"The goal of EMDR treatment is to… metabolize the dysfunctional residue from the past and transform it into something useful."
About EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an approach to treating trauma that is based on the research and clinical work of Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. EMDR uses the brain’s natural healing mechanisms to help our minds and bodies reprocess and “digest” experiences of trauma and distress.
Ideally, when we experience adverse events, our systems are able to naturally metabolize and process the distress. When this happens, we can look back on difficult experiences with the sense that, that was really hard, it’s over, and I’m safe now. But at other times, we don’t have what we need to metabolize the distress, our systems get overwhelmed, and we get stuck. We might feel wired and anxious anytime we are reminded of the past, or we may freeze and shut down. EMDR is a way to access the brain’s natural healing mechanisms and help the system get unstuck.
How does it work?
In EMDR therapy, you’ll work with your therapist to help strengthen your system’s ability to access calm and contain distress. Your therapist will help assess what is stuck. In the reprocessing phase of treatment, your therapist will use bilateral stimulus (eye movement, tactile, or auditory) as you work through the old material. This mimics the way your brain processes during the REM sleep cycle and helps your system consolidate information in new ways. EMDR is designed to address thoughts, emotions, and the body and is helpful for people who may not have gotten relief from traditional talk therapy.
Who benefits from EMDR?
- Shock trauma is loosely defined as a single-episode traumatic event such as a car accident, natural disaster, battlefield incident, physical attack, etc.
- Pervasive trauma: multiple or ongoing exposures that may include microaggressions, exclusion, racism, war, abusive home life, harassment, spiritual abuse, etc. OR
- Developmental trauma: the less obvious/visible effects of insufficient or detrimental attention from primary caregivers in childhood.
Current EMDR practitioners at Oasis:
