Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy was developed in the 1990s by Francine Shapiro and is widely used by psychotherapists around the world.
When is it used
It is an evidence-based, direct treatment commonly used for anxiety, phobias and PTSD, as well as being very effective for changing negative thought patterns and alleviating negative emotions associated with those thoughts.
What to Expect
At the beginning of the session, you will have an opportunity to discuss your issues and symptoms. You will learn techniques to help you deal with disturbing feelings and I will guide you through a process known as desensitization
Future sessions are devoted to reinforcing and strengthening positive feelings and beliefs until you get to a point where you can bring up memories of the traumatic event without experiencing the negativity that brought you to therapy in the first place.
How It Works
The goal of EMDR is to fully process past experiences and sort out the emotions attached to those experiences. Negative thoughts and feelings that are no longer useful are replaced with positive thoughts and feelings that will encourage healthier behaviour and social interactions. Ultimately, you will learn how to handle situations more easily.
EMDR therapy occurs in eight phases:
1) History and treatment planning
2) Preparation, to establish trust and explain the treatment in depth
3) Assessment, to establish negative feelings and identify positive replacements
4) Desensitization, which includes the eye movement technique
5) Installation, to strengthen positive replacements
6) Body scan, to see if the client is now able to bring up memories of trauma without experiencing negative feelings that are no longer relevant, or if reprocessing is necessary
7) Closure, which occurs at the end of every session
8) Re-evaluation, which occurs at the beginning of every session
How Many Sessions?
With EMDR the sessions are progressive and the process will build each time we work together. Developing coping skills and being able to regulate your emotions more easily may take time but it’s a skill that is definitely worth developing.
You may have lived with anxiety or PTSD for a long time, but understand that for long-term change it will take time. You can expect to feel better over time and with each session, you can expect to gain more control.
To book your EMDR therapy session contact Donna on 0424 300 678 go or message us
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