How EMDR Therapy Can Help When Your Past is Hard to Remember

Do you know something difficult happened in your past, but the memories feel just out of reach? Maybe others have told you about events you can't remember, or you've pieced together clues from your childhood but the actual memories remain foggy. You may remember some pieces of a memory, but not the whole thing. You might be wondering how therapy could possibly help when you can't fully remember what you're trying to heal from. 

This experience - of knowing something happened to you but not remembering what happened - is more common than you might think. Many people who experienced difficult events, especially in early childhood, don't have clear memories of what happened. Your brain may have protected you by tucking these memories away, but your body and emotions might still be carrying their impact. 

You might be asking yourself: "How can I heal from something I can't remember? What would I even work on in therapy?" These are valid questions, and they're questions many others have asked before taking their first steps toward healing. 

How EMDR Therapy Helps Unresolved Childhood Trauma

Here's something important to know: You don't need to be able to remember something in order to heal from its effects. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is particularly well-suited for this situation. Rather than requiring you to recall or retell specific events, EMDR works with your present-day experiences - the anxiety, emotions, or patterns you notice in your life right now.

In this blog, we'll explore how EMDR therapy can help you heal even without clear memories, understand why these memories might be hard to access (and why that's okay), and learn what the healing process actually looks like when you're working with fragments rather than full memories. Whether you're just starting to consider therapy or have been thinking about it for years, this information will help you understand how healing is possible - even without remembering everything.

Understanding Memory and Safety

 When you know something happened but can't remember it, you might wonder if there's something wrong with you. The truth is, your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do - protecting you. Think of it like your brain's own emergency response system, carefully wrapping up difficult experiences and storing them away until you have the resources and support to process them safely.

Your Brain's Protection System

 Our brains are remarkably sophisticated in how they handle overwhelming experiences, especially those from childhood. Sometimes, instead of forming clear, story-like memories, your brain might store these experiences in different ways:

- As physical sensations in your body

- Through emotional responses to certain situations

- In unconscious patterns of behavior

- Through disconnected fragments or impressions

 This isn't a malfunction - it's your brain's way of helping you survive and continue functioning in daily life.

The Different Ways We Remember

Memory isn't like a video recording that captures everything exactly as it happened. Instead, it works more like a complex filing system with different types of storage.

Explicit Memory

Explicit memory encompasses the stories we can tell – these are clear memories with details and sequences that we can put into words. These are the "what happened" memories that we can describe to others. However, these memories are often missing or fragmented when it comes to early childhood or overwhelming experiences.

Implicit Memory

Implicit memory involves the feelings and sensations stored in our bodies. These manifest as body sensations and emotional responses, creating automatic reactions to certain situations. It's the "feeling of knowing" something happened, and these memories often remain very present even when explicit memories aren't accessible.

Procedural Memory

Procedural memory consists of the patterns we've developed over time. These include learned ways of coping, relationship patterns, and survival strategies that made sense at the time but might not serve us well now.

How This Affects Your Memory

Many people share the experience of knowing-but-not-remembering. You might have strong emotional reactions to situations without knowing why, feel certain something happened despite having no clear memories, or be told about events you can't remember. Some people have fragments of memories without the full picture, or notice patterns in their lives that suggest past experiences. 

This gap between knowing and remembering can feel frustrating or confusing. You might question yourself or wonder if healing is possible without clear memories. But your experiences are valid, whether you remember them clearly or not. Your body and emotions hold truth, even when your conscious memory doesn't have all the pieces. 

Why This Matters for Healing 

Understanding how memory works helps explain why traditional talk therapy might feel challenging - it's hard to talk about something you can't remember! This is where approaches like EMDR can be particularly helpful, because they work with your brain's natural healing system and don't require you to have clear memories of past events.

How Past Experiences Show Up Today

When you can't remember specific events from your past, your body and emotions often carry the story forward. Understanding these present-day experiences can be like following a trail of breadcrumbs - each sign helping you understand yourself better, even without clear memories of what happened.

The Language of Your Body

 Your body often remembers what your mind cannot. You might experience unexplained tension that seems to settle in specific parts of your body, or find your heart racing in situations where there's no apparent danger. Some people notice persistent digestive issues that doctors can't fully explain, while others struggle with sleep difficulties or recurring nightmares. You might find yourself freezing or feeling unable to move in certain situations, or have strong physical reactions to specific sounds, smells, or touches. These aren't random symptoms - they're your body's way of communicating something important about your experiences.

Emotional Patterns That Tell a Story 

Your emotional responses can offer valuable clues about your past experiences. You might notice yourself having emotional reactions that feel much bigger than the current situation calls for, or struggle with a deep-seated difficulty in trusting others or even yourself. Many people describe living with a constant sense of alertness, as if always waiting for something bad to happen. Sometimes, the opposite occurs - feeling numb or disconnected from your emotions entirely. Overwhelming feelings of shame or persistent self-doubt might color your daily experiences. You might also experience anxiety that seems to come from nowhere, with no clear trigger in your present circumstances.

Relationship Patterns as Signposts 

The way we relate to others often reflects our early experiences. You might notice yourself struggling with setting or maintaining boundaries, or find that you repeatedly end up in similar challenging situations despite your best efforts to avoid them. Trust might feel particularly difficult, even with people who have proven themselves trustworthy. Many people recognize a pattern of taking care of others while neglecting their own needs, or notice they swing between intense fear of abandonment and fear of getting too close to others. Asking for help or expressing your needs might feel impossibly difficult, even when you logically know it's safe to do so.

The Impact on Daily Life  

These experiences often weave their way into your daily routines and choices. You might find yourself carefully avoiding certain places, situations, or types of people without fully understanding why. Perfectionism or a need for control might drive many of your decisions, while trusting your own judgment feels surprisingly difficult. Some people notice they tend to procrastinate or struggle to follow through on tasks, while others cope by over-achieving or staying constantly busy. Even in objectively secure environments, you might struggle to feel truly safe.

How These Clues Guide Healing 

Here's the important part: each of these present-day experiences provides a pathway to healing. In EMDR therapy, we don't need to know exactly what happened in the past to work with these current experiences. Instead, we can work directly with how your body feels in the present moment, process current emotional reactions as they arise, and address the patterns you notice in your life today. Through this work, we can build new resources and coping skills based on what you need now. Your present-day experiences aren't just symptoms to be eliminated - they're valuable information that can guide your healing journey, even without clear memories of the past.

