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EMDR Therapy in Dripping Springs

WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY?

 

 

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

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The American Psychiatric Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs/Dept. of Defense, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the World Health Organization among many other national and international organizations recognize EMDR therapy as an effective treatment.

How is EMDR Different from Other Therapies?

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EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue, or homework between sessions. EMDR, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. Part of the therapy includes alternating eye movements, sounds, or taps. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies. 

Image by Cole Keister
Image by Izabelle Acheson

Therapists Use EMDR With a Wide Range of Challenges

  • Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias

  • Chronic illness and medical issues

  • Depression and bipolar disorders

  • Eating disorders

  • Grief and loss

  • Pain

  • Psychosis

  • Military & First Responders

  • PTSD and other stress-related issues

  • Sexual assault 

  • Sleep disturbance

  • Substance abuse and addiction

  • Violence and abuse

EMDR Therapy for Children and Youth

Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event can make everyday life a lot harder for a child or teen. Scary events like natural disasters, violence, abuse, school shootings, and accidents can leave lasting distress. Even more common upsetting events such as school problems, bullying, cyber-bullying, death, divorce, foster care, and family problems can also make life seem hard to manage. EMDR therapy is a way to work through troubling thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to these events. It helps build healthy coping skills and increases a child’s sense of self-worth. EMDR also strengthens feelings of success and calmness, while reducing negative beliefs and emotions from distressing situations.

5 Trauma Signs and Symptoms in Children and Youth

  • Eating or sleeping disturbances

  • Feeling helpless

  • Constricted play or lack of curiosity

  • Social isolation

  • Difficulty paying attention

  • Changes in school behaviors

  • Toileting issues

  • Irritability

  • Easily startled

  • Shame and guilt

  • Low self-esteem

  • Reenactment of traumatic event

  • Aggressive behavior

  • Sexualized behavior

  • Substance use/abuse

  • Disturbance of body image

EMDR begins by strengthening a child’s sense of safety and building skills to cope with feelings like fear, anger, and sadness related to a distressing event.

Something changed the first time I had had EMDR and if I could put one word on it…it would be HOPE.

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Experiencing the EMDR

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After the therapist and client agree that EMDR therapy is a good fit, and begin to work together, the client will be asked to focus on a specific event. Attention will be given to a negative image, belief, and body feeling related to this event, and then to a positive belief that would indicate the issue was resolved. While the client focuses on the upsetting event, the therapist will begin sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps. The client will be guided to notice what comes to mind after each set. They may experience shifts in insight or changes in images, feelings, or beliefs regarding the event. The client has full control to stop the therapist at any point, if needed. The set of eye movements, sounds, or taps are repeated until the event becomes less disturbing.

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