EMDR stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing”. Therapists have been using EMDR to treat trauma since the late 1980’s. It is offered to patients in private practice and in institutional settings like clinics, residential treatment programs and hospitals. It’s a evidence based form of trauma therapy that is that is widely known. In fact, thousands of research studies support it’s clinical efficacy. But what about other symptoms? Can EMDR be used for other issues besides trauma?
The short answer is yes. And here is a bit of an explanation.
EMDR therapy tends to help you in 2 ways. First, it strengthens your ability to master your own nervous system. Through this form for treatment, you gain increased control over your nervous system. You EMDR therapist will help you gain a more stable and less reactive nervous system. This can make managing your symptoms much easier.
Once you accomplish that, it helps in another way. We all intuitively understand that unresolved early life pain creates and maintains many symptoms. This form of therapy also helps you heal the emotional roots that feed your current day emotional and relationship problems.
So What Can EMDR Be Used For?
Using EMDR therapy in my practice, I’ve helped clients with:
- Complex PTSD/ Complex Trauma
- Anxiety
- Panic Attacks
- Phobias
- Social Anxiety
- Depression
- OCD
- Abuse (Physical and Emotional)
- Somatic Disorders and pain syndromes
- Spiritual and Personal Growth
How Can EMDR Be Used For Treating So Much?
Our brains effect everything we do and feel, and EMDR changes the way your brain functions.
In fact, effective psychotherapy of any kind makes long term changes in the way your brain works. For example, if you are working with a qualified therapist, and you stick with treatment, your brain will grow and change. With the right treatment, you you can help your brain get better at regulating emotions. And learning how to be physically and mentally calm benefits people with a range of diagnosis.
Many symptoms arise within a variety of diagnosis. Think of a symptom such as anxiety. People with a range of mental health issues often cite anxiety as one of their biggest challenges. It’s a common component in a bunch of mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders, and even severe mental disorders such as Bi-Polar disorder or Schizophrenia.
For most people healing anxiety is not just about learning to manage it better. It’s also about what I call “healing the roots”. That means helping stuck parts of you heal and move on. It also mean helping clashing parts of you bring their conflict to an end.
Once you have done this, regardless of whatever mental health diagnosis you might have been given, you will feel better.
EMDR Therapy Can Help You:
- Move from inner conflict to harmony
- Increase peace in your body and mind
- Reduce stuckness
- Decrease suffering
A recent EMDR client of mine put it well. He said “The therapy we did leaves me with an enduring relaxed sense of flow in my life. I feel as if I’m more unified now and my mind and body are merged. What is gone is a painful sense of separation from others and from myself”.
Can This Therapy Be Done Online?
Absolutely, many of my clients see me for online EMDR treatment. And during our current Covid 19 health crises, many more of them are doing therapy online.
Visit my EMDR page if you want to learn more about how EMDR therapy can help you