The Next Step

Ready to start taking back control over what you’ve experienced? Take that first step today by reaching out to one of our 4 EMDR therapists. Schedule your free consultation right now on our website to talk with one of us and see if we are a good fit for you. Together, we can help you create a life that feels as good as it looks.

Are All EMDR Therapists Equal?

You’ve heard about EMDR therapy, or maybe you’ve done extensive research about it, and now you’re ready to find an EMDR therapist. It shouldn’t be so hard to find someone who can help – just do some quick googling and you should find a list of local therapists pretty quickly, right?

Then the confusion sets in. These therapists all sound the same, so how do I know who’s “good” and who can help me? Are all these EMDR therapists equally trained? What difference is there between them anyway?

As a local Cincinnati therapist that specializes in using EMDR, trains other therapists in how to use EMDR, and has one of the largest EMDR practices in the area, this is a topic very close to my heart. We’re passionate about people getting the help they need to start living a better quality of life. People often hear about EMDR, but don’t know how to find someone they can trust who is competent in EMDR. In this blog, we’ll peel back the curtain about EMDR training and how you can make sure you are finding a qualified EMDR therapist.

What’s The Problem?

Let’s start with a question people often have: If someone is EMDR trained that means they can help me by providing EMDR therapy, right? Not so fast. The truth is that not every EMDR therapist has the same level of expertise, and the quality of EMDR therapy varies widely depending on the skill of the therapist. EMDR is an intricate technique that requires more than just a weekend training or a certificate to be truly effective.

Part of my motivation in writing this blog is the amount people over the years who have come to us after having had a negative experience with a previous EMDR therapist. After talking to these clients, it becomes clear that the “EMDR therapy” that they did was not in fact EMDR, or it was a very distorted version of EMDR. Let’s understand why there’s such a wide range of skill among EMDR therapists, and to do that we have to better understand how therapists are trained in EMDR and how that training is done.

How EMDR Therapists Are Trained

Let’s start with how therapists magically transform into EMDR therapists 😊 A therapist signs up with a local organization that is running an EMDR training, usually in Cincinnati, but it can be anywhere. These organizations have trainers whose job it is to train therapists in how to properly do EMDR. Over 5 days of training, the therapist learns how to do EMDR therapy, and is then able to begin using EMDR therapy with their clients.

A Gap in EMDR Training

One of the reasons for the variation in skill among EMDR therapists is that there is no standardized requirement for EMDR training. While the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), is the recognized source of EMDR training in the field, they do not hold a trademark over the term “EMDR”. That means that virtually anyone can offer an EMDR training.

Taking this to the extreme, technically speaking someone who has no knowledge at all about EMDR can offer an EMDR training to whomever wants to take it. Those therapists could then call themselves EMDR therapists. I want to highlight that I have never heard of this happening, but that fact that it’s technically possible shows some of the weak links in how easy it is for a therapist to call themselves an “EMDR therapist”.

No Knowledge Test to Assess Competency

A surprising fact about EMDR training is that there’s no knowledge test to determine if a therapist has truly mastered the skill. Imagine going to a doctor who has read about a surgery technique but has never been tested on it – that’s a little unsettling, right? The same concept applies to EMDR. While the training can offer information and practice, and people who want to learn how to do EMDR will gain a tremendous amount from the training, therapists are not tested on the material they learned and how well they know it.

Again, technically speaking, you could have a therapist who attends an EMDR training, and they spend the entire time on their phone playing games and watching Tik Tok’s. This therapist would receive the exact same certificate for attending the EMDR training as the therapist next to them who truly put in the effort to learn how to do EMDR. Not only that, these 2 hypothetical therapists would be considered equally trained, and they can both call themselves EMDR trained therapists.

Again, I want to stress that the majority of therapists who go for training in EMDR are truly serious about learning how to do EMDR, but the lack of testing for knowledge means that there’s no way to easily know if someone took the EMDR training seriously and is in fact a qualified EMDR therapist.

EMDR Skill Isn’t “Black and White”

Probably the biggest misconception that people have of EMDR is that it’s a skill someone either has or doesn’t have, like riding a bike. People often assume that once a therapist learns how to do EMDR, they’re fully equipped to use it with clients. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The truth is that the basic EMDR training that therapists do to learn how to do EMDR therapy is actually only the beginning of learning how to do EMDR. EMDR therapists who regularly use EMDR learn much more advanced techniques such as Flash, EMDR 2.0, parts work, and many other techniques that make a significant difference in how effective they are with the EMDR that they do. They also get additional training in how to help clients safely work through the trauma that comes up in EMDR without re-traumatizing the client again.

An Analogy

To explain this better, I like to use a baseball analogy. Let’s imagine you have a new baseball player who has been fully trained in how to hit a baseball, while one of players on their team has played about 200 games of baseball so far. While both have been equally trained in how to hit a baseball, the player who has played 200 games already is light years ahead of the new player. Because of their experience, they can make small adjustments that make a difference, like figuring out what type of pitch might be coming next, how to hit the ball to a certain part of the field, and how to modify the way they hold the bat in certain situations. These are all things the new baseball player can only dream of doing.

In much the same way, the difference in skill between an EMDR therapist who has done hundreds of hours of EDMR sessions and one who has only done a few hours of EMDR is large. Suffice it to say you will have a completely different experience with a therapist who has extensive EMDR experience.  

The Skill of Regular EMDR Practice

Just like any skill, EMDR requires constant practice to get good at it. Yet, not all therapists who receive EMDR training actively use it with clients. Some may take the training as a way to broaden their skillset but they rarely, if ever, put it into practice. Here's the thing: when therapists don't use EMDR very often, they can get shaky on the details and unsure about what to do at key points, making it harder to help their clients through the process smoothly. Even seasoned EMDR therapists often have to make decisions on which direction to go in EMDR, and an inexperienced EMDR therapist may be unsure if they are making the right decisions, or if they are using EMDR correctly.

Think of it like playing an instrument – someone who practices daily is far more proficient than someone who only picks it up occasionally.

Trauma Specialization Matters

EMDR is most commonly used for trauma recovery, but not all EMDR-trained therapists specialize in trauma work. Trauma therapy involves understanding the unique ways trauma impacts the mind and body, as well as recognizing potential triggers and emotional responses that clients may experience. A therapist who specializes in trauma is much more likely to have a deeper understanding of how to help clients during the often intense process of working through the trauma that can come up during EMDR. Without a trauma-focused background, even a well-trained EMDR therapist may struggle to address the complexities that arise with trauma survivors.

