EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

When a trauma occurs, it can get locked in the brain with the original picture, sounds, thoughts and feelings. When this happens, memories are relived as opposed to just remembered. Since the experience is locked there, it continues to be triggered whenever a reminder comes up. Kind of like an exposed nerve in a tooth. These improperly stored or stuck images, thoughts or feelings are very distressing and can even cause flashbacks of the original event (I.e. PTSD). It can be the basis for a lot of discomfort and sometimes many negative emotions, such as fear and helplessness, which we can’t seem to control. These are really the emotions connected with the old experience that are being triggered and a lot of the time have nothing to do with the present.

EMDR helps uncouple the triggered physiological/emotional response from the event, and allows your brain to process and sort the event and move it from implicit memory to explicit - so what is felt becomes something that can be spoken and understood. It allows the nervous system to release the trauma that’s “stuck” - so the memory remains but is no longer triggering the distressing response.

EMDR for Panic Attacks & Phobias

Phobias can come in many forms, ranging from fear of flying/driving and heights, to being in public, speaking in front of others and more. All phobias have a devastating impact on the person’s sense of autonomy and independence. They begin to feel that they are no longer able to operate and complete the tasks they need to on a given day. They feel robbed and paralyzed.

This is where EMDR comes in. EMDR is an evidenced based approach that has been shown to help clients significant reduce the distress and intensity associated with their fears. Using the “Flashforward” protocol, I will support clients to target future fears related to driving, flying, interviews, meeting new people, to first identify the worst part. From there, there is an amazing mechanism EMDR deploys called BLS (Bilateral stimulation) that helps client be able to experience a reduction in distress when they look at the associated images, sensations, feelings and beliefs of the future fear.

I have had extensive training and experience working with this population and believe that it can be very effective. I also use phase 2 of EMDR to help clients learn coping and soothing tools that help them better regulate their nervous system outside of session. In the beginning of therapy, clients have reported that this can come in very handy as this is when the symptoms are still at its worst.

As clients become more comfortable with the future fear and feared outcomes related to their phobia, we will also do a “mental check video,” which will allow clients to view the entire future scene without disturbance. All in all, EMDR has proven to be very supportive for clients seeking relief from anxiety and phobias of all types.