EMDR Therapy in Newtown Square, West Chester, and throughout Pennsylvania
It’s Time to Quiet That Inner Critic.
You’ve heard about EMDR and are wondering if it is an effective treatment for your emotional struggle?
You feel stuck, like you're spinning your wheels and can't gain traction. Memories of earlier traumatic experiences leave you questioning yourself now. They replay in your head on a continuous loop.
Sometimes you can distract yourself, but the distressing memories always seem to return, making you question yourself. Am I good enough?
You find yourself full of self-doubt, uncertainty, and worry. You're ashamed for others to know how you feel and what you think of yourself.
Maybe you've tried other therapies but haven't found relief from the ongoing interruption of your current life by your past. Maybe you can't release the fear of the future and what it may hold for you.
You're ready for this to stop, but you simply don't know how.
You're Not Alone in Your Battle with Painful Memories. EMDR Can Help.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) uses the power of your brain's innate healing ability to help it heal itself. The brain manages to spontaneously process many experiences, but there are times when specific experiences may get “stuck”. When this happens, your brain needs a little support to move the information through the process.
In order to help these parts in a healing way, we will work together to identify the “stuck” trauma memory and the reason why it continues to cause disturbance in your life. After we identify the negative belief and emotional impact of the disturbing event or traumatic events, we will use eye movements (bilateral stimulation) to assist the brain in neutralizing the negative memory and unpleasant effects it has on you and your daily life.
EMDR can help you overcome a wide range of mental health conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, panic disorder, acute stress disorder, anxiety, depression, phobias, and even low self-esteem.
The use of EMDR may help you process more in less time than traditional talk therapies. A typical EMDR session can last up to 90 minutes and most people need 6-12 sessions or more. EMDR therapy can assist you to process more information in a shorter number of sessions. However, for the therapy to prove effective, the mental health professional will need to establish a personalized treatment plan according to your individual history. Get in touch to learn how we can use EMDR for your well-being.
EMDR can help you:
Release the past
Overcome disturbing memories
Feel more at ease in the present
Replace negative thoughts with positive beliefs
Gain confidence
Set limits and boundaries
EMDR does not:
Erase your memory
Require excessive talking
Involve homework
Focus on you trying to change yourself
Require medication
What can I expect in EMDR therapy?
Let’s explore some of the basic principles of EMDR therapy and what you can expect.
EMDR is an interactive therapeutic technique that helps alleviate emotional distress. In our sessions, we build resources and strengthen coping skills to assist you in managing life more effectively.
Together, we identify the areas of concern and the negative experiences that have contributed to the disturbing thoughts and behaviors and their impact on you.
During reprocessing, I will direct your eye movements while helping you hold the experience in an observational manner.
Reprocessing is done in brief intervals. Your brain has the power to heal itself and, by engaging in EMDR, you are able to work through difficult experiences and heal.
As you reprocess the target memories, EMDR minimizes the impact that they have on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Frequently asked questions about EMDR
FAQs
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidenced-based, comprehensive method of psychotherapy that harnesses the body's natural healing mechanisms to reduce the effects of trauma. This integrative approach can be used for a wide variety of concerns including distressing events in childhood or adulthood, problematic behaviors or compulsions, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, phobias, anxiety, panic attacks, and grief and loss.
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EMDR therapy uses a technique called bilateral stimulation to repeatedly activate opposite sides of the brain. It uses eye movements to engage both hemispheres of the brain. The eye movements mimic the period of sleep referred to as rapid eye movement, or REM sleep, which is considered to be the time when the mind processes the recent events in a person's life. EMDR helps the brain reprocess “stuck” traumatic memories so that your brain can resume its normal information processing.
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EMDR is an interactive therapeutic technique that helps alleviate emotional distress. In our sessions, we build resources and strengthen coping skills to assist you in managing life more effectively. Together, we identify the areas of concern and the painful events that have contributed to your disturbing thoughts and behaviors and their impact on you. During reprocessing, I will direct your eye movements while helping you hold the experience in an observational manner. Reprocessing is done in brief intervals. Your brain has the power to heal itself and, by engaging in EMDR, you can work through the negative events and heal. As you reprocess the distressing life experiences, EMDR minimizes the impact these intense memories have on your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
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EMDR therapy involves weekly sessions that may last up to 90 minutes. The number of sessions varies based on the individual, including previous history, counseling, current stressors, and other factors. It is possible your EMDR treatment goals may be completed in as little as 8-10 sessions, however, it may take longer based on other factors.
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It is completely natural to feel reluctant or fearful during the therapeutic process. After the assessment phase, you will learn new coping skills and, together, we will develop a tailored treatment plan that works for you. You will be given the tools to manage your emotions, so you feel at ease and prepared for the process of EMDR.