The Story of Cincinnati and EMDR Therapist Training

For those of us living in Cincinnati, it can also be helpful to understand the change in training that our therapist community has recently experienced, and how that may impact the training your therapist may have in EMDR. Up until a few years ago, there was no local EMDR training offered in our area. To get trained in EMDR, a therapist had to travel to a different city. I myself went to Louisville where a local training was offered at the time.

This was both a good and bad thing. It was bad because it limited the number of EMDR therapists in our community which meant it was harder for people to receive EMDR therapy. However, in a way it was good because those therapists who took the time and effort to travel to get EMDR trained were much more likely to embrace it and become highly skilled in EMDR.

A few years ago, a few organizations began to offer EMDR training in the Queen city. As a result, there has been a large increase in the number of EMDR therapists in our area, which is a very positive development for those who can benefit from EDMR therapy. However, the large number of EMDR therapists can also make it harder to find someone who offers quality EMDR therapy.

So What Should I Do Now?

The next obvious step is to help explain how to help you find a good EMDR therapist here in town. However, that topic itself will require some explanation and would make this blog too long. In our next EMDR blog post, we’ll review how to find a quality EMDR therapist in Cincinnati, what questions to ask your therapist, and how to know if a therapist is properly trained in EMDR. Stay tuned!

Ready to Start Your EMDR Journey?

Your path to healing deserves the guidance of a properly trained and experienced EMDR therapist. Here's how you can take the next step:

1. Schedule a Consultation: Contact our office for a free 15-minute phone consultation where we can discuss your specific needs and how EMDR might help.

2. Ask Questions: During your consultation, ask about our EMDR training, experience, and approach to treatment. We're happy to share our qualifications and explain how we can help.

3. Get Started: If we're a good fit, we'll create a personalized treatment plan that incorporates EMDR therapy in a way that feels safe and comfortable for you.

Don't wait to begin your healing journey. Get started by scheduling your free consultation right now on our website. Our experienced team of EMDR therapists is here to support you with the highest quality care.

Is EMDR Hypnosis, and How Is It Different?

As one of the larger EMDR therapist practices in the Cincinnati area, we often get asked by potential clients if EMDR is a form of hypnosis, and if not, how it is different. The truth is that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and hypnosis are often misunderstood. Both are therapeutic techniques that can help with emotional healing, but they are very different in how they work. While they may share some similarities, their methods, goals, and how they engage the brain differ significantly. Understanding these distinctions can help you decide which approach might be right for your journey.   

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help individuals process and heal from trauma. It works by using bilateral stimulation, often through guided eye movements, to help the brain reprocess distressing memories. This process reduces the emotional disturbance of these memories, allowing individuals to move forward without being overwhelmed by the past. 

 A key element of EMDR is that it keeps you fully awake and aware during sessions. You remain in control, processing your thoughts and feelings in real time with the guidance of a trained therapist. The goal is to empower your brain to heal itself, tapping into its natural ability to process experiences and find resolution. 

What Is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis, by contrast, involves inducing a trance-like state where a person’s attention is highly focused, and they become more open to suggestion. A therapist or hypnotist guides you into this state, often using relaxation techniques or imagery. While under hypnosis, you are not unconscious, but your mind is more receptive and less critical.   

Hypnosis is often used to address behaviors, habits, or phobias. The therapist may suggest new ways of thinking or feeling about a specific issue, aiming to create a shift in your subconscious. Unlike EMDR, hypnosis doesn’t typically involve revisiting and actively processing traumatic memories in detail. 

How Are EMDR and Hypnosis Similar? 

Both EMDR and hypnosis involve working with the mind in ways that might feel different from traditional talk therapy. They can help access parts of the brain that are harder to reach through conversation alone. Both approaches also require a skilled therapist to guide the process and ensure safety and effectiveness. 

Another similarity is their ability to help people relax and reduce how strongly people feel their emotions. In both methods, the therapist creates a supportive environment where you feel secure enough to explore challenging thoughts or memories. However, these similarities are where the overlap ends. 

Key Differences Between EMDR and Hypnosis

The biggest difference lies in how the two approaches work with your awareness. EMDR therapy keeps you fully conscious and engaged. You actively participate in recalling memories and making connections between past events and current emotions. The bilateral stimulation helps your brain process these memories in a way that feels manageable and empowering. 

Hypnosis, on the other hand, involves a shift in consciousness. In a hypnotic state, your focus narrows, and your critical thinking becomes less active. While this can be helpful for certain issues, it’s not designed for the same kind of deep memory processing as EMDR. 

Another distinction is the goal of each method. EMDR aims to resolve trauma by changing how your brain stores and reacts to distressing memories. Hypnosis is more about influencing behaviors or feelings, often without directly addressing their root causes. 

Why EMDR Isn’t Hypnosis

It’s easy to see why people might confuse EMDR with hypnosis, but they are fundamentally different. EMDR is grounded in extensive research and clinical studies. It is a structured, phased approach with clearly defined steps, including history-taking, preparation, and desensitization. Each phase builds on the last to ensure safety and effectiveness.   

Hypnosis, while also valuable, doesn’t follow a set protocol. Its success often depends on the individual’s suggestibility and the therapist’s skill in creating effective suggestions. Hypnosis can complement other therapies but isn’t typically used as a standalone method for trauma.   

What to Expect in EMDR Therapy

During an EMDR session, your therapist will guide you to focus on a specific memory or thought. At the same time, they’ll use a form of bilateral stimulation, such as moving their hand side to side or tapping rhythmically. This dual focus allows your brain to reprocess the memory without becoming overwhelmed by it. 

 You might experience a range of emotions during EMDR, but your therapist will help you stay grounded. Over time, the memory becomes less distressing, and its grip on your present life loosens. Many people describe feeling lighter and more at peace after EMDR sessions.   

When Hypnosis May Be Helpful

Hypnosis can be a useful tool for addressing specific challenges, such as breaking a smoking habit, reducing anxiety, or managing pain. It’s often used as a complementary technique rather than a primary therapy. If you’re curious about hypnosis, it’s important to find a qualified professional with experience in therapeutic applications.   

However, if you’re dealing with trauma, EMDR is usually the better choice. Its structured approach and focus on reprocessing memories make it uniquely effective for addressing the root causes of distress. 

The Importance of Professional Support

Whether you’re considering EMDR therapy, hypnosis, or another form of therapy in the Cincinnati area, working with an experienced professional is essential. EMDR therapists, just like any other therapist, have a wide range of skill and experience using EMDR and it’s important to make sure the therapist you are working with has the ability to help you. Similarly, hypnosis should only be conducted by a qualified practitioner with experience in therapeutic settings. 

 Seeking professional help can feel daunting, but it’s a powerful step toward healing. A therapist provides the expertise, tools, and support you need to navigate challenges and find relief. You don’t have to go through it alone. 

How to Choose the Right Approach for You

The best therapy is the one that aligns with your needs and goals. If trauma is at the heart of your struggles, EMDR may be the most effective option. Its focus on resolving the emotional impact of past experiences makes it a transformative tool for many.   

If you’re dealing with specific behaviors or habits, hypnosis could be a helpful addition to your treatment plan. It’s not about choosing one method over the other—it’s about finding what works best for your unique situation.   

Healing Through Self-Awareness

Both EMDR and hypnosis offer paths to greater self-awareness and emotional freedom. They invite you to explore your inner world in ways that can lead to profound healing. While they take different approaches, their shared goal is to help you move forward with greater clarity and peace.   

The journey of healing is deeply personal. Whether through EMDR, hypnosis, or another therapy, the key is finding what resonates with you. With the right support, you can face your challenges, heal from the past, and build a future filled with hope. 

Conclusion  

If trauma or emotional struggles are affecting your life, consider exploring EMDR therapy. Its evidence-based approach offers a safe and effective way to process painful memories and reclaim your sense of self. For behavioral challenges, hypnosis might be a useful complement. Whatever path you choose, seeking help is a brave and empowering decision.

While we at Therapy Cincinnati don’t offer hypnosis, we do specialize in EMDR therapy. Our 3 EMDR therapists are expertly trained and continue to stay up to date on the latest research in EMDR. If you are in the Cincinnati area and are looking for expert help, please reach out today for an appointment with one of us.

How EMDR Can Help Rebuild Trust

Trust is fragile. For many, especially those who have been hurt or betrayed, trusting others again can feel impossible. Whether from personal relationships, family dynamics, or past trauma, the pain of broken trust can linger for years. This deep sense of hurt makes it hard to connect with others, leaving one feeling isolated and fearful. But there is hope. EMDR therapy in Cincinnati offers a unique path toward healing and rebuilding trust.

Understanding How Trauma Impacts Trust 

When someone experiences trauma, especially relational trauma, it can drastically impact how they view the world and the people around them. Suddenly, the idea of relying on others feels dangerous. Even when someone genuinely wants to rebuild trust, their brain might send signals to protect themselves. These defense mechanisms can create emotional barriers, preventing the deep connections many people long for. EMDR therapy, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an innovative approach that helps people break through these barriers, helping them restore their faith in relationships. 

Trauma isn't just an event that happens; it's a lasting emotional scar. For someone struggling to trust again, this scar may flare up in everyday situations, causing feelings of anxiety, anger, or withdrawal. EMDR therapy done by local Cincinnati expert EMDR therapists gently helps the brain process these painful memories, allowing individuals to release the weight of the past and embrace healthier relationships. 

How EMDR Therapy in Cincinnati Works to Rebuild Trust 

EMDR therapy is unlike traditional talk therapy. It focuses on the mind’s natural healing process. In a safe, supportive setting, EMDR therapists guide clients through specific eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. This process is designed to unlock the mind’s ability to reprocess traumatic memories. What once felt overwhelming becomes more manageable, and over time, the emotional charge tied to certain memories fades. 

This gradual healing can open the door to trusting others again. EMDR therapy in Cincinnati helps women not only understand the trauma but also work through the deep-rooted feelings associated with it. Trust isn't something you can force. It’s something that requires safety, vulnerability, and time. EMDR therapy gives clients the tools to rebuild trust in others by first fostering trust within themselves.

Recognizing the Need for Professional Support

If you're reading this and find that trust is something you struggle with, know that you’re not alone. Healing takes time, but you don’t have to navigate it by yourself. Professional support is often a critical piece in moving forward. Working with a therapist trained in EMDR therapy in Cincinnati allows you to address your trauma in a structured, compassionate environment. Sometimes, taking the first step to seek therapy feels intimidating, but it's also a sign of strength.  

Reaching out for help doesn’t mean you're weak; it means you're ready to prioritize your well-being. A trained EMDR therapist can provide clarity and guidance while helping you reconnect with parts of yourself that you might have lost due to trauma. Through this process, you can begin to rebuild trust in yourself, which is an essential part of learning to trust others again. 

The Benefits of EMDR Therapy in Healing Relationships 

Betrayal trauma occurs when someone you deeply trust, such as a partner, family member, or close friend, betrays that trust in a profound way. This kind of trauma leaves deep emotional wounds because the person who was supposed to provide safety and security has caused harm instead. Betrayal trauma can lead to feelings of shock, anger, and confusion, making it difficult to trust others again.

For women, especially, this type of trauma can affect both their personal relationships and their overall sense of self-worth. EMDR therapists know how to use EMDR to help address betrayal trauma. It helps individuals process these painful memories, reframe their experiences, and begin to heal the wounds of broken trust. Through EMDR, the emotional charge linked to the betrayal can be diminished, helping you feel more in control of your emotions and more open to trusting again when you’re ready.

How EMDR Helps People Heal

Rebuilding trust isn't just about feeling safe with others. It’s about feeling safe within yourself. Often, trauma can leave individuals questioning their worth, doubting their decisions, and feeling unworthy of love or respect. This internal conflict makes it even harder to open up to others. EMDR therapy addresses these deep emotional wounds by allowing individuals to process their trauma in a way that strengthens their inner sense of safety and self-worth. 

As individuals progress through EMDR therapy, they often notice a shift in how they view themselves and their relationships. That tight grip of fear starts to loosen, replaced by a growing sense of confidence and hope. Women who go through EMDR therapy often find that they can communicate more openly, set healthier boundaries, and form stronger connections with others. Trusting others becomes possible again because they begin to trust themselves.

The Path to Rebuilding Trust Starts with You

 Trust is complex, especially when it has been broken. Rebuilding it requires courage, patience, and the right support system. The EMDR therapists at Therapy Cincinnati have extensive training in EMDR and can be a pivotal part of that journey. By working through the painful memories and emotional scars left by trauma, you can begin to approach relationships with a renewed sense of hope. Healing is possible, and trust can be restored. 

If you find that trusting others has become a struggle, consider taking that first step towards healing by exploring EMDR therapy. The right therapist can guide you on a path to reclaiming your sense of trust, not only in others but in yourself. You deserve to feel safe, supported, and connected, and EMDR therapy might just be the key to unlocking that possibility.

What is Attachment-Focused EMDR?

Attachment trauma can deeply impact our relationships, sense of self, and emotional well-being. While attachment trauma effects both men and women, women often face unique challenges and experiences that shape their attachment patterns and relationships. If you've experienced attachment trauma, you're not alone, and there is hope for healing. Our local Cincinnati therapists have specialized training in attachment that can help you move forward in life.

One of more frequently used tools is Attachment-focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (AF-EMDR), which is a sub specialty within EMDR therapy that specifically targets attachment trauma and its impact on an individual's sense of security, trust, and relationships. This therapeutic approach integrates principles of attachment theory with EMDR techniques to address attachment-related wounds and promote healing.  

Understanding Attachment Trauma 

Attachment trauma occurs when our early experiences with caregivers are disrupted or unhealthy, leading to difficulties in forming secure attachments later in life. These experiences may include neglect, abuse, separation from caregivers, or inconsistent caregiving. For women, attachment trauma can manifest in various ways, impacting our relationships, self-esteem, and ability to trust others. It's important to recognize the signs of attachment trauma, such as fear of abandonment, difficulty forming close relationships, and feelings of unworthiness. 

Here's how attachment-focused EMDR can help individuals who have experienced attachment trauma: 

1. Addressing Core Attachment Wounds:

In attachment-focused EMDR, we address deep emotional wounds from past relationships. These wounds, like feeling abandoned, uncared for, or rejected, can make us feel insecure and unworthy in our current relationships. By working on these hurts and emotionally healing from them, we can start feeling better about ourselves and improve our connection to others. 

2. Repairing Attachment Bonds: Repairing attachment bonds is a big part of this therapy. It's like building a strong bridge between you and your therapist, where you feel safe and understood. Through therapy, you get to experience what it's like to be cared for and supported, which helps you trust others more. You also work on current relationships in your life, and how to deepen them and connect more.

3. Revising Unhealthy Attachment Patterns: We also look at how past hurts have shaped the way we relate to others now. Sometimes, we develop habits that make it harder for us to feel connected in our relationships. By recognizing these habits and learning new ways to connect, we can begin to shift away from patterns of avoidance, anxiety, or uncertainty in our relationships, and start building healthier relationships.  

4. Enhancing Emotional Regulation: Attachment-focused EMDR helps us manage our feelings better too by addressing unresolved attachment trauma. When we've been through tough times, it's normal to feel overwhelmed. This therapy teaches us how to calm ourselves down and cope with difficult emotions in a healthier way. 

5. Cultivating Secure Attachment: Ultimately, the goal of attachment-focused EMDR is to help us feel more secure and close in our relationships. We learn to set boundaries, express our needs, and show kindness to ourselves and others. We also learn to love ourself and not be triggered when people mistreat us. This leads to happier and more fulfilling connections with the people in our lives.   

Seeking Professional Support 

While EMDR therapy can be highly effective in treating attachment trauma, it's essential to seek professional support from a qualified therapist who is trained in EMDR. This is even more so when talking about Attachment-focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (AF-EMDR), which requires knowledge and training on attachment. While there are only a handful of therapists in the Cincinnati area that specialize in attachment work, we at Therapy Cincinnati are fortunate to have 2 therapists that specialize in this.

Conclusion 

Attachment trauma can have a profound impact on women's lives, affecting their relationships, self-esteem, and emotional well-being. However, with the help of EMDR therapy, healing is possible. By addressing traumatic memories and reprocessing them in a safe and supportive environment, EMDR can help women overcome attachment trauma and cultivate healthier, more fulfilling lives. If you've experienced attachment trauma, know that you're not alone, and there is hope for healing. Consider seeking support from a qualified therapist trained in Attachment-focused Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (AF-EMDR) to begin your journey towards healing and growth.

How EMDR Helps Relieves Trauma Stored in the Body

Trauma can linger within us, not just as memories in our minds but as sensations stored in our bodies. When words alone are not enough, and pain resides in the very fabric of our being, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) emerges as a powerful therapeutic tool. In this article, we'll explore how EMDR, with its unique approach, helps individuals find relief from the trauma stored in their bodies, paving the way for healing.

Understanding Trauma's Residue:

Traumatic experiences often leave a lasting impact, not only on our thoughts and emotions but also on our physical bodies. The body can hold onto the stress and tension of traumatic events, creating a reservoir of discomfort that can manifest as pain, tension, or even illness. This is why traditional talk therapy, which primarily engages the cognitive aspects of trauma, may sometimes fall short in addressing the somatic residue of these experiences.

How EMDR Works:

EMDR is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and integrate traumatic memories, including the somatic sensations stored in the body. The process involves a structured eight-phase approach, incorporating bilateral stimulation through eye movements, sounds, or taps, to facilitate the brain's natural healing process. By engaging both hemispheres of the brain, EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories, allowing them to be stored in a more adaptive and less distressing form.

Bilateral Stimulation and the Brain:

Bilateral stimulation, a key component of EMDR, plays a crucial role in facilitating the processing of traumatic memories. This rhythmic, back-and-forth stimulation activates both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, fostering communication between them. This mimics the natural process that occurs during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, where the brain consolidates and processes information from the day. Through bilateral stimulation, EMDR taps into the brain's innate capacity for healing and integration.

Accessing Traumatic Memories:

In EMDR, therapists guide individuals to access traumatic memories without retraumatizing them. This is done in a safe and controlled environment, allowing individuals to explore their experiences at a pace that feels manageable. The bilateral stimulation helps the brain process these memories more adaptively, breaking the cycle of distress associated with the traumatic event.

Integration of Thoughts, Emotions, and Sensations:

One of the unique strengths of EMDR is its ability to integrate not only thoughts and emotions but also the somatic sensations associated with trauma. Through the bilateral stimulation, individuals can connect their cognitive understanding of the traumatic event with the bodily sensations it produced. This integration is vital for a comprehensive healing process, as it allows the entire experience to be processed and stored in memory in a way that is less distressing.

