EMDR Therapy

You may have heard the term EMDR before, but have no idea what it means. The term is growing in popularity, but it is still confusing for many people. This page offers some information to demystify it for you.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy is a remarkably effective therapeutic approach that has revolutionized the field of mental health treatment. EMDR Therapy has been described as a game changer for many people when it comes to therapy and counseling. This approach can accelerate healing beyond traditional talk therapy, and many people find that they’re able to make breakthroughs using this approach in ways that they couldn’t quite achieve in other forms of psychotherapy.

EMDR Therapy is based on the method of using guided eye movements (or other forms of bilateral stimulation such as alternating audio tones or tactile sensations) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing the emotional charge they carry and allowing healing to occur. The idea is that these memories have been stored in the brain in such a way that they continue to create distress for the individual in the present. Once these memories are appropriately processed with an EMDR therapist, the distress is reduced and oftentimes completely eliminated.

It is an incredibly powerful treatment model that helps people resolve painful current issues in their present day life related to traumatic, stressful, overwhelming, or upsetting events from their pasts. You don’t have to have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to benefit from this therapy approach, though it is quite effective for that particular disorder. We can use EMDR Therapy to address not only major traumatic events (such as accidents or natural disasters, physical or sexual assaults or abuse, military experiences, acts of violence, etc.) but also the smaller, often overlooked experiences that can have a lasting impact on our mental and emotional health. These could be anything from childhood experiences of being bullied or criticized to difficult breakups or disappointments in adult life. By helping to reprocess these memories, EMDR fosters a sense of resolution and often leads to profound emotional relief. It can help to reduce anxiety, improve depression, increase positive feelings about one’s self, and reduce shame.

We offer EMDR Therapy sessions in Thousand Oaks (in person) and virtually for all clients across the states of California and Washington.

This video from the EMDR International Association does a fantastic job of explaining how EMDR Therapy works and what it is like and we highly recommend that you watch it to better understand this wonderful treatment approach if you are considering trying it out: Introduction to EMDR Therapy

The large body of research behind this approach supports its effectiveness. You can click here to read about recent research related to this treatment approach. Find more information about EMDR Therapy by clicking here

Whether you're seeking to overcome longstanding trauma or simply want to explore new ways to enhance your mental well-being, EMDR offers a dynamic, empowering approach to healing.