Have you ever experienced a traumatic event? Maybe a car accident that you still have flashbacks of, or an abusive relationship/devastating breakup that remains fresh in your mind? Have you ever been fearful of anything? Maybe you get anxiety about flying on an airplane, or you are scared of rejection from others? First and foremost, you are not alone. Trauma and phobias come in all shapes and sizes, and they have the ability to change the function and chemistry of our brain. For our mental and physical health, it is essential to heal these experiences.
Easier said than done, right? Well… maybe not anymore.
Allow me to introduce you to a treatment called EMDR. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. I know… it’s a mouthful! Stay with me for a moment, as this is just a fancy title for a treatment that helps our traumatic memories become less disturbing. The memory of a troubling event (or phobia) can get “stuck” in our mind or body. This prevents our brain from processing them in a healthy manner, leaving us with unhealed mental and emotional wounds.
Rather than relying on talk therapy or medications, EMDR uses finger movements for the client to follow with their eyes, or a device that vibrates back and forth in each hand. Both of these methods are believed to synchronize the left and right hemispheres of the brain, mimicking rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. EMDR therapy helps the brain reprocess repressed thoughts and emotions and helps the disturbing images connected to the trauma or phobia less vivid.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking. This sounds like hypnosis!! I assure you the client is conscious and in full control the entire session.
Although EMDR was developed to heal trauma, it is also used for a number of different mental health concerns. EMDR can also help with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, panic attacks, and chronic pain to name a few.
As a survivor of One October, I personally know the healing wonders of EMDR. I have been trained in EMDR for three years and it has been an absolute honor to have helped numerous clients overcome their trauma just as my therapist helped me overcome mine. If you think you could benefit from EMDR therapy and would like to schedule a session or have specific questions you can call or text me at 747-444-1247, email me at Tina@RedRockCounseling.com, or visit my website TinaEspositoTherapy.com.