Reducing the Emotional Charge:

Traumatic memories often carry a high emotional charge, leading to intense emotional reactions when triggered. EMDR helps to desensitize the emotional intensity associated with these memories. By repeatedly revisiting the traumatic memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, individuals can experience a gradual reduction in the emotional distress connected to the event. This doesn't erase the memory but transforms it into a narrative that is less emotionally overwhelming.

Creating Dual Awareness:

A distinctive aspect of EMDR is the concept of dual awareness. This involves simultaneously holding the traumatic memory in mind while experiencing the present moment. The bilateral stimulation helps individuals maintain a connection with the present, preventing them from becoming overwhelmed by the distressing aspects of the memory. This dual awareness promotes a sense of safety and control during the therapeutic process.

Enhancing Self-Belief and Positive Cognition:

As traumatic memories are reprocessed, EMDR allows individuals to develop more adaptive and positive beliefs about themselves. Negative beliefs formed during the traumatic event, such as "I am not safe" or "I am powerless," can be replaced with positive cognitions like "I am strong" or "I can protect myself." This cognitive restructuring contributes to a more resilient self-perception, fostering a sense of empowerment and agency.

Body Scan and Targeting Physical Sensations:

In EMDR, therapists often use a "body scan" to identify and target specific physical sensations associated with trauma. This involves exploring the body's response to the traumatic memory and addressing any tension, discomfort, or pain held in specific areas. By systematically addressing these physical sensations through bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps release the somatic residue of trauma, promoting a sense of physical relief and relaxation.

Gradual Processing and Closure:

EMDR recognizes the importance of gradual processing to ensure the individual's emotional safety. The therapy session typically follows a structured approach, working through specific targets related to the traumatic experience. Each session ends with a process of closure, allowing individuals to return to a state of equilibrium before leaving the therapeutic space. This ensures that the processing occurs at a pace that feels manageable and avoids overwhelming the individual.

The Role of the Therapist:

In EMDR, the therapist plays a crucial role as a guide and facilitator. They create a safe and trusting environment, helping individuals navigate through the complexities of their traumatic memories. The therapist's expertise lies in knowing when to gently guide the process and when to allow the individual's natural healing mechanisms to take the lead. This collaborative approach empowers individuals to actively engage in their healing journey.

In Conclusion:

EMDR stands as a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from the trauma stored within their bodies. By engaging both hemispheres of the brain through bilateral stimulation, accessing traumatic memories in a controlled manner, integrating thoughts, emotions, and sensations, reducing emotional intensity, creating dual awareness, enhancing self-belief, targeting physical sensations through body scans, and ensuring gradual processing and closure, EMDR offers a comprehensive and effective path toward healing. As individuals embark on this therapeutic journey, they discover that the scars of the past need not define their present or future, and that healing is indeed possible, one bilateral movement at a time.

How EMDR Can Help With Healing From a Sexual Assault

 Today, let's delve into an innovative therapeutic approach that has shown remarkable results in supporting sexual assault survivors on their healing journey: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). As therapists in Cincinnati that specialize in using EMDR to treat sexual trauma, we have witnessed the transformative power of EMDR in helping survivors overcome the impact of trauma. In this article, we'll explore how EMDR works and how it can aid in the healing process for survivors of sexual assault.

What is EMDR?

EMDR is a therapeutic approach developed in the late 1980s specifically designed to address trauma-related disorders. It integrates elements of cognitive therapy, exposure therapy, and bilateral stimulation to help survivors process traumatic memories, alleviate distressing symptoms, and promote healing.

At the end of each EMDR session, the therapist ensures the survivor feels grounded and safe before concluding. This helps transition the survivor back into their daily life, promoting a sense of stability and integration.

The Benefits of EMDR for Sexual Assault Survivors

Processing Traumatic Memories: EMDR helps survivors reprocess traumatic memories, allowing for the integration of fragmented information and emotions. This process reduces the emotional intensity associated with the trauma, enabling the survivor to gain a new perspective and find a sense of resolution.

Alleviating Distressing Symptoms: EMDR targets the distressing symptoms often experienced by survivors, such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and hypervigilance. By addressing these symptoms at their root, EMDR can significantly reduce their impact on the survivor's daily life.

Promoting Adaptive Coping Skills: EMDR equips survivors with adaptive coping skills to manage triggers, regulate emotions, and promote self-care. These skills empower survivors to navigate their healing journey with increased resilience and self-compassion.

Reprogramming Negative Beliefs: Sexual assault can profoundly impact survivors' beliefs about themselves and the world. EMDR helps identify and reprogram negative self-beliefs that may have emerged from the assault, replacing them with positive and empowering beliefs. This process helps survivors regain a sense of self-worth, strength, and resilience.

Addressing Associated Triggers: Survivors often experience triggers that elicit intense emotional and physiological responses related to the sexual assault. EMDR helps identify and address these triggers, enabling survivors to develop healthy coping mechanisms and regain control over their responses.

Restoring Self-Image and Empowerment: Sexual assault can profoundly impact a survivor's self-esteem, self-worth, and sense of control. EMDR helps survivors challenge negative self-beliefs, restore their self-image, and reclaim their sense of personal power and agency.

Enhancing Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth: EMDR not only helps survivors heal from the impact of trauma but also fosters post-traumatic growth. Through the reprocessing of traumatic memories and the integration of adaptive beliefs, survivors can develop newfound resilience, meaning, and personal growth.

Can EMDR help with sexual trauma?

While EMDR has been shown to be a highly effective therapeutic approach for sexual assault survivors, it is crucial to approach it with care and support. Here are some considerations:

Working with a Trained Therapist: EMDR should be conducted by a trained and licensed mental health professional who specializes in trauma. Besides for an EMDR trained therapist, your therapist should have additional trauma training with a focus on working with sexual assaults. Your therapist should also have experience working with sexual assaults.

Individualized Treatment: Each survivor's experience is unique, and not all therapeutic approaches work the same for everyone. It's important to work collaboratively with your therapist to determine if EMDR is suitable for you and to explore other options if needed.

Establishing Safety and Trust: Before beginning EMDR, your therapist will prioritize creating a safe and trusting therapeutic environment. They will work with you to develop coping strategies and establish a strong foundation for the healing process so that you can handle the emotions and sensations that may come up in trauma treatment.

