EMDR Therapy in Denver, CO
Understanding EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to help people process and heal from traumatic memories, reducing their emotional impact. Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR therapy works on the idea that traumatic memories can get “stuck” in the brain, causing symptoms like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. It’s often incorporated into trauma counseling to address not just immediate symptoms but also the deeper effects of past experiences.
At the heart of EMDR therapy is bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones. This activates the brain’s natural ability to process memories, allowing traumatic experiences to feel less overwhelming and more manageable. With time, EMDR helps reduce the emotional weight of these memories, making room for greater peace of mind.
What is Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy?
When we experience trauma, the way memories are stored in our brain can change. Instead of fading naturally over time, they can remain vivid and intense, almost as if they just happened. Triggers—whether sights, sounds, or smells—can bring these memories rushing back, overwhelming the nervous system and making it feel like you’re reliving the event.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a proven therapy that helps reprocess these memories so they lose their grip on you. The EMDR process even creates new neural pathways in your brain, helping shift how you feel—not just about the event itself but about yourself.
While EMDR was initially developed for PTSD, it’s also an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), chronic pain, panic, phobias, and other concerns like negative self-talk or beliefs.
Since its development in 1987, EMDR therapy has been thoroughly researched and endorsed by leading organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Studies have even shown it can outperform medication in some trauma treatments (Van der Kolk et al., 2007).
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Benefits of EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in reducing symptoms associated with PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. By facilitating the reprocessing of traumatic memories, EMDR therapy can significantly alleviate emotional distress, leading to improved sleep quality and overall mental health. One of the key advantages of EMDR therapy is its ability to help individuals develop more positive beliefs and behaviors, which can enhance relationships and daily functioning.
Moreover, EMDR therapy is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological approach to treating trauma, making it a safe and appealing option for many individuals. This therapeutic technique offers a holistic way to address deep-seated issues without the need for medication, providing a path to healing that is both effective and empowering.
What To Expect In An EMDR Therapy Session
Before diving into EMDR, we’ll spend some time building trust and ensuring you feel comfortable. This involves understanding how past experiences affect your present and equipping you with coping skills to manage any discomfort during the process.
Once we identify the memory to work on, bilateral stimulation is used to help access the parts of the brain where these memories are stored. For in-person sessions, you might hold small buzzers in your hands while recalling the experience. In virtual sessions, this might involve eye movements similar to those during REM sleep. Physical sensations connected to the memory may arise, but this is part of the brain’s way of reprocessing the trauma.
Afterward, grounding exercises will help you settle and self-soothe. While some people notice relief after just a session or two, for others, it might take a bit longer. Either way, EMDR has been shown to reduce the fight-or-flight response and help people move past memories that once felt all-consuming.
Common Issues Addressed in EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is a versatile treatment that can address a wide range of issues related to trauma, including:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety disorders, including panic and phobias
Traumatic grief
Dissociative disorders
Eating disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorders
Personality disorders
In addition to these conditions, EMDR therapy is also effective for individuals who have experienced various traumatic events, such as natural disasters, car accidents, or physical and emotional abuse. By targeting and reprocessing these traumatic memories, EMDR therapy helps individuals find relief and regain control over their lives.
Who Can Benefit From EMDR Therapy?
Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences. In addition to these issues, I also recommend working with an EMDR therapist to clients suffering grief in various forms, such as the loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship. Incorporating EMDR into trauma counseling can provide a comprehensive approach to addressing both immediate symptoms and underlying issues.
In the short term, I will help you learn cognitive and physiological coping skills to settle your nervous system and create a healthy emotional distance from challenging thoughts. In the long term, we can work through traumas with specialized trauma therapy that have kept you stuck and help relieve lingering emotional distress. In addition to EMDR, I incorporate elements of mindfulness, solution-focused therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into sessions. Each of these modalities provides you with tools that can improve how you think and feel about yourself and the world around you.
