The journey towards mental wellness is different for everyone. There are many different forms of therapy, and it can be challenging to find the best fit for you. If you're searching for an alternative form of therapy to help with depression, anxiety, PTSD, addictions, chronic pain, or other mental health conditions, EMDR therapy may be worth considering. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is not traditional talk therapy, and it's considered a trauma-informed somatic therapy. In this blog, we'll discuss what EMDR therapy is and how it can be beneficial for those struggling with mental health issues.
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy developed in the late 1980s. It's a structured approach to therapy that aims to reprocess traumatic experiences or life-disturbing events that have gotten "stuck" in the mind and body. During an EMDR session, a therapist will ask you to focus on specific memories, thoughts, emotions or body sensations related to your event while you follow a set of eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or sound.
How Can EMDR Therapy Help With Mental Health Issues?
One key benefit of EMDR therapy is that it's not necessary to relive the trauma fully, unlike other forms of talk therapy. The therapist guides you through recalling and processing the events keeping you stuck in a safe, structured environment. As you reprocess past experiences, you may begin to feel more in control of your emotions and thoughts, find an increased sense of self-understanding, and a feeling of letting go from the issues of the past.
Who Can Benefit From EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy can be an efficient treatment for a range of mental health issues. Studies have shown that EMDR therapy can help with PTSD, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, addictions, grief and loss, and chronic pain. If you've tried traditional talk therapy but have not seen the results you're looking for, or if you have a history of emotional or physical trauma, seeking EMDR therapy could be life-changing. EMDR therapy can help those who have struggled with past events to reprocess their traumatic experience and begin to heal.
What to Expect in EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is a comprehensive eight-phase trauma treatment therapy. EMDR therapy is typically done once a week for a duration of a few months. The length and overall number of sessions can vary according to the individual and the situation. During the consultation phase, the therapist will aim to determine whether EMDR therapy is the right fit for you and develop a plan of treatment tailored to your needs. You'll start with a few sessions that focus on building rapport with your therapist and developing coping techniques. You'll then move on to the processing phases, which will help target your specific trauma.
EMDR therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy tool used as an alternative form of therapy for mental health issues. It's a safe and useful approach that helps individuals reprocess past events, including traumatic ones, to help overcome negative emotional responses associated with their mental health condition. If you're searching for an alternative form of therapy to support your journey to mental wellness, we recommend you consider EMDR therapy. It may be a game-changer in helping you reprocess past experience and start to live a full life.
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