EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. In the simplest terms, an EMDR therapist helps adults and children address the emotional distress and traumatic memories of disturbing life experiences.
Resolving traumatic memories and associated symptoms.
During EMDR therapy, the protocol is as follows:
The client attends to emotionally disturbing material and brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Therapy involves the following 3 parts:
HISTORY TAKING SESSION: the painful events / memories that have laid the groundwork for dysfunction are processed – forging new associative links with adaptive information.
IDENTIFYING PRESENT TRIGGERS: current circumstances that illicit distress are targeted and external/internal triggers are desensitized.
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS SKILLS: Imaginary future events are incorporated to assist the client in acquiring the skills needed for adaptive functioning.
It can be very helpful, but it’s hard work..
During a session with an EMDR therapist, you begin to create awareness around the trauma, how your body physically feels when experiencing distress, and what your beliefs about yourself are when thinking about the traumatic event/s. After recognizing this, you learn to make other associative feelings / thoughts about the trauma.
Many case studies have been published since 1989 demonstrating EMDR’s effectiveness in PTSD treatment.
For more information on seeing an EMDR therapist:
Contact Nancy Hilsenrath, LCSW, CASAC, SAP for info. about counseling.
EMAIL NANCY or call (718) 551-2777
3 COUNSELING LOCATIONS: W. Hempstead, NY, Douglaston, NY, Hewlett, NY
