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Writer's pictureStella Bird BFA MACP RP

Healing from trauma: what is EMDR therapy?

Updated: Aug 28, 2018

As a trained Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) clinician, I am able to offer you a form of psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro Ph.D., an American psychologist and educator who originated and developed this therapy to help resolve the symptoms of traumatic and other disturbing life experiences . When a traumatic or distressing experience occurs, it can overwhelm a person's coping mechanisms. This is because the brain has not yet been safe enough or able to process the information to create adaptive meaning from negative information.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QJbCtr8bvA&t=3s


This type of therapy involves having you think about experiences that were distressing to you while receiving one of several types of "bilateral" sensory input, such as side-to-side eye movements (however eye-movements are not the only option). The bilateral element of this therapy helps both the right and left hemispheres of your brain process the information you are thinking about. EMDR is commonly used to treat adults, children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. EMDR has been used to help veterans of war, first responders and survivors of natural disasters, abuse, crime, assault and rape


It is imperative that your therapy focus initially on your ability to care for yourself by establishing and maintaining your safety and stability. We will go at your own pace.



EMDR is not the same as hypnosis. It is important to remember that the event/s has/have past and is not re-occurring during this therapy. You will be in a safe environment and will have complete control and ability to make choices for yourself during an EMDR session.

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