EMDR Therapy NYC
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is an 8 phase, structured therapeutic intervention that encourages clients to focus on traumatic or painful memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, sound). EMDR is a proven tool to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. EMDR is different from talk therapy because it can help clients recover from traumatic experiences without having to talk about the details of the trauma. In EMDR, clients are encouraged to identify the negative core beliefs that keep them feeling stuck, identify the most impactful memories that formed those core beliefs, and reprocess those memories so that the brain can properly store them without the intense emotional charge.
What is trauma?
Trauma is when we experiencing any harmful event that exceeds our capacity to cope with. When we are not able to effectively cope, our nervous system jumps into action to protect us. Our nervous system protects us by either going into fight, flight, freeze or fawn. In our brains, the pre frontal cortex (logic and reason) shuts off, and our brainstem (survival) and amygdala (emotions) are in control. Because our brains are working so hard to protect us from harm, this can result in the memories not being stored properly in the brain.
After we have survived a traumatic experience, we may continue to feel the intensity of those traumatic experiences because of how the memory is improperly stored. You may notice this most when you are reminded of the traumatic experience, which we often call being “triggered.” In those moments, you may experience flashbacks or feel the same emotional intensity as you did when you were enduring the experience. Through EMDR therapy, the brain reprocesses the memory and can resume it’s natural healing process. While the memory is still present, the resolution of the fight, flight, or freeze response from the harmful experience is achieved.
EMDR can be a helpful tool for treating…
Anxiety, panic attacks or phobias
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma and stress-related issues
Grief and loss
Violence and abuse
Sexual assault
What to expect from EMDR treatment
EMDR treatment has 8 phases. You and I will through the phases at a pace that feels comfortable and secure. If you have any questions about these phases, feel free to contact me to learn more.
Phase 1: History & treatment planning
You and I will discuss your history and develop a plan for treatment. We will identify specific memories, core beliefs and stuck points to focus on. We will also discuss your current resources, strengths and coping skills that are working for you.
Phase 2: Preparation
We will get to know each other and aim to build a strong rapport. We will discuss the EMDR therapy process and set expectations. We will address any questions or concerns that may come up. We will spend majority of the time creating your coping toolkit. This will prepare you with specific techniques to cope with any emotional disturbance that may arise.
Phase 3: Assessment
Now we’ll get specific and identify the event or events we will be reprocessing. We will identify the images, beliefs, feelings and sensations related to the events. We will measure your baseline level of distress and track your level of distress throughout the process.
Phase 4: Desensitization
This is when we begin the bilateral stimulation (BLS). It could be eye movements, tapping, or sounds that engage both sides of your body. You will engage in your chosen BLS while focusing on the event we have selected. Throughout this process we will track your distress levels and allow any new thoughts, images, feelings or sensations to emerge.
Phase 5: Installation
Once your distress levels are low (1-0), we will strength a positive belief that you want to associate with the selected event until it feels true. Strengthening the positive thought will also involve BLS.
Phase 6: Body scan
Now you will be encouraged to hold in mind the selected event and the positive belief, while scanning the body from top to bottom. If there is any lingering discomfort or disturbance, we will continue with the BLS
Phase 7: Closure
We will end every session with phase 7 regardless if we get through all the previous phases. Closure involves practicing any resources or coping strategies to return you to a state of calm and grounding in the present moment.
Phase 8: Reevaluation
At the beginning of each new session, we will discuss the recently processed memories, assess the current level of distress. If all is feeling good, we will select future targets and directions for continued treatment are decided.
