Home About Sonja EMDR Services Contact Sonja

WHAT IS EMDR?


EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

EMDR is a highly effective form of psychotherapy for healing the symptoms of trauma, as well as other charged emotional issues. EMDR is a rapid method for treating troubling symptoms such as anxiety, guilt, anger, depression, panic, sleep disturbance, and flashbacks that are the result of traumatic experiences. Not only is EMDR proven to be one of the most effective treatments for healing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and chronic symptoms, but the benefits appear to be permanent. The efficacy is evidenced by extensive scientific research.


Eye Movement

The effects are facilitated by alternating stimulation of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This can be accomplished with left/right eye movements, ear tones or tactile pulses, depending on the client’s preference.


Desensitization

The emotional disturbance associated with traumatic memories is eliminated.


Reprocessing

The final phase of EMDR is the replacement of negative beliefs associated with traumatic memories with more healthy positive beliefs.


EMDR was discovered in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro.

Much research has been conducted on EMDR validating the effectiveness of this treatment. EMDR is a natural process that uses bilateral stimulation to activate the opposite sides of the brain while processing memories. This releases emotional or blocked information and allows the memory to be experienced from a more adaptive perspective.


EMDR allows a client to process an emotional experience that may be difficult to even talk about. Most importantly, it can eliminate stress surrounding the traumatic memory. The result is painful feelings are exchanged for more peaceful, resolved feelings.

 

EMDR can help symptoms such as:

Anxiety, Depression, Abandonment/Fear of being alone, Guilt, Shame, Distrust, Grief/Loss, Phobias, Nightmares, Anger

SYMPTOM QUESTIONNAIRE:

  • Did you experience physical or emotional childhood abuse or neglect?
  • Are you distrustful of others?
  • Do you feel guilty without knowing why?
  • Are you attracted to people who just aren't good for you?
  • Have you experienced loss due to a death or divorce?
  • Are you angry all the time, and don’t know why?
  • Are phobias limiting your life, despite efforts to overcome them?
  • Have you tried cognitive therapies only to find your emotions still ruling your life?
  • Do you want to calm the chaos of self-defeating thoughts, feelings and behaviors?
  • Do you want to get to the root cause of chronic symptoms?
  • Do you want to reduce stress and its negative impact on your physical health?


If you answered yes to any of the above questions, EMDR could be helpful to you.


For more information or to make an appointment, please contact Sonja through this website.