Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has been proven to effectively treat many mental health struggles including PTSD and other trauma clearing. Using a natural physiological healing process similar to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, EMDR allows the brain to recall distressing situations that have been “frozen” in the brain to reprocess the memories in such away that allows for painful feelings, sensations, and images in the mind to neutralize and become less triggering. EMDR encourages the natural healing processes of the brain that have been paused by a traumatic event.

In an EMDR session, your therapist will guide you through a process of eye movement similar to REM sleep, then call to your memory the disturbing event or series of events in your past. Your therapist will then work with you to process through the thoughts, images, and feelings you experience and reprocess those symptoms to shift the memory from negative to neutral. EMDR is not hypnosis and you will be awake and aware throughout the entire session. Not every memory will be neutralized after one session, but the long-term outcome of clients who have undergone EMDR treatment remains positive.

For more information about EMDR and supporting research visit www.emdr.org.

Therapists who offer EMDR at The EFT Clinic: