What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference.

I am trained and certified in EMDR**.

What makes EMDR different?

Unlike other treatments that focus on directly altering the emotions, thoughts, and responses resulting from traumatic experiences, EMDR therapy focuses directly on the memory and is intended to change the way the memory is stored in the brain, thus reducing and eliminating the problematic symptoms.

While not everyone who experiences trauma will go on to develop PTSD, for those struggling with intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, nightmares, and other symptoms that often disrupt daily life, EMDR therapy has been shown to be an effective and time-efficient treatment.

This information was taken from
American Psychological Association website.

Many people find EMDR helpful in addition to or in place of traditional talk therapy. I find that EMDR is one approach that can be misunderstood due to its popularity in the media.

I have included some common questions with answers below.

I use small buzzers that you hold in your hands. This helps your focus move from the left to right brain, facilitating memory processing.
Traumatic memories are stored in the brain differently than other memories. Trauma can be stored in the body (somatically) and in the brain. Traumatic feelings and memories can be triggered (or brought back up) by smells, sounds, nightmares, or everyday relationships. We can also experience implicit memories, which are unconscious memories that can cause great emotional stress, and these memories can be stored in the body.
Memories can get “stuck”after difficult events, relationships, and life circumstances. EMDR stimulates both the left and right brain while thinking of a memory, which helps the brain fully process the stuck memory. This means that you will remember the memory but you won’t have intense feelings or reactions related to it.
Every person’s journey with EMDR is different and it depends on you as a person. EMDR is one part of the whole therapy and where we start is determined by your symptoms and concerns. With that said, we will go at a pace comfortable for you. Also, I will help you develop skills and techniques to help you with processing along the way.
EMDR is helpful for many symptoms and concerns, from general anxiety, depression, heartbreak, grief, performance anxiety —the list goes on!

Contact Heather

**An EMDR Certified Therapist has voluntarily met standards of consultation, clinical practice, and continuing education to provide EMDR therapy. An EMDR Certified Therapist has engaged in at least 20 hours of consultation with an EMDR Consultant for EMDR and has practiced their skills with at least 25 different clients in at least 50 EMDR sessions. An EMDR Certified Therapist is committed to fulfilling ethical standards and is engaged in continuing education. To maintain this certification, a therapist must continue to satisfy the EMDRIA requirement including completion of continuing education requirements and adherence to ethical standards.**