Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have devastating impacts on mental health and well-being. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a relatively new form of psychotherapy, proving to be an effective and efficient way of treating trauma and PTSD.
EMDR works by targeting the way traumatic memories and experiences are stored, processed, and recalled in the brain. This is done by using a combination of cognitive and sensory elements to help the individual gain a new perspective on their experiences and develop coping strategies.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that works with the brain’s natural abilities to process and heal from trauma. This therapy combines aspects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness therapy with eye movement as a way to address the root cause of the distress.
The goal of EMDR is to help individuals process past experiences and heal from the events they have been through. It can be used to treat a wide range of issues, including the following:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Addictions
- Grief
- Self-esteem issues
- Relationship problems
Different Types of EMDR
There are several different types of EMDR, which include:
- Standard EMDR therapy: This is the original form of EMDR therapy that includes eye movement
- Fast EMDR therapy: A shortened version of standard EMDR therapy, sometimes used with children
- Bilateral EMDR: This type of EMDR therapy focuses on both sides of the body simultaneously
- Augmented EMDR therapy: Adds additional cognitive techniques to help the individual’s processing
- Resolving EMDR therapy: Therapy that focuses on processing memories of an unresolved event
- Targeted EMDR therapy: Uses EMDR therapy to work on a specific trauma that is connected to another issue
How This Therapy Works to Treat Trauma and PTSD
EMDR therapy works to target the way traumatic memories and experiences are stored, processed, and recalled in the brain. It does this by alternating the focus between past, present, and future moments. This helps the individual gain a new perspective on their experiences and develop coping strategies.
When a person experiences trauma, it is often associated with intense feelings of fear and helplessness. These feelings are processed in the brain and stored as visual images (which are processed by the right side of the brain), sounds, smells, and sensations (which are processed by the left side of the brain). EMDR therapy helps individuals process those images and sensations and make sense of the trauma they experienced.
In the case of PTSD, a traumatic event becomes a fixed and recurring part of who a person is. It becomes frozen in time, and the person’s brain cannot move on from it. EMDR therapy helps individuals process their trauma and break the association between their traumatic experience and their identity.
This is done by helping the individual gain new information about their experience and process the event in a new way. Processing the trauma in a new way allows a person to heal and move forward with a life unencumbered by the effects of past trauma.
EMDR therapy is a form of psychotherapy that is an effective way of treating trauma. It works by targeting how traumatic memories and experiences are processed, stored, and recalled in the brain. It uses a combination of cognitive and sensory elements to help the individual gain a new perspective on their experiences and develop coping strategies. If you or someone you care about struggles with untreated trauma, The Guest House can help. Call (855) 483-7800 for more information on our trauma treatment program.