EMDR Explanation

William P. Brennan, L.M.H.C., C.A.P.

570 Memorial Circle, Suite 150, Ormond Beach, Fl. 32174

                                or

237 Lookout Place, Maitland, Fl. 32751

(386) 473-3290,  Fax (386) 672-9251

 

What is E.M.D.R.?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

This innovative psychotherapy is based on the idea that some of the fears we all face are merely earlier life experiences that are locked in our nervous system. This condition may be termed Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. These are stored as trauma in the brain, in the form of memory networks.

In trauma, great or small, information processing is disrupted because the integration of components of an event is blocked.  As a consequence, when the memory is brought to mind, the feelings are re-experienced rather than simply remembered.  This can be either conscious or unconscious and accounts for much of our emotional pain.

EMDR can help to restart and accelerate processing.  When this happens, it is possible to learn what you need to know from these difficult experiences and discard the rest. Negative beliefs, emotions and somatic symptoms are eliminated and replaced with a more adaptive set of beliefs, emotions and somatic responses. Once this is done, you can choose your actions rather than being propelled by automatic reactions.

The goal of EMDR is to work things through on all levels so that the person’s responses are naturally healthy ones, intellectually, emotionally and physically.

EMDR is now one of the best researched and most widely validated methods of treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.  Studies designed to document its effectiveness are ongoing in many other areas.  (Go to www.emdr.com for more information.)

EMDR speeds up information processing and can be applied to a wide range of the problems that hold us back in life.  As science uncovers more and more about how the brain/mind functions, we are learning that psychotherapy which focuses on trauma-resolution of all kinds actually helps and heals an extensive range of maladies not previously thought to be trauma related.

Due to the historical success of applying EMDR to certain areas of distress, EMDR psychotherapists now routinely treat clinical problems where EMDR has been seen to produce considerable success:

  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

  • Acute Stress Disorder

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder

  • Depression and Depressed Mood

  • Sleep Disorders and Nightmares

  • Chronic Pain Management

  • Phobias

  • Addictions

  • Anger Management problems

  • Eating Disorders

  • Abuse and Trauma

  • Grief and Loss

  • Relationship Concerns

  • Self-Esteem

  • Codependency

  • Performance Enhancement