Are you considering EMDR therapy? Do you need help getting to the root of your pain? Does it make you feel trapped?

Like many others, you may be aware that talking about your sorrow does not make it go away, which is why you are seeking EMDR therapy. You already know you can go over and over the trauma or upset in your mind, but nothing shifts.

It’s hard to be present in your life when you’re anxious about the future or ruminating about your past. Thus, life may be just a painful, familiar cycle of using avoidance or numbing behavior during the day and having wakeful, restless nights.

All of this means that if you could let go of the burden, you would be more available for your life now. You could have more mental space to feel free and do what you love. But you just don’t know how. You know you need professional help.

The good news is that you can get the help you need!

Maybe you’ve heard of EMDR therapy from others but don’t know if it’s right for you.

You might want to try it but have questions and concerns. Below, I’ve outlined the most commonly asked questions.

What is EMDR therapy?

A well-known, research-proven method for safely releasing trauma and pain in the body and mind is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR therapy. When a traumatic or stressful event happens, your brain never stores the memory correctly. Instead, the memories are at the forefront of your mind and get triggered easily by any reminder. Repetitive reliving of memories and thoughts clouds your mind.

Truly, it’s a smart way the brain is designed to keep us safe, but it's unhelpful in our everyday lives. EMDR therapy will assist in processing memories and thoughts, ensuring their complete storage. Negative beliefs will be replaced with more positive thinking.

What is a session like?

First, we will work together to prepare the session. We will talk about the memory, presenting problem, or symptom you wish to address. We will then choose the best bilateral technique that feels good to you. These include eye movement, hand pulsers, self-tapping, or a combination.

As your therapist, I will briefly have you focus on the thoughts, feelings, images, and sensations that surround the memory or problem. While you notice all this, we will be using the bilateral technique. This movement resembles REM sleep and helps store the event and everything associated with it. It also helps "unlock" the brain, allowing for new insight and fresh ideas. However, the memory will not be erased, but the charge that was keeping it alive will be gone.

Is EMDR similar to hypnosis?

Similar to hypnosis, EMDR brings up unconscious thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sensations. However, with EMDR, you will be fully awake, conscious, and present.

Can we use EMDR therapy for issues other than trauma?

Simply put: yes. EMDR is an effective, evidence-based, and increasingly well-known treatment that can relieve your mind and body. EMDR therapy is proven to treat many issues, such as, but not limited to:

PTSD
Abuse (sexual, physical, emotional)
Phobias
Anxiety
Grief
Chronic Pain
Depression
Somatic Disorders
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Addictions
Performance Anxiety
Vicarious Trauma
Eating Disorders

Is EMDR online therapy just as effective?

Yes, this question is being asked more often because of increased interest in online therapy. EMDR is just as effective online as in person. Actually, many feel there are some extra benefits to EMDR online therapy. These include being in a known comfortable home environment, not having to commute, being easier to schedule, being more accessible, et cetera. In general, the only difference is that we will be using bilateral music or tapping, and we can set this up together.

Can EMDR therapy be harmful?

EMDR therapy is considered to be safe, with minimal side effects such as light-headedness and heightened emotions or physical sensations after the session. Luckily, these effects reduce with time as memories become less charged. It's important to find a therapist who has extra training in EMDR and has experience using it with many clients. At the end of each session, I teach grounding and relaxation exercises to make sure you're ready to walk back into your life. Even children can benefit from EMDR.

Can I do EMDR on my own?

Partly, it's possible to use parts of EMDR to learn how to cope with anxiety and depression related to traumatic events. Doing this on your own, outside of therapy, can help speed up the recovery process. However, to reach the full benefit, you will need the help of a trained professional therapist if you get stuck. Their guidance will give you the strength to face aspects you tend to avoid. As well as helping you get out of stuck places. A large part of the treatment is sharing and processing in a safe, accepting environment. As a result, you will have a fuller, more in-depth experience than you would have alone.

Will EMDR therapy work for me?

You may be experiencing disruptive thoughts, rollercoaster emotions, uncomfortable bodily sensations, or other unhelpful responses that suggest you’re unsuccessfully managing undigested trauma. Most likely, EMDR therapy will be helpful for you, but you'll never know unless you try it.

Don't beat yourself up for being unable to resolve this on your own or for considering help right now. EMDR gives you the opportunity to face your fears and feelings directly, holistically, and accurately. This was accomplished in a relatively short amount of time. I find most people feel relief after just six sessions, with participants reporting a lasting and very satisfactory result.

Take the next step...

Trauma and stress can take up residence in your life for a very long time. But only if you allow it. The first step to regaining control of your life and happiness is to accept that you have a problem. Then, you can accept the assistance that will make recovery possible.

You have the right to live a life free from trauma. You have a right to recover. With EMDR therapy, you can achieve lasting clarity, sustainable peace, and a future with less emotional baggage.

Talk to me about EMDR therapy during a free consultation. It’s time to release your fear. Relax the grip the past has on your world and restore your ability to live life well. We offer online and in-person sessions in the Boulder, Longmont, and Denver area.