Working on Trauma Gradually: Your therapist should discuss with you how you will be working on your trauma, along with the pace that you are comfortable with. With sexual trauma especially, it’s important to go slow rather than try to do too much. We use concepts like titration (discussed in an earlier blog) to work with small pieces of the memory instead of having someone work through everything at once. This makes it more tolerable and results in less anxiety and panic attacks.  

Conclusion

EMDR offers a transformative path to healing for sexual assault survivors. By reprocessing traumatic memories, alleviating distressing symptoms, restoring self-image and empowerment, and fostering post-traumatic growth, EMDR provides a powerful tool for survivors to reclaim their lives and move beyond the trauma. If you're a sexual assault survivor seeking support, consider exploring EMDR as a part of your healing journey. Remember, healing takes time, but with the right support and therapeutic approach, it is possible to find resilience, reclaim your power, and embark on a path of lasting recovery.

If you’re looking for help with a sexual assault you or a loved one has experienced, we are Therapy Cincinnati have 3 EMDR trained therapists who can help you. Our therapists have advanced training in EDMR, and best of all, don’t have any waiting lists for new clients. Please reach out to us to get started today.

Can EMDR Help If Therapy Hasn't Worked So Far?

More and more of us rely on therapy to help heal from past traumas and the like. However, if you have been struggling to see success with this, there are plenty of alternative options you could consider. Just one such option you could consider is EMDR – but what is EMDR, how does it work, and can it help people who have tried other types of therapy unsuccessfully?

What is EMDR?

What is EMDR? EMDR therapy uses eye movement desensitization and reprocessing techniques to help bring old memories to the forefront of our minds; these can often be long-since-buried memories that significantly influence our day-to-day lives.

During EMDR sessions, the therapist typically starts by taking the client’s history and preparing the client for the experience, which can be somewhat unusual. Then, during EMDR therapy, the therapist targets and processes target memories to help with recovery. From there, the therapist can begin working on treatment plans to help the patient heal from past traumas and move forward.

How EMDR is Helpful for People Who’ve Tried Other Therapies

EMDR is a relatively new form of therapy, and it works differently than other techniques, making it valuable in many scenarios. The basic idea is that instead of talking about feelings and experiences we have had, we allow our brain to reprocess events, which helps us heal and emotionally move on from what has happened.

While EMDR therapy does bring potentially painful memories into the forefront of people’s minds, it is nevertheless still effective. With EMDR therapy, you individually approach and reprocess past negative experiences. This makes them significantly easier to live with in the modern world.

EMDR is an excellent complementary therapy to integrate into your recovery. Whether you’re still sticking with your traditional healing mechanisms or if you have had poor results and want something different, EMDR could absolutely help. Because it targets the cause of distress at the source, it can even be effective for people who haven’t had good experiences with other types of therapy.

There are two main reasons why you might want to try EMDR in place of other therapies. These include:

-        Not all therapies are helpful for recovering from past therapies. Accordingly, if you have struggled in the past to overcome trauma, you may want to try EMDR.

-        In some cases, individuals may simply not see good results from a particular type of therapy. If you’ve been trying another form of therapy that you struggle to see results from generally, EMDR could be a valuable alternative approach.

Is EMDR Safe?

While EMDR can bring painful memories up, it’s nevertheless worth noting here that EMDR is typically very safe to use. Other than being a little distressing, EMDR therapy is a safe way to approach healing and recovery; if you have difficulties, EMDR might be the option you deserve. And don’t forget, EMDR is open to all patients suffering from a mental health condition.

When is EMDR Used?

EMDR is used generally when people are stuck in therapy, or when they have experienced something overwhelming and scary. With this in mind, EMDR is not exclusively limited to challenging or complex cases. In fact, EMDR is available for users facing all manner of different challenges, primarily those relating to past or childhood trauma.

EMDR offers a hugely valuable and exciting opportunity for people to boost their own recovery and happiness. Why not consider this for your own recovery efforts, too?

Final Thoughts

If you have been looking for someone to help with your own healing and recovery needs, EMDR from a local professional therapist could be just what you need. Luckily, we here at Therapy Cincinnati have had lots of experience helping people who have yet to see success through therapy. We have 3 EMDR therapists on our team, and we are proud to offer expert EMDR treatment that can help you heal. Reach out today to get started.

How to Know if EMDR Therapy is Right for Me

Has someone suggested that you try EMDR therapy? Perhaps a friend recommended it after the positive effect it had in their life. Or maybe your doctor thinks it would be a good idea to try it. Or, maybe you’ve heard about EMDR yourself and have been wondering whether it might be right for you.

In many cases, EMDR therapy can offer numerous benefits. However, if you’ve been unsure whether EMDR therapy might be right for you, there’s a lot to consider. Luckily, this is where we can help, and we’ve outlined some vital things you need to know about EMDR therapy in Cincinnati to help you find out if EMDR could be helpful for you.

How to Know if EMDR Therapy is Right for You

How can you decide whether EMDR is the right option for you? EMDR therapy is an increasingly popular solution in many cases. However, it’s not always clear to see which form of therapy is right for you – and, with this thought in mind, we’ve outlined some of the key things you need to know about EMDR as follows. Hopefully, this will help you find the optimal solutions for your own recovery goals.

Key Features of EMDR Therapy in Cincinnati

EMDR therapy is a unique form of healing that works with rapid eye movements to reprocess past traumas. In many cases, this can allow you to feel better about memories that previously caused you to feel strong negative emotions, making it much easier to cope with the traumas you may have experienced in the past. EMDR helps by desensitizing and reprocessing previous, painful memories, making them easier to cope with in the present.

As such, some of the key features of EMDR therapy that can help make it effective for your own recovery include a non-invasive approach that’s safe and non-overwhelming. The EMDR process is designed to be a gentle process, and while you may experience some slight emotional discomfort at the time, this likely won’t continue in the long-term perspective.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR therapy can be effective for numerous forms of recovery. As such, if you are struggling with any of the following, EMDR therapy might be right for you!

-        Anxiety

-        Phobias

-        Childhood trauma

-        Complex trauma

-        Unresolved grief

-        Addictions

-        Eating disorders

EMDR therapy is also effective if you have struggled with previous forms of therapy. Many people come to us after having tried other, more traditional types of therapy such as talk therapy. Unfortunately, people come to us after their previous therapy was not successful, and this is especially the case when trying other types of trauma therapy. One of the benefits of EMDR is that you don’t need to tell your therapist what you’ve been through – you can still get the full benefits of EMDR without speaking about your trauma, since EMDR is not solely about verbally processing the trauma.

