EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that helps individuals to process and overcome traumatic memories and experiences. It is based on the idea that traumatic memories can become "stuck" in the brain and that EMDR helps to "unstick" these memories, allowing them to be processed and integrated into the individual's overall life experiences.

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Symptoms: When is EDMR used:

• Do you feel like you are haunted by a traumatic event?

• Do you feel like you can't move on from a traumatic experience?

• Do you feel like you are constantly re-experiencing the traumatic event?

• Do you avoid people, places, or activities that remind you of the traumatic event?

• Do you have difficulty trusting others or forming relationships?

• Would you like to reduce anxiety or depression?

•  Would you like to stop using alcohol or drugs?

•  Would you like to improve your self-esteem and confidence?

Treatments:

• EMDR is typically used to treat individuals who have experienced a traumatic event, such as physical or sexual abuse, combat, or a natural disaster.

• EMDR is a structured therapy that involves 8 phases, including taking a detailed history, preparing the client for the treatment, identifying the traumatic event, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation

• The therapist will guide the client through the memory of the traumatic event while engaging in some form of bilateral stimulation (usually eye movements, taps, or tones) which is believed to help the client process and integrate the traumatic memory.

• EMDR is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, and it can also be effective in treating other issues such as anxiety, depression, and phobias.