Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Welcome to Pediatric and Adult Behavioral Counseling, where we offer cutting-edge therapies to help you achieve mental wellness. One such therapy we offer is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Our licensed and certified therapists are trained to provide EMDR, which is an evidence-based therapy that helps alleviate the symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. EMDR Therapy is an amazing integrative psychotherapy that helps individuals of ALL ages heal from histories of trauma. One of the reasons EMDR is so effective is because it combines elements of several evidenced based therapies, including CBT, DBT, and somatic experiencing, just to name a few!
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a psychotherapy technique that was first introduced in the late 1980s. It has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as an effective treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related disorders.
EMDR involves a set of standardized procedures that incorporate elements from different therapy approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and somatic therapy. During an EMDR session, the therapist asks the client to recall traumatic memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, hand taps, or sounds.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR works by reprocessing traumatic memories and associated beliefs and emotions. Trauma can cause memories to get "stuck" in the brain, preventing them from being processed and integrated with other memories. This can lead to symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors.
EMDR helps the brain to process traumatic memories by activating both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, which can lead to new insights and perspectives on the traumatic event. This allows the individual to reframe the traumatic memory and to integrate it with other memories, leading to a reduction in symptoms.
What Conditions Can EMDR Treat?
EMDR has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a wide range of mental health issues, including:
- PTSD and trauma-related disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Phobias
- Chronic pain
- Addiction
- Eating disorders
Why Choose PABC for EMDR Therapy?
At Pediatric and Adult Behavioral Counseling, we have a team of highly skilled, licensed, certified and experienced therapists who are trained to provide EMDR therapy. Our therapists use evidence-based techniques to help you achieve mental wellness and work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that is tailored to your specific needs.
We also offer a comfortable and supportive environment where you can feel safe and secure while exploring your thoughts and feelings. Our team is committed to providing compassionate care and helping you achieve your mental health goals.
Some of the potential benefits of EMDR Therapy may include:
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮
Your past no longer affects your present. You feel able to fully live in the moment and not be haunted by things from the past. When we reprocess traumatic memories with EMDR Therapy, those memories become properly stored in the brain, so that they no longer get triggered in day to day life.
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀
Individuals struggling with unprocessed trauma may have difficulty with interpersonal relationships. Resolving the trauma can improve your behavior, which in turn, can improve how you interact with others.
𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵
The 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 demonstrated the strong link between childhood trauma and heart disease. By working through that trauma, you can improve the stress levels in your body, which can improve your overall physical health
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Individuals with PTSD/CPTSD have difficulty with focus and attention. This is for many reasons, including the improper storage of the trauma memory in the brain and the nervous system stuck in a state of hypo or hyperarousal, which impacts one's ability to pay attention.
𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀
Hey guess what? If you're working on healing from your childhood trauma, that's going to have an amazing impact on your ability to effectively parent your own children. That's one of my most favorite aspects of trauma therapy - it doesn't just help the individual heal, but it helps the children of trauma survivors, so they can have the benefit of an emotionally regulated, attuned parent. That's how we can change the course of an entire generation's future 🙂
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
Individuals (adults, teens and kids) report difficulty with sleep when they've experienced trauma. This Trauma Therapy helps improve the functioning of the nervous system, so you sleep better!
Contact Us
If you are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, EMDR therapy may be an effective treatment option for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled therapists and take the first step towards achieving mental wellness.