EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a fast and effective psychotherapy technique to heal from traumatic events and adverse life experiences. It is an integrative, comprehensive, evidenced-based psychotherapy approach proven effective for treating trauma. EMDR uses standardized protocols that incorporate elements from different treatment approaches. To date, EMDR therapy has helped millions of people of all ages to lower their distress and relieve stress due to various psychological issues.
The primary focus of EMDR therapy is to allow the client, using bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movement), to reprocess traumatic events or other emotional roadblocks and ultimately become desensitized to the memories or obstacles which may be at the root of many problems. Treatment may include side-to-side eye movements, alternating sounds, or taps while the client focuses on a particular memory.
Bilateral stimulation engages both sides of the brain alternately and rapidly, much like the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep phase. It may sound unusual, but study after study and story after story has shown that EMDR does work! Some clients report a change after only a few sessions of EMDR therapy.
EMDR allows a problematic event to be remembered as something that happened in the past without the associated feelings, emotions, or distress. Once the unpleasant emotional charge of the memories has been removed, we focus on the future and how you would like to feel if faced with a similar circumstance. We work together to be sure you remain within your Window of Tolerance as much as possible. It is normal to experience challenging feelings during the EMDR process. We aim to minimize this and provide you with the tools to better cope with upsetting feelings. EMDR therapy stimulates the brain into reprocessing events and their traumatic nature so that we may begin to heal and lead a joyful life.
EMDR allows a problematic event to be remembered as something that happened in the past without the associated feelings, emotions, or distress. Once the unpleasant emotional charge of the memories has been removed, we focus on the future and how you would like to feel if faced with a similar circumstance. We work together to be sure you remain within your Window of Tolerance as much as possible. It is normal to experience challenging feelings during the EMDR process. We aim to minimize this and provide you with the tools to better cope with upsetting feelings. EMDR therapy stimulates the brain into reprocessing events and their traumatic nature so that we may begin to heal and lead a joyful life.
The American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have named EMDR as the leading treatment for trauma. Madiha Haroon is a level II EMDR-trained clinician. You can learn more about EMDR at www.EMDRIA.org.
EMDR International Association supports that EMDR has been proven useful for the treatment of matters including:
- Anxiety and Panic Attacks
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorder
- Complicated Grief
- Dissociative Orders
- Phobias
- Pain Disorders
- Performance Anxiety
- Addictions
- Stress Reduction
- Sexual and/or Physical Abuse
- Body Dysmorphic Disorders
- Personality Disorders
The American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have named EMDR as the leading treatment for trauma. Madiha Haroon is a level II EMDR-trained clinician. You can learn more about EMDR at www.EMDRIA.org.