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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

What is EMDR Therapy?

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EMDR stands for "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing." 

EMDR is an integrated,  8-phase therapeutic approach that consider's

a person's somatic (physical) and emotional states, with a focus on

how the brain perceives events.

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EMDR was founded in 1987 by Francine Shapiro and is currently one

of the most researched methods of contemporary psychotherapy. 

EMDR has been empirically proven to be particularly effective in

treating PTSD and other types of traumas.

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EMDR is successful in treating:

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PTSD                                                          Nightmares

Anxiety                                                       Flashbacks

Panic Attacks                                            Chronic Pain

Depression                                                Performance Anxiety

Phobias                                                      Phantom Limb Pain

Physical Abuse                                         Emotional Abuse

Sexual Abuse

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What to Expect

During the EMDR process, different emotions and sensations

may arise as your brain works to make sense of things. 

You will be asked to notice your experience and give honest

feedback.  Whatever you are feeling in the moment is okay

and the role as the therapist is to gently guide the process by

observing and being curious.

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Key Features of EMDR

  • Present-focused therapy, with a particular interest in the ways past memories activate emotions in the present moment.

  • The therapist guides the client in accessing memories in order to move them from a place of emotional activation to a more logical, rational place so that triggers of the past no longer have the same charge.

  • Includes a technique called "bilateral stimulation," where a therapist will guide a client through eye movements, tones or tapping.

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Length of Treatment

It is our goal to move clients through treatment swiftly, while at the same time, respecting the desired pace of the patient and the EMDR process.

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In our experience, the typical range for the length of treatment is four to twelve weekly sessions, however, no two people are alike and the exact number of sessions will vary.  Certain issues like a single traumatic event (ex., car accident) may take a shorter number of sessions than a more complex trauma history.

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