EMDR Therapy Serving Eugene, Oregon
WHAT IS EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a highly specialized therapy that enables people to heal from the effects of traumatic events or upsetting life experiences. Following a traumatic incident, impressions of trauma get stored in the nervous system. As a result, we are blocked from learning new ways of seeing a situation and often re-experience the symptoms of the initial trauma when stressful events trigger us in the present. EMDR helps to put the past in the past, where it belongs, instead of feeling like it is happening in the present (over and over with the same thoughts, emotions and body sensations experienced during the event). Developed in the 1980's, EMDR has been heavily researched for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), phobias and panic, and is also effective for the treatment of anxiety, depression, anger, body image, marital discord, and existential angst. WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN EMDR THERAPY SESSION?
EMDR is a series of treatments that begin with information gathering of your history, what brings you to therapy, developing your internal resources and strengths, and explaining the protocol of EMDR. Once you are comfortable with the process of EMDR and sharing memories that you would like to reprocess, you will be asked to hold a mental image of that event or a thought that reminds you of it. Next, you will be asked to add alternating bilateral stimulation via a vibration in your hands using a Theratapper. This process can take one session or many, depending on your specific needs and goals. Each therapy session will begin and end at a pre-set time, and we will work together to make sure you feel stable, oriented, and calm before you leave. |
What is a Traumatic Life Event?
A traumatic event is an experience that causes physical, emotional, psychological distress, or harm. It is an event that is perceived and experienced as a threat to your safety, stability, or connection to the world. A traumatic event might include:
Physical symptoms might include:
Psychological symptoms might include:
Relational Symptoms:
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