Phobias, Traumas, and More. Why EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a relatively new practice. Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. developed the model in the 1990s and it became increasingly popular in the 2000s. These days, most mental health professionals in the trauma world have at least heard of EMDR.
To break it down in layman’s terms, think of your brain as a messy desk, and your memories are represented by the clutter. It’s nearly impossible to get any work done. There are papers in your way, sticky notes spewed about, and you can’t find the dang stapler. You are distracted. You are agitated. Something must be done. EMDR is like organizing the mess. You pick up each paper, or memory, one at a time, and you put it in its right place. Now you can focus, and you feel unburdened. The papers aren’t shredded, and the sticky notes aren’t tossed in the bin. Rather, they found their home in a spot that isn’t bothersome or disruptive. EMDR is the same for your brain. It focuses on the distressing memories and rewires them to a part of your brain that is more adaptive.
So, why EMDR?
Let me share my personal testimony. Like many, I was skeptical of EMDR when I first heard of it. It seemed to closely resemble hypnotherapy, and I wanted none of that (spoiler alert: It’s not anything like hypnotherapy). For as long as I could remember, I struggled deeply with a needle phobia. For days prior to a doctor appointment, I’d ruminate over whether my blood was going to be drawn. If I knew for sure it was, I would panic the morning of. Listening to stories of other people getting blood drawn or watching a medical show could bring me to tears. I started to question if I ever wanted children because I didn’t think I could tolerate receiving an epidural.
Someone close to me was a trained EMDR therapist and offered to show me how EMDR could help. The potential relief convinced me to try. It only took three sessions.
After my three sessions, I could think about needles without having a negative reaction. Do I look forward to having my blood drawn? No. But can I watch Grey’s Anatomy without covering my eyes half the episode? Absolutely! Once I saw the results for myself, I knew I needed to get trained ASAP to impart healing on my trauma patients. Now using it since 2023, I’ve seen patients of all ages and a scope of needs benefit from EMDR.
If you’re curious if EMDR is the right fit for you, contact me today. I’m happy to help.
*For clients ineligible for my services due to their location, you can refer to www.emdrconsulting.com or www.EMDRIA.org to find an EMDR trained therapist near you.
DISCLAIMER: EMDR is not a quick fix solution for trauma survivors. It is an evidence-based practice that can help process trauma, phobias, and more. EMDR may not be the best treatment for every person. Work with your therapist to develop a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs and goals.