EMDR with Psychotherapy
What is EMDR?
EMDR is the use of eye movement and/or bilateral brain stimulation using hand held devices, auditory devices, or tactile devices to reduce the intensity of emotions causing distress. EMDR is used in partnership with psychotherapy.
EMDR is Frequently used for:
- PTSD
- Distressing Life Events
- Car Accidents
- Physical Injury
- Chronic Pain
- Relationship Distress
FAQ
Q: Is EMDR just for people who are diagnosed with PTSD?
A: No. EMDR was originally developed to reduce symptoms of PTSD. However, it is effective for any distressing life event.
Q: How does EMDR work / What is a session like?
A: You think of a distressing memory while the therapist applies (left and right) bilateral stimulation, such as eye movement, tactile stimulation, or sounds via a headset. The distress level is then decreased. In order for EMDR to be effective patients need to commit to attending sessions once a week and consecutively.
Q: How many EMDR sessions will I need before I feel better?
A: The average number of sessions range from 8-12 per one traumatic/distressing life event, barring any complications or compound traumas. Following this process, people often report significant reduction in intensity of emotion or symptoms.
Q: What can I expect to feel afterward?
A: Most people report feeling sleepy and having insights or thoughts about the memories that are being addressed. Others report feeling dizzy and needing to take a few hours to be calm, quiet and take a break from typical daily activity for a few hours.
