EMDR (also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a kind of therapy that focuses on finding and addressing the root of your symptoms. In the beginning, it may look similar to other kinds of talk therapy. There will be discussion about what symptoms you have and what your goals are.

Then, your therapist will help you gain insight into how your past experiences have shaped the way that your brain and body react in the present. When you are ready, EMDR will help you to “reprocess,” which means going back to the past and rewire the way you think, feel and react to specific themes and situations. 

Here’s a quick example: 

If you were a child who was scolded by your parent for making a mistake, you may have internalized the thought or feeling “I am not good enough.” As an adult, you may notice that when you make a mistake (or even think about it!) you start to get a sick feeling in your stomach, your heart begins to race, and you start to think about all of the ways that things could go wrong and how you will fix it.

In EMDR, we target that exact memory and help you find a new belief to associate with it. Do you want to actually FEEL “good enough,” even when you make a mistake? This is what EMDR aims to do. By changing your belief in the past and then connecting it to the present it will no longer feel like you are trying to talk yourself into positive thinking.

You can learn to actually FEEL the things that you logically KNOW are true.  

–Feel constantly on edge, like your body is stuck in overdrive.

-Want to break free from overthinking and racing thoughts.

-Often feel a sense of dread- like something bad is about to happen.

-Have noticed physical symptoms—like tension or restlessness—that don’t go away.

-Experienced trauma—or suspect you might have—but don’t know where to start.

-Feel like your emotions are in charge of you, not the other way around.

-Have tried talk therapy or self-help, but nothing seems to stick.