“Traumatized people are not suffering from a disease in the normal sense of the word- they have become stuck in an aroused state. It is difficult if not impossible to function normally under these circumstances.”
- Peter Levine
If you have ever been in therapy (great job taking a risk and getting some help), you most likely have heard about trauma, as it is quite the hot topic issue in the therapeutic community, and has been making its way into mainstream news.
Maybe you have even been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by a licensed clinician, or maybe you diagnosed yourself. I mean, who hasn’t done that at least once after reading WebMD or several online articles about depression, anxiety, or narcissistic parents?
You may even have a lingering feeling, a subtle awareness that something feels off, making you ever more restless and agitated. Whether you’re at home, on a date, working, or driving in rush hour traffic you simply feel unbalanced, as if something important is missing from your life.
You may have sought therapy in the past to no avail. Your family and friends tell you there is something wrong with you and that you need help, but you have no clue where to start or if help is even possible.
I am here to tell you there is help and hope with EMDR therapy.
Understanding EMDR through the AIP Model
There are many different types of human experiences that can cause traumatic stress. Sometimes we are able to cope and overcome with minimal help or difficulty. Others seem impossible.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), was developed by Francine Shapiro (1987), and is a nationally recognized therapy used to alleviate symptoms of distress associated with disturbing memories.
The essence of EMDR is rooted in the Adaptive Information Processing model of the brain, which is based on the belief that trauma is stored and stuck in the brain’s neural networks. Any traumatic event a child or adult experiences causes the individual to connect to negative feelings, thoughts, and self-beliefs that are associated with these maladaptive neural networks.
When these networks are negatively impacted by trauma, they often become blocked or unbalanced, causing immense pain and emotional suffering.
EMDR is the tool that helps us “unstick” these neural networks so traumatic memories can be processed and integrated in a healthy, holistic way.
Shapiro’s understanding of the body’s natural ability to utilize its’ resources to adapt to, and overcome distressing experiences became the foundation of EMDR therapy.
As a clinician, I help clients build an inner resilience by growing their innate adaptive resources to allow those disturbed neural networks process the traumatic memory in its entirety.
Getting Started With EMDR: What to Expect
EMDR is an 8-phase protocol starting with history taking. This is where we identify past or current distressing memories or experiences, along with their associated triggers. We will also explore childhood attachments to primary caregivers, assess potential for dissociation, and develop a treatment plan.
The next phase is focused on developing your internal resources – skills and techniques that will help you handle any distressing thoughts or feelings that may arise during reprocessing. I will teach you different stress reduction skills using a combination of guided imagery, mindfulness, and physical grounding techniques.
Don’t worry. We will work together to make sure you have strong resources and coping mechanisms in place before we start trauma reprocessing. Instead of being “thrown to the wolves”, we will prepare ourselves to face those wolves and any other scary monsters that may arise during the session.
The next several phases focus on reprocessing traumatic memories utilizing EMDR techniques and interventions.
The client first visualizes an image or physical sensation related to the memory. Whatever comes to mind.
He/She then identifies a negative belief associated with that image, as well as related emotions and physical feelings.
During this time, I will perform several sets of Bilateral Stimulation and supplementary interventions to support the processing of the traumatic memory.
Throughout the entire process we will continue working together to increase your positive resources and enhance your ways to cope with distress and keep the work safe enough to avoid dissociation or re-traumatization.
The best way to explain EMDR is to imagine yourself riding a train. The sights, sounds, feelings, thoughts, and body sensations related to the memory pass like the scenery outside a train window.
Sometimes they appear to be far away and not moving at all. Sometimes they seem close and rapidly passing by like cars or buildings in the city. And other times, you may not see any scenery at all, and just have the feeling of moving.
The train will pull into the station and stop. We will step out and I will ask you to describe what you’re noticing now. You will share what you are experiencing, whatever comes to mind in that moment. You will often hear me tell you to “notice that”. We will step back on the train, and continue the ride to the next station.
Healing from Trauma is Possible with EMDR Therapy
With the widespread need for trauma services among our military veterans, extensive support has been dedicated to the research and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, with EMDR being at the forefront for clinical trauma therapies.
While traditional talk therapy has its merits, it can never get to the heart of the issue – disturbance in the brain and body’s information processing networks – which is the root of all psychological and physical trauma.
With a diverse set of protocols use to treat various types of trauma and behavioral issues arising from traumatic stress – from in-utero and childhood trauma, to various addictions and self-destructive behavior like suicidality, eating disorders, and self-injury – EMDR has been a great addition to my therapeutic tool belt, and absolutely life changing for my clients.
It is possible to heal from trauma and live a healthy, fulfilling life. And because EMDR therapy builds an individual’s adaptive resource networks, one often comes out on the other side of this journey more resilient and capable of overcoming any future challenges thrown their way.
Are you ready to take the next step towards healing?
Contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation to ask questions and learn more about how EMDR therapy can help you recover from trauma or you may request an appointment below.
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