If you're experiencing sleep problems, intense fears, or anxiety or are dealing with childhood trauma, EMDR therapy can be a helpful treatment option. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an effective therapy technique for treating trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and relationship wounds.
Sometimes, when we experience a disturbing or traumatic event, the brain struggles to process and heal from these experiences. The memory of the event and the powerful emotional reaction to the event are stored in the mind and held in the body. Individuals often feel "stuck" in this moment and experience distress and discomfort whenever they think of it or when other experiences trigger or tap into the original event. EMDR allows you to reprocess the trauma, repair the neural network, and fully heal from the experience. The ultimate goal is to recognize the event as something that happened in the past, with your body and mind no longer recalling the event as something painful happening in the moment.
Our trauma therapists can provide the support and guidance you need to heal and overcome the effects of trauma. Through EMDR therapy, you can overcome negative experiences and find freedom, peace, and stability within yourself.
EMDR is recognized as a very effective treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is also effective for healing childhood wounds and repairing attachment injuries. Some of the benefits associated with EMDR therapy include reduction of symptoms, decreased hyper-vigilance, diminished feelings of re-traumatization, and increased ability to be present. Additionally, EMDR can be effective for treating:
According to the EMDR Institute, more than 30 controlled outcome studies on EMDR therapy revealed positive effects of EMDR therapy. In some of these studies, as many as 90% of trauma survivors appeared to have no PTSD symptoms after just three sessions (7 July 2019).
Security, support, acceptance, affection, and love are attributes of healthy, positive relationships. For most of us, our first experiences with meaningful relationships occur in our family of origin. We model how we relate to others in relationships on how our parents or caregivers loved and treated us. Additionally, we may find ourselves repeating patterns we learned in childhood.
For those who grew up in dysfunctional families or where abuse of any kind was present, our experiences can cause later relational difficulties and lingering trauma responses. Individuals with emotionally immature parents may also have difficulty formulating healthy attachments in later life. In instances where secure attachment was disrupted, there may be a sense of loss, grief, pain, or absence of connection. In addition to the presence of emotionally charged childhood wounds, some individuals experience "lack of" experiences. Examples may include feelings of abandonment, lack of affection, and not feeling loved, seen, or accepted. The absence of these formative experiences can be repaired through attachment-focused EMDR therapy.
This approach involves reprocessing attachment breakdowns and installing positive new objective memories that no longer carry the heaviness and distress of the original memory. In situations where positive experiences were absent, your therapist can help you create new neural networks that allow you to fill in these deficits. By re-imagining your original attachment relationships and substituting memories where you felt loved, accepted, and seen, you can repair attachment wounds and lay the foundation for healthier relationships.
There are eight phases in EMDR therapy:
EMDR Therapy with a Compassionate Trauma Therapist Can Help You Achieve Lasting Peace and Overcome Difficult Emotions
EMDR therapy heals trauma, in addition to teaching skills on how to handle emotional distress in real life. It can help you release trauma's grasp on your body and mind while relieving your symptoms. Whether you are healing from a specific event, childhood wound, or disorder rooted in trauma, EMDR therapy can help you attain relief and peace.
The Woodlands-Spring TX
2219 Sawdust Drive #1101, The Woodlands, TX 77380
820 Lawrence Road #128 , Kemah, TX 77565
Midland Office
200 W. Illinois Ave, Midland, TX 79701
Our highly-trained, empathetic trauma therapists provide support and guidance throughout your healing journey. Additionally, we can help you identify behaviors or patterns that may further complicate your growth. Using effective, research-backed therapy modalities, we will tailor treatment to your needs and desires for therapy. While beginning therapy can feel overwhelming, rest assured that you will not be alone. Our ultimate goal is to set individuals, couples, and families free from the difficulties holding them back. Contact us today to discover how we can help you take the first steps to a healthier, happier life.
EMDR therapy is a profoundly healing therapy modality. In addition to treating PTSD and trauma, EMDR can alleviate symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, attachment injuries, and painful childhood experiences. Please contact us with any questions or concerns. We offer a free consultation to help assess how therapy can benefit you and help you to feel peace and happiness again.