Signs That You Should Seek EMDR Therapy
Flashbacks or nightmares related to a traumatic event
Avoidance of people, places, or activities that remind you of the traumatic event
Hypervigilance or an exaggerated startle response
Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
Irritability or mood swings
Physical sensations such as tension or pain related to the traumatic event
Negative beliefs about yourself or the world
Feeling stuck or unable to move forward
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to consider EMDR therapy:
EMDR therapy can help you process and integrate these traumatic memories, reducing their distressing effects and improving your overall mental health. By addressing the root causes of your symptoms, EMDR therapy can help you develop healthier coping mechanisms and a more positive outlook on life.
EMDR Takes A Bottom-Up Approach To Therapy Using Bilateral Stimulation
Therapy is not a one-size fits all proposition. If it doesn’t seem helpful or you feel like you’ve reached a point where you’ve gotten stuck, switching the approach can lead to new breakthroughs. Many people have found relief after implementing EMDR into therapy.
Rather than a top-down cognitive-based approach, EMDR is experiential and body-based. EMDR treatment can promote new insights that swim under the surface and aren’t always conscious to us. Many of us tend to be overly rational and can’t puzzle out where our worries and fears originate. Rather than rely on the logical left hemisphere of the brain to figure it out alone, EMDR stimulates both hemispheres equally so that the pieces can be put together.
Ever since starting my practice, I have been inspired to add helpful and effective therapeutic techniques and modalities to my toolbox so clients can access different layers of healing. I had many clients looking for another option beyond talk therapy to help them process past experiences on a deeper level—a way to access long held memories and beliefs that couldn’t be addressed cognitively.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing can help you build more self-awareness and rewire the way you think about yourself in relation to past events in a relatively short amount of time. If you are open to trying something different than traditional talk therapy, I encourage you to try EMDR.
Is EMDR Therapy Evidence-Based?
Yes, EMDR therapy is an evidence-based treatment approach with a robust body of research supporting its effectiveness. Numerous studies have demonstrated that EMDR therapy can significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes EMDR therapy as an effective treatment for PTSD, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) has designated it as a treatment of choice for PTSD.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) includes EMDR therapy in its guidelines for the treatment of PTSD, further validating its efficacy. These endorsements from reputable organizations underscore the credibility of EMDR therapy and its value as a therapeutic technique for those seeking to heal from past trauma.
How Long Does EMDR Therapy Take?
The length of EMDR therapy can vary depending on the individual and the complexity of the issues being addressed. Some clients may experience significant improvement in just a few sessions, while others may require more extensive treatment. On average, EMDR therapy can last anywhere from 3 to 12 months, with sessions occurring 1 to 3 times per week. The frequency and duration of sessions will depend on your individual needs and goals.
We'll work with you to establish a treatment plan that is tailored to your unique circumstances, ensuring that you receive the most effective care possible. With EMDR therapy, you can expect a safe and effective treatment experience that addresses your traumatic memories and improves your overall mental health.
Is Remote EMDR Therapy Available?
Yes, we offer remote EMDR therapy. EMDR online therapy is a convenient, private and effective option for those seeking to address trauma without the need for in-person sessions. This approach allows individuals to engage in EMDR therapy from the comfort of their own homes, making it a convenient choice for many.
Remote EMDR therapy utilizes video conferencing tools to facilitate sessions, ensuring that you still receive the same level of care and attention as you would in a traditional setting. During these virtual sessions, we will guide you through the process, using bilateral stimulation techniques such as eye movements or auditory tones to help reprocess traumatic memories.
One of the key benefits of remote EMDR therapy is its flexibility, allowing you to schedule sessions that fit your lifestyle. This can be particularly advantageous for those with busy schedules or who live in areas with limited access to EMDR therapists.
While online EMDR therapy offers numerous advantages, it's important to ensure that you have a quiet, private space for your sessions to maximize their effectiveness.
Whether you're dealing with past trauma, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, remote EMDR therapy can be a powerful tool in your healing journey, providing the support you need to move forward with greater emotional well-being.
Find Out How EMDR Therapy Can Help You
Whether you were referred to us by a happy client or found us through a Google search like EMDR therapy near me or EMDR therapy Denver, we’re here to help. If you’d like to learn more about how EMDR therapy could work for you, visit my contact page or call 720-336-8884 to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Let’s discuss how we can work together to bring relief and healing into your life.
Source: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy
