Terri Ramsey Beavers Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an emerging psychotherapy technique that care providers apply to patients with traumatic experiences from their past that have led to various distressing disorders like PTSD and depression. The treatment is effective in reducing mental disorder symptoms enabling patients’ recovery enhancing the quality of life. Patients seek EMDR in Park Slope after trying various methods like talking therapy without getting optimal results.
What makes EMDR therapy better than other therapies?
The best thing about EMDR is the unnecessity of talking about the underlying issue causing the mental disorder. This therapy focuses on enhancing the healing process. The patient does not have to talk about their feelings or thoughts. EMDR treatment adjusts brain activity to accelerate healing by helping the patient get past the trauma. Compared to other psychotherapies, it takes patients fewer sessions to resolve their psychological issues and processes their traumatic memories.
How does EMDR affect the brain?
To better understand the efficacy of EMDR in treating psychological disorders, you need to appreciate its interaction with the brain. The brain processes traumatic experiences through specific parts, for example:
Amygdala – This part of the brain is responsible for alarming the brain that something stressful is occurring.
Hippocampus – This part helps you remember safety protocols, especially in the event of danger.
The prefrontal cortex – detects and controls behavior and emotion.
Spontaneity is vital during your brain’s trauma management process. However, a little bit of processing may need extra assistance. Stress is what forces the brain to shift into fight or flight mode. When your brain fails to process the stress of a traumatic event, the unresolved feelings may resurface upon specific triggers causing the patient to feel like they are experiencing the particular stressful event all over again.
EMDR therapy helps patients process the unresolved feelings and emotions, which is the first step to healing. However, the treatment does not erase the memories of the event. EMDR inhibits the switch to fight or flight.
Are you a candidate for EMDR therapy?
There are no restrictions of age for EMDR therapy. Children and adults can all get assistance using the treatment. However, you must be under one of the following psychological challenges:
- Anxiety
- Chronic illness
- Eating disorders
- Phobias
- PTSD
- Sexual assault
- Substance abuse and addiction
What should you expect from an EMDR therapy session?
There are eight phases to the treatment, and one session lasts for at least one hour. Your therapist might decide to combine the treatment with traditional talking therapy. The procedure is painless but highly effective. You will gain positive beliefs to associate with memories of the trauma.
Where can you get the best EMDR therapy?
When seeking mental health intervention, you should be keen to work with an appropriately trained licensed therapist. If you are seeking permanent recovery from your trauma, EMDR therapy could be an option for you. Contact the offices of David Salvage, M.D., FAPM, to schedule an EMDR appointment to help you take control of your psychological issues that may be hindering your relationship with friends and family.