EMDR Therapy
Are you still suffering after years of talk therapy? Perhaps you’ve been told that EMDR therapy may be an important next step in your healing and recovery. While traditional forms of talk therapy can help you make sense of your trauma, EMDR treatment focuses on assisting you in reprocessing the trauma and healing more fully.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based treatment that targets many symptoms and conditions including trauma, negative memories, phobias, fears, anxiety, addictions, compulsions and performance difficulties. Originally used to treat Veterans, EMDR therapy is now one of the most efficient and effective trauma/symptom treatment methods that allows clients to fully heal from their psychological wounds. EMDR can successfully be integrated into psychotherapy sessions. Many clients find EMDR to be more effective than other forms of therapy including CBT and traditional “talk therapy.”
EMDR therapy is a psychotherapy approach primarily used to treat trauma and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). It was developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s.
What happens in an EMDR Session?
During EMDR therapy sessions, the therapist guides the client through a structured series of procedures. These typically include recalling distressing memories while simultaneously undergoing bilateral stimulation, which can involve the therapist moving their fingers back and forth in front of the client's eyes, or other forms of bilateral stimulation such as taps or tones. This bilateral stimulation is thought to help the brain process traumatic memories and associated emotions in a more adaptive way.
The goal of EMDR therapy is to help the individual process traumatic memories, reduce the distress associated with those memories, and develop more adaptive coping mechanisms. It's believed to work by accessing the brain's natural healing mechanisms, allowing traumatic memories to be reprocessed in a way that reduces their emotional charge and their negative impact on the individual's life.
EMDR therapy is primarily used for treating trauma-related disorders, such as:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): EMDR has been extensively researched and shown to be effective in reducing the symptoms of PTSD, including intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, and hypervigilance.
Trauma: It's used to address various types of trauma, including childhood abuse, accidents, natural disasters, combat experiences, and other distressing events.
Anxiety Disorders: EMDR therapy may also be beneficial for other anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder, particularly if these disorders have a significant trauma component.
Depression: While EMDR is not primarily designed to treat depression, some individuals with depression stemming from traumatic experiences may find relief through EMDR therapy.
Dissociative Disorders: EMDR can be a component of treatment for dissociative disorders, although it's often used in conjunction with other therapeutic approaches.
Addictions: In some cases, EMDR therapy may be used to address underlying trauma that contributes to addiction issues.
Performance Enhancement: EMDR therapy has also been explored as a means to enhance performance in various domains, such as sports, academics, and public speaking, by targeting and processing performance-related anxieties and traumas.
In conclusion, EMDR therapy is used to help individuals process traumatic experiences and alleviate associated symptoms, allowing them to move forward with their lives in a healthier and more adaptive way.
About Holistic Psychotherapy & Wellness Manhattan
Kimberly Seelbrede, LCSW is a New York State licensed Psychotherapist, EMDR Practitioner and Couple Therapist with a private practice in New York City, Montana and virtually. As a wellness psychotherapist and holistic consultant, she has receive advanced, extensive training in Trauma Therapy, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Nutrition & Integrative Medicine For Mental Health. She is passionate about honoring the exquisite interplay of the mind-body connection. Kimberly Seelbrede specializes in anxiety & mood disorders, trauma and women’s mental health. She brings over 20 years of counseling, coaching, and healing experience to her holistic practice and transformational work.
In addition to online therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship struggles, Holistic Psychotherapy & Wellness offers a wide variety of online services to fit the needs of busy professionals. New Yorkers often lead fast-paced and complex lives, which makes work-life balance and managing career, family and social obligations a challenge. Psychotherapy and wellness practices provides the support to help clients cultivate resources, resilience and enhanced emotional health, as well as uncover conflicts and obstacles that may interfere with having the life they desire.