relationships and mental health in the present. Unresolved emotional wounds and untended traumas affect everything in your life, from the way you feel to the way you’re in relationship; from the way you treat your body, to the way your mind works.
It’s possible you’ve noticed…
- You have a fear of making mistakes, heightened anxiety in seemingly mild situations, tension in your body, or are often overwhelmed by emotions.
- Or, on the other hand, you might have emotions that are dulled, with little reaction or feeling, but you have physical problems you can’t seem to resolve.
- Intimacy is a challenge, and you might feel like you’re doing something wrong or are undeserving of love or full sexual expression.
- Frustration with your body and your relationship to it, possibly including disordered eating or self harm.
- Repeated behaviors or reactions that don’t make sense to you, that don’t feel like your true self.
- Difficulty connecting or being vulnerable in relationships
- Finding it challenging to receive love and care from others.
You may dismiss these things as normal stress, thinking “that’s just life,” or you “just have to live with it”. But this can change.
In addition to IFS and Somatic Experiencing, I am trained as an EMDR therapist as EMDR is often an effective approach in addressing not only trauma, but depression, anxiety and negative beliefs about ourselves. It can be an unconventional approach to many, so I encourage clients to check out this short video to learn how the approach works on a neurological level.
Why Use EMDR?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, is an innovative, research-supported approach to psychotherapy for resolving disturbing and traumatic experiences, whether they occurred recently or decades ago. Survivors of natural disaster, combat, abuse, assault, accidents, chronic illness and other incidents of traumatic stress have all benefited from the skillful use of EMDR. It is effective for children and adolescents as well as adults. Many people have also found EMDR effective as a mind/body approach to treat a broad range of other emotional and physical conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias and addiction. Others have used EMDR to enhance internal resources like self-confidence and determination, or to achieve peak performance in their professional or athletic endeavors.
What is EMDR?
Many types of therapy seek to resolve old trauma but EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information by accessing what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. In the late 1980s, Francine Shapiro, PhD, observed that eye movements could reduce the intensity of disturbing thoughts under certain conditions. She initiated the scientific study of this effect, and in 1989 the Journal of Traumatic Stress first reported the success of EMDR in treating survivors of trauma. Since that time, therapists and researchers all over the world have contributed to its development and evolution.
Today, EMDR is a set of standardized protocols incorporating elements of many different treatment approaches. The standard EMDR protocol is an eight-phase treatment to address therapeutic goals by targeting past memories, current triggers, and future responses.
How does EMDR work?
There is no simple answer to how any particular psychotherapy works at the neurobiological or brain level. We do know, however, that when we are very upset, it overwhelms our usual ability to cope so that the brain does not process information as it normally does. Instead, the disturbing event—and our unique stress response to it—is stored in a network of associated memories and experiences.
The event becomes “frozen in time” because the brain has not been able to process the associated images, sounds, scents, feelings, and body sensations. When the memory network is triggered, all or part of the traumatic reaction can occur again and again, often with the same degree of intensity. Over time this kind of traumatic stress can have a lasting negative effect that interferes with the way we perceive the world and how we relate to other people. This type of stress can also take its toll on our body’s ability to maintain physical health. Headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, pain, fatigue, lowered immunity, and other health issues often accompany unresolved trauma and loss.
In EMDR sessions, the eye movements support more adaptive processing in the memory network so that we no longer “relive” the event when we bring it to mind. We still remember what happened, but it disturbs us less in the present and we stay more connected to our inner strengths and resources.
Myths about EMDR
MYTH 1: There is no research on the effectiveness of EMDR.
Over 20 randomized, controlled studies have investigated the effects of EMDR. These studies have consistently found that EMDR effectively decreases or eliminates the symptoms of post-traumatic distress for the majority of clients; moreover, clients often report improvement in other associated symptoms such as anxiety or low self-esteem.
MYTH 2: EMDR works in just one session.
Some people dealing with a single incident of trauma can often resolve the disturbing experience within three to four sessions. Others with more complex or multiple traumatic events can anticipate a longer series of sessions to address fully their treatment goals. In the first several sessions, therapist and client work together to develop a treatment plan, build trust and resources, and to prepare for using eye movements to desensitize and reprocess the targeted incidents.
MYTH 3: I’ll have to share the details of what happened.
Because EMDR accesses the brain’s own ability to “digest” trauma and store the memories in a more processed form, clients do not need to share the details of their experience. As with all psychotherapies, clients are in control of what and how much they share with the therapist.
MYTH 4: I’ll have to relive the trauma all over again.
EMDR does not require clients to relive the trauma intensely or for a prolonged time. In the actual reprocessing, many people get only a glimpse of the original experience. Others may feel a stronger degree of intensity but only for brief moments as the distress decreases quickly on its own. The EMDR therapist is also trained in techniques to help the client lower the emotional intensity and access positive coping when needed.
MYTH 5: EMDR is just moving your eyes back and forth; anyone can do EMDR.
EMDR is a comprehensive approach to psychotherapy that requires good clinical judgment and experience in treating trauma.
MYTH 6: The therapeutic effect of EMDR doesn’t last.
The American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies highly recommend EMDR as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress. Scientific and clinical evidence continues to show that EMDR can be an efficient and effective therapy. In addition, over two million people around the world are estimated to have successfully treated their symptoms and related concerns with EMDR.
