Before we talk specifics around EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), it’s important to acknowledge the role trauma can play in our lives. Traumatic events impact the mind and body. This is especially true if the trauma isn’t properly addressed and processed. When we experience a traumatic event, it not only affects us on a psychological level, but on a physiological level as well via fluctuating cortisol levels and disruptions to the Vagus Nerve. What we don’t heal will ultimately stay pent up in our body. We will witness the trauma physically manifesting in a variety of ways. For example: Unprocessed trauma could show up in the way of digestive issues, poor sleep patterns or insomnia, and abrupt shifts in mood such as outbursts of anger and irritability.
EMDR is different from traditional talk therapy—it involves both verbal processing and body movement simultaneously.
How EMDR Therapy Works
An EMDR-trained therapist will use a variety of evidence-based tactics to guide a client through the memory of a specific traumatic event, while at the same time stimulating both sides of your brain by tapping left to right or using hand movements for your eyes to follow left to right (this is Bilateral Stimulation or BLS).
Activating both sides of your brain through BLS helps you to process and discharge the trauma from your mind, body and nervous system. As cortisol levels drop over time and your vagus nerve is reset, the physiological aspects of trauma begin to heal on a deeper level allowing positive emotions, thoughts, and feelings to be felt. EMDR allows a person to experience a memory of the trauma without the same intensity of reaction as before. To put it simply: You gain power over your past.
This may sound as if it could be overwhelming, but any of our EMDR-trained therapists can guide you through it all, step-by-step, with support as needed on a timeline that feels right for you.
EMDR Therapy in Michigan
At Bright Spot, the path towards healing through EMDR therapy is typically done after a client has worked to develop Heart Math, completed Safe and Sound Protocol, as well as mindfulness work, and is settled into therapy. Our clinicians have found that these steps allow clients to get the most from their EMDR experience while minimizing potential negative side effects such as a temporary increase in fear or distress. Once established in our practice, our clinicians will be transparent with you about if or where they think EMDR will be the most impactful for you on your roadmap to healing.
While most research on EMDR has been done on trauma & PTSD, EMDR is also effective in treating:
- Anxiety and/or frequent panic attacks
- Depression
- Grief
- Phobias
Flash EMDR: A Faster Path to Healing
Get better faster with Flash EMDR. Read more about Flash EMDR here.
