EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA), Veterans Association (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), and the World Health Organization (WHO) as a powerful and effective tool to use when treating trauma or distressful events.  Additionally, EMDR is effective with:

• First responders (police officers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, firefighters)

• Athletes (including those experiencing mental blocks)

• Military

• Performance anxiety

• Phobias

• General anxiety

• Depression

• Test anxiety (licensure exams, SAT’s, etc.)

• Grief

How is EMDR different?

EMDR has shown to work quickly when compared to traditional psychotherapy.  Kaiser Permanente has conducted several studies on EMDR and found that 84%-90% people who have experienced a single traumatic event no longer met criteria for PTSD after three 90-minute sessions.  100% no longer met criteria for the PTSD diagnosis after sex 90-minute session.  Another study by Kaiser Permanente found that 77% of combat veterans no longer met criteria for PTSD after 12 sessions.  Of course, individual results vary and depend on a variety of factors.

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EMDR does not require talking in detail about the distressing event, nor does it require homework between sessions.  Sessions are usually 90 minutes long and involves clearing mental blocks to allow people to resume the natural healing process.  Our brains are naturally resilient (neuroplasticity) and EMDR takes advantage of this process to help the brain process difficult memories quickly and efficiently.