What is EMDR?
EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy treatment that focuses on the here and now. More specifically, EMDR addresses how past emotionally-charged events affect one’s current emotions, behaviors, and thoughts about themselves. By using EMDR, the goal is to assist clients with breaking free of emotional, cognitive, and physical blocks that are keeping them from building a life they can be proud of.
How does it work?
At the beginning of EMDR treatment, the client and therapist will work together to identify the client’s negative and positive feelings, emotions, and thoughts around a specific event or target. Once identified, therapists will then have the client use bilateral stimulation (BLS)—such as eye movements or tapping—to help them process and work through painful memories.
The length of this process is different for each individual, and the duration of the treatment typically depends on when an individual is able to successfully install more positive beliefs about themselves and the world around them. EMDR can be an emotional process but can be extremely beneficial when those memories begin to no longer hold as much power over an individual’s daily life.
