EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma and many other mental health problems.

 

To date, EMDR therapy has helped millions of people of all ages relieve many types of psychological stress.

The goal of EMDR therapy is to process completely the experiences that are causing problems, and to include new ones that are needed for full health. "Processing" does not mean talking about it.

"Processing" means setting up a learning state that will allow experiences that are causing problems to be "digested" and stored appropriately in your brain. That means that what is useful to you from an experience will be learned, and stored with appropriate emotions in your brain, and be able to guide you in positive ways in the future. The inappropriate emotions, beliefs, and body sensations will be discarded. Negative emotions, feelings and behaviours are generally caused by unresolved earlier experiences that are pushing you in the wrong directions.

The goal of EMDR therapy is to leave you with the emotions, understanding, and perspectives that will lead to healthy and useful behaviours and interactions.

Scientific research has established EMDR as effective for post traumatic stress.  However, clinicians also have reported success using EMDR in treatment of the following conditions:

  • • Panic attacks
  • • Complicated grief
  • • Dissociative disorders
  • • Disturbing memories
  • • Phobias
  • • Pain disorders
  • • Performance anxiety
  • • Stress reduction
  • • Addictions
  • • Sexual and/or Physical abuse
  • • Body dysmorphic disorders
  • • Personality Disorders


(offered by psychotherapist Heather Macmillan)