What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This treatment was developed by Francine Shaprio in 1987 and has been extensively studied and supported by organizations like the American Psychological Association and World Health Organization since.
The mind is capable of healing itself, just as the physical body is, and mental healing often takes place during REM sleep. This therapy uses bilateral stimulation, often as eye movements, to help the brain heal from memories or distressing events that now seem frozen in time or elicit feelings that those events are happening now, in the present. EMDR helps to remove the fight, flight, or freeze response that has been conditioned since the original experience.
If we think of the past disturbing memory as being string tangled around all other aspects of our lives and tied to the present, EMDR is the way to untangle that distressing event or traumatic memory from the rest of the brain.

How is EMDR different?

EMDR does not require talking extensively or in detail about the original distressing event or events. EMDR allows the brain to use its own natural healing capabilities. Sometimes, traumatic memories or distressing events get stuck in the brain. These unprocessed memories can create emotional reactions, painful associations, and can easily trigger feelings and sensations of anxiety, panic, anger, or despair. This therapy helps create the correct neural network to process and store these past memories and events properly and where they belong in the brain. EMDR helps to create the connections between your limbic system and the brain’s memory networks to allow the brain to sort out the past from the present and place those memories, events, and distributing feelings into the past. EMDR might be completed in fewer sessions than other modalities.

What is EMDR like in session?

A trained clinician will develop a thorough treatment plan for you. There are specific questions for you to answer about the memory or event you would like help to process. The clinician will help guide you through these questions and will help you develop positive resources to support you throughout the process. EMDR sessions will begin with rating the memory or past event, bringing to mind the targeted part of it, implementing the eye movements or bilateral stimulation for a short time, then you will be asked to notice what came up for you and you can decide if you want to report that or just notice it yourself. The eye movements will then be repeated as your brain continues to follow the memory, and process it in such a way that the intensity of it decreases and it can be stored as a neutral memory of the past, rather than as a continuing current trigger. Linked memories may come up and get processed as well. The clinician will close the session by asking you to rate where you are at now, possibly offer a resource, and let you know that your brain may continue processing.
You will be in control through the entire process. You will be alert, present, and fully awake. You may stop the process at any time. The clinician will intervene minimally, guiding you through the process. EMDR allows the brain to heal itself and progress is often experienced spontaneously in session and after as processing allows new connections and insights to form.

Who can benefit?

Those who have experienced:

• anxiety, panic attacks, phobias
• feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteem
• PTSD and other trauma related issues
• depression
• sexual assault
• sleep problems
• chronic illness, pain
• grief and loss
• and more

You and your clinician should work closely together to determine what therapy modality is right for you. EMDR is a rapid process and can elicit strong emotions, thoughts, and sensations. The processing does continue after and outside of session.

Who can provide EMDR?

EMDR is a specialty mental health intervention and should only be offered by licensed clinicians who have been properly trained. The training is an extensive course, practicum, and supervised experience.

I have completed an EMDRIA approved training, allowing me to offer this therapy in office and via telehealth.

Content Resource

Content has been adapted by Courtney Milligan from EMDRIA, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association.

EMDR available in office in Sugar Land, TX and surrounding areas including Richmond, TX; Missouri City, TX; Rosenberg, TX; Houston, TX; Katy, TX; Wharton, TX; Needville, TX. Sessions are also available remotely by telehealth across the states of TX, CO, and WA.

Feel free to reach out below with any questions you have. You can request an EMDR appointment below or here.