EMDR Therapy
A unique type of therapy helpful for healing from painful memories and trauma by giving the brain a new way to process what happened.
What is EMDR?
During sessions, you’ll be guided to focus on specific memories while following gentle back-and-forth eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. This process helps reduce the emotional intensity of those memories, so they no longer feel as overwhelming or intrusive.
Many people who have tried EMDR find that it helps them feel more in control, less reactive, and better able to move forward. It’s not about forgetting the past—it’s about changing how the past affects you today.
How long does it take?
The length of EMDR therapy can vary depending on the individual and the nature of their concerns. Typically, each session lasts about 60 to 90 minutes. Some individuals may experience significant relief in just a few sessions, while others may require longer treatment. Typically, EMDR will consist of at least 8 sessions, but often many more sessions beyond this are required to fully address an individuals’ concerns and presenting issues.
Who is it for?
EMDR is helpful for people who have experienced trauma or distressing life events. It is often used to treat conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and phobias. EMDR can also benefit those struggling with grief, stress, or unresolved childhood experiences. It’s a versatile therapy suitable for adults and, in some cases, children, especially when traditional talk therapies may not be as effective.
How is EMDR different than traditional Talk Therapy?
While talk therapy can be highly effective, EMDR specifically targets the emotional and neurological aspects of trauma, often leading to quicker relief from trauma-related symptoms.
Essentially, EMDR works more directly with the brain’s processing of trauma, while talk therapy generally focuses on understanding, reflecting, and changing thoughts and behaviors over time. Both can be beneficial, especially together, because this allows for addressing issues from different perspectives and from different levels of brain activity and awareness.
Erika Hawkins is our very own EMDR trained therapist on staff. She completed the entirety of EMDR basic training from an entity approved by the governing organization for EMDR known as EMDRIA. She has also received other specific training related to working with individuals who have experienced trauma and had the opportunity to study specific techniques for working with trauma related symptoms during her time in her masters’ program. Please reach out to learn more and discuss if EMDR or another form of therapy may be helpful for you.
You can reach her at 980-355-9681 or at erika@emerald-its.com to learn more, or click here to schedule a free 15 minute phone consult.
