EMDR/Trauma

 
 

Are You Having Trouble Processing A Traumatic Event?

Do you feel like you are constantly reliving a distressing event that happened in the past? Do you avoid people or situations that remind you of the trauma? Do you wish you could go back to a time before you experienced trauma?

When you are struggling to process trauma, it can show up in your body and mind in distressing ways. You may experience flashbacks, nightmares, or disturbing memories that make your heart race. It could feel like your body is going through the same amount of stress as the original event, especially when you’re triggered by certain places or activities that remind you of the distressing experience. You may even experience panic attacks.

 

Perhaps you disassociate from the original trauma and have blocked it out to where your memories of it have become fragmented. All you know is that you are easily startled and always on guard for danger. And there are times when you may shut down emotionally or ruminate over uncontrolled thoughts.

These symptoms might impact your ability to perform routine tasks or remain focused. You may find it difficult to form relationships because you rarely let your walls come down long enough to get close to people. Moreover, you may be consumed with negative self-talk that has lowered your self-esteem. You feel numb and have lost interest in the activities you once liked to do.

Fortunately, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), recognized as one of the most effective psychotherapies for the treatment of trauma, is an effective way of neutralizing the painful memories that are keeping you in a state of distress. Once you are able to reprocess trauma, you can release yourself from its effects and feel more confident, secure, and at peace.

Trauma Is Common But Doesn’t Always Develop Into PTSD

We have all experienced something painful in our lives. According to the National Center for PTSD, about 50 percent of all women and 60 percent of all men will experience trauma at some point in their lives.[1] Yet, not everyone who lives through a traumatic event will develop PTSD.[2] Many process the pain of trauma without long-term effects, but for some, it’s difficult to move beyond the event. The level of emotional support we have in place around us will often determine how we recover from it.

Trauma can enter our lives in many different ways, including military combat, child abuse and neglect or abandonment, sexual violence, assault, accidents, and natural disasters. But it doesn’t have to be an event of this magnitude to cause trauma—anything that threatens our physical, emotional, or spiritual safety can be traumatic. Unfortunately, we often downplay what we have experienced and don’t acknowledge the emotional wounds that have been inflicted upon us.

When you look around the world today, it’s clear that we are experiencing a collective global trauma. Rampant discrimination, racism, the worldwide pandemic—all of these conditions have the potential to cause trauma. In order to cope, some of us turn to drugs and alcohol or other forms of avoidance. While self-medicating may temporarily relieve negative feelings, it does not treat the underlying cause and may even worsen symptoms.


Unfortunately, many of us put off getting help to relieve the pain we’re in. We may struggle with the stigma surrounding mental illness, never considering that we may actually benefit from PTSD or trauma treatment. Some of us do not possess the emotional vocabulary to describe what we’re feeling or recognize it for what it is—trauma.

Fortunately, EMDR treatment for trauma and PTSD is a bridge to a renewed sense of hope. It’s possible to heal from trauma and regain your sense of power and purpose.

EMDR/Trauma Therapy Can Help You Feel Safe Again

If you’ve experienced trauma, it’s important to first acknowledge your pain and process what’s happened to you before healing can begin. One of the best ways to address unresolved trauma is to work with a therapist who is skilled at providing customized treatment that can help defuse the symptoms you struggle with. When you experience a traumatic event, sometimes your brain doesn’t know how to process it. You might not identify the way you feel stuck as “trauma” as such, but I will provide you with psychoeducation so you understand what your body and mind are carrying.

In our initial session together, we will draw from a trauma-informed approach where you get to decide what we talk about. I aim to foster an environment of safety and non-judgment where you will feel comfortable to discuss what’s been bothering you freely and openly. As we build rapport and develop your treatment plan and goals, I will determine whether EMDR counseling or another modality will be the preferred treatment for you.

EMDR therapy has been proven effective in helping people recover from trauma, PTSD, and other distressful life experiences.[1] Research has shown that the brain functions in predictable patterns as it strives for a state of mental equilibrium. However, when this normal brain function is disturbed by a traumatic event, the emotional pain we experience can cause suffering and disrupt that state of equilibrium. EMDR works to remove that pain so that a state of mental wellness can once again be achieved.

 

In ongoing sessions, you will determine which traumatic event you would like to process. The desensitization and reprocessing steps can help neutralize the painful memories, thoughts, and sensations so they don’t negatively affect you anymore. Essentially, I help you revisit earlier life events that cause present-day symptoms—this allows older memories to be stored accurately in the brain so that you are no longer triggered. As we move through the phases of EMDR, you will gain the skills to:

  • self-regulate your physical and emotional reactions to the memory

  • install healthy beliefs surrounding it

  • check in with your body to ensure the physical and emotional reactions associated with the memory have subsided

  • “close up” the memory so it no longer causes distress

 

Once we’ve completed the EMDR sequence, you will notice when you check in with your body that the memory no longer triggers the same sensations, thoughts, and emotions it once did.

Recovering from trauma is a process, but healing from it is possible. Once you’re able to leave the pain of the past behind you, your future will be brighter. You can feel safe, secure, and emotionally healthy after you process your unresolved trauma in therapy.

Check out these videos about EMDR Therapy

 

But you may be wondering whether EMDR trauma therapy is right for you…

  • Many people assume that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. However, EMDR therapy can be completed in a relatively short amount of time when compared with other modalities, such as talk therapy. In much the same way that your body heals from physical injury, your mind has the ability to heal from psychological trauma. In addition, one of the benefits of EMDR therapy is that recalling past memories is less emotional and distressful.

  • Since incorporating EMDR counseling into my practice, I have witnessed incredible breakthroughs with my clients who have experienced trauma. EMDR can help decrease—and in some cases eliminate—the disturbing thoughts and sensations associated with a traumatic memory. Once processed, you will no longer experience a strong distressful response in your body or mind whenever that memory arises.

  • Many of us think that only major events, such as experiencing a natural disaster, active combat, or sexual assault, qualify as trauma. However, this isn’t true. You experience trauma whenever your physical or emotional safety is threatened. You might not link the emotional or physiological symptoms you’re dealing with to past trauma, but they’re likely interconnected. If you are experiencing distressful feelings and emotions in your body and mind, it’s worth examining what might be underlying them.

Trauma Treatment And EMDR Therapy Can Help You Heal

Healing is possible. You have the ability to recover from trauma and live an empowering, fulfilled life. If you would like to schedule an appointment or discuss any questions you may have about EMDR trauma therapy, please visit the contact page.