Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy

Highly researched and proven to help individuals struggling with re-processing traumatic events, EMDR is provided by a licensed therapist who has been professionally trained in the EMDR techniques.

What is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was developed to help individuals experiencing the adverse side effects resulting from a traumatic event. Through EMDR, clients relive the traumatic experience with oversight from their therapist. As individuals recall their distressing circumstances, the therapist works to divert their attention through planned eye movements or tapping.

During EMDR sessions, the client will use bilateral stimulation while focusing on a specific memory or feeling in the body. This technique works to distract upsetting thoughts, making the painful memory less traumatic over time (throughout several therapy sessions). Unlike other types of therapy, EMDR does not force participants to relive their traumatic experience, which is often traumatic in itself.

By allowing clients to draw out their memories safely and controlled at a pace they feel comfortable with, they will not feel overwhelmed when recalling their traumatic incident. EMDR treatment allows individuals to reprocess and reframe the trauma more positively while releasing any negative emotions around it (desensitization).

What does EMDR Treat?

Those suffering from trauma or PTSD typically benefit the most from EMDR, though it can be helpful for a variety of disorders. And while EMDR is highly beneficial to processing trauma, it can also be used to re-process things we become stuck on. Whether that’s a traumatic experience or a thought/belief you have about yourself, we can easily become stuck on things. EMDR helps us re-process these experiences or thoughts so that we can move through them instead of getting stuck on them.

EMDR has also proven effective in the treatment of:

Anxiety
Depression
Addiction
Pain Disorders
Panic Attacks
Painful or Disturbing Memories
Physical, Sexual, or Emotional Abuse
Grief and Loss
Flashbacks & Nightmares
And More

How does it work?

During your EMDR sessions, your therapist will set up a memory or thought in your mind (using specific prompts). Once the thought has been established, they will then use bilateral stimulation (through tapping or eye movements) to help your work through this memory, and/or others connected to it. This bilateral stimulation works in a similar way to the REM sleep cycle (which is when we process our subconscious thoughts). We often go to bed feeling stuck or upset about something and then wake up feeling better about it, and this is due to the rapid eye movements during our sleep cycle.

EMDR recreates this in a safe way, guided by a trained therapist. Clients tend to love it because it can help them work through their trauma very quickly, and there is very little talking during it, which is helpful because they do not have to relive their trauma by rehashing memories over and over again.

Find Relief Through EMDR

We understand facing your fears and undergoing EMDR treatments might feel overwhelming and uncomfortable. Whether you or your loved ones need help dealing with treating their PTSD/Trauma or another mental health condition, we can help.

At Greenview Therapy, we provide individuals relief through regular therapeutic treatments as they navigate their challenges, empowering them to make the changes they seek. Grounded in compassion, our goal-oriented approach meets each client where they are on their path to achieving mental health and well-being.