Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Under the supervision of highly trained and certified Wings Recovery for Men staff, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) enables the full resolution of trauma memories and can be used to treat dissociative disorders, grief, panic, anxiety and depression. It can address a wide range of challenges including, performance anxiety, personality disorders, sexual assault and or abuse, night terrors and substance abuse. EMDR can provide quicker healing compared to other modalities.
How EMDR Works
EMDR therapy uses a structured approach to reduce (and eliminate) the intensity of traumatic memories. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation techniques to desensitize and reprocess traumatic memories so that they are less vivid and/or less disturbing to the individual. Through the EMDR process, negative thoughts are modified and clients often find that they feel relieved and more positive after completing EMDR on a target trauma memory.
How does EMDR therapy affect the brain?*
Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.
*Information provided by EMDR institute
How is EMDR therapy different from other therapies?*
EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions.
EMDR therapy, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.
*Information provided by EMDR institute
Effectiveness*
- 100% of single trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims were no longer afflicted with PTSD after six 50 minute sessions.
- The US department of Veteran affairs uses EMDR as the primary modality for the treatment of PTSD.
*Information provided by EMDR institute
