The therapists at Russell and Associates use EMDR Therapy to treat anxiety and trauma symptoms. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the best, clinically-proven treatments for trauma and anxiety and other issues. EMDR therapy looks unorthodox, but has a wealth of solid clinical research supporting its effectiveness. If you are finding yourself stuck with old memories, thoughts or feelings that you know are taking up too much space in your mind, EMDR may be helpful for you.
“Changing the memories that form the way we see ourselves also changes the way we view others. Therefore, our relationships, job performance, what we are willing to do or are able to resist, all move in a positive direction.”
― Francine Shapiro, Getting Past Your Past
To get a quick idea about what EMDR is and what it does watch this short video. It is courtesy of the (American) National Center for PTSD and provides a short, easy to understand explanation. Keep reading below for the fuller story.
EMDR is a therapy effective for treating a wide variety of anxiety problems, including panic attacks, phobias, mood disorders, addictions, eating disorders, as well as some disorders that appear to be more body-based than mind-based. Therapists and clients working together have found EMDR helpful for pain management, body dysmorphic disorder and relieving the physical tension or nausea related to traumatic injury.
Much of our work at Russell and Associates is with people seeking relief from childhood abuse, dissociation, and complex trauma, including developmental trauma. While these are more complex matters, we find that our clients can find real relief and healing.
EMDR is a therapy that gives the mind an opportunity to re-process difficult, painful, or traumatic memories. It is common to hear ‘well, its in the past, there is nothing I can do about it now’. That is simply not true. In therapy, we can’t change the historical events, but we can change the way we remember or perceive those historical events. That is what we mean when we say ‘reprocess’.
Through a complex process in the mind, all the memories, emotions, thoughts and body sensations related to a traumatic event have an opportunity to be reorganized and put to rest once and for all. The amazing part of EMDR that fascinates people it that the healing and relief comes naturally and spontaneously as the brain reprocesses old dysfunctionally-stored memories and puts them to rest. We frequently hear our clients say something along the lines of; “Its weird, but it just doesn’t bother me any more to think of that thing that happened; it feels like its finally over”.
If you think EMDR may be helpful for you contact one of the therapists at Russell and Associates. We can meet with you, discuss what you are hoping to accomplish in therapy and answer any questions you may have about EMDR. We want you to feel informed, comfortable and safe moving ahead with EMDR or any therapy.