Something else that can be helpful is that EMDR integrates somatic therapy into the therapy, which can make it easier for people who experience body sensations to process through their trauma.

However, if you’re looking for a quick fix for your past trauma, it’s worth considering that EMDR therapy primarily supports your healing and recovery. As such, if you’re looking for a plan that can provide immediate solutions, EMDR may not be the right option. However, for many patients, it doesn’t take many EMDR sessions to begin experiencing progress and recovery, making this a potentially effective form of recovery to consider.

How long does EMDR therapy take to work?

Many people find EMDR therapy to be helpful because it can accelerate your healing. This doesn’t mean it’s a quick fix,  but it simply means it can help you process some things more effectively. As you’re deciding if EMDR therapy is right for you, it’s important to consider how long you’ll need to be in treatment to get the best results. If you’ve been engaging in therapy for a long time, you may be able to feel the effects of EMDR therapy more rapidly. If you’re experiencing therapy for the first time it may take a little longer to prepare for the work. A general rule of thumb is that it will take at least 10-12 sessions to see the effects of EMDR therapy.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been looking to try a new form of therapy and recovery, you may have considered EMDR. In fact, a growing number of people are trying EMDR therapy in Cincinnati for the value it could bring. It’s important to speak to a trained and expert local Cincinnati EMDR therapist to fully determine if EMDR could help you, and you can reach out to us to schedule a free 15 minutes consultation call.

What is Attachment-Focused EMDR?

In many cases, traditional EMDR therapy can provide a highly effective and reliable solution for recovery from trauma experienced during our lives. However, there are different forms of EMDR therapy, and while all EMDR therapy shares the same basic outline, over the years several variations of EMDR therapy have been introduced to better target certain struggles some people may have. These newer forms of EMDR are typically used by more experienced EMDR therapists, and they require more advanced training in how to use them. Attachment-focused EMDR is one of the new variations that have been developed, and is taught in more advanced EMDR trainings.

But what is attachment-focused EMDR, how does it differ from standard EMDR therapy, and might it be the right recovery solution for you? We’ve outlined everything you need to know about this unique form of recovery as follows to help inform your decision.

What is Attachment-Focused EMDR?

We are all social creatures by our very nature – but in some cases, relationships with others can cause a great deal of pain and trauma. Abuse, neglect, and loss can all significantly impact our ability to lead a happy and healthy life.

Many people suffer from mental health challenges due to their past experiences. This is especially common when we suffer neglect or relationship trauma at a developing age. At this point, we are naturally more prone to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms and barriers to better cope with the suffering that we have faced.

For people unable to move on from these past traumas, previous negative relationships can significantly impact our modern lives. However, attachment-focused EMDR therapy aims to overcome this, allowing a person to develop healthier adaptive strategies to overcome pain.

How Does Attachment-Focused EMDR Differ?

We’ve covered how EMDR therapy works previously. However, attachment-focused EMDR is a little different, building on the original principles and methods with a focus on attachment and relationship trauma. This allows attachment-focused EMDR to provide more effective support and recovery for patients who have experienced trauma during childhood.

Traditional EMDR is often used for later traumas that occurred at a specific time. By comparison, attachment focused EMDR focuses on longer-standing trauma due to unhealthy coping mechanisms and neglectful early attachments.

Through attachment-focused EMDR, therapists focus more closely on events that occurred very early during the person’s life. These events, particularly if disruptive to the bond between a child and their primary caregiver, often shape our future lives through internalized coping mechanisms and unhealthy means of communicating and healing from pain.

In turn, by focusing on these early attachments and helping the patient to reprocess these memories, attachment-focused EMDR allows a patient to connect new information with the pain of previous memories. This allows the recovery process to begin by helping clients learn new truths about themselves and the people that were around them. For example, if a child was often ignored  by their caregivers, they may internally think there is something wrong with them, or they are annoying or a burden to others. With attachment focused EMDR, they are able to see things in a different light. For example, maybe their caregiver was emotionally exhausted and couldn’t pay attention to anyone. Maybe the caregiver thought the child was ok and didn’t need attention. Obviously, even if this is true this does not excuse the caregivers behavior, but looking at things in this new light can help a client understand the lack of attention was not about the child, but rather about the parent. This can then lead to an ability to emotionally move on and not be as affected by what they experienced.

Furthermore, by developing and enhancing nurturing figures in the patient’s mind, attachment-focused EMDR helps make the act of reprocessing more straightforward, further contributing to its efficacy for early childhood trauma specifically.

In turn, since these early traumatic experiences may have significantly impacted us throughout our lives, tackling these as the root cause of later trauma can be a powerful way to address current mental health challenges and distress.

Final Thoughts

Recovering from emotional trauma is an incredibly difficult and painful process in many cases – and this is where attachment-focused EMDR may help. Indeed, for many people, attachment-focused EMDR offers a highly effective solution to recover from emotional trauma caused by relationships, in particular.

This is often seen in patients who experienced emotional trauma, neglect, or loss at a young age. As such, by focusing on the adaptive strategies learned during childhood and visualizing a safer space, attachment-focused EMDR can support effective recovery from lived trauma.

How EMDR Can Help You Grow Past Your Trauma

Change and growth can be painful processes. However, there is nothing quite as painful as staying in a place you know you don’t belong. Surviving traumatic events can be, in a word: chaotic. You ask yourself the same questions repetitively, hoping for a different answer. Why did this happen? What could I have done to prevent it? Who will believe me? At times it can feel like you’ve witnessed yourself dissolve. All you can do is stand there and wonder if there is anything left of you to put back together.  

Rock-bottom can feel debilitating, but it can also be an excellent foundation to build. That inner knowing that I may be shattered right now, but somewhere in me, that magic, that alive thing, is still in me. I will have to take a step back and cry when I need to cry, mourn what I’ve got to mourn, but I have got to heal. 

The critical thing to remember is that change isn’t achieved overnight. Rushing and pushing cause resistance. Healing takes alignment. Aligning ourselves with the tools and resources that will support us takes time. It means coming to terms that recovery also requires doing things that make us uncomfortable at the moment, but that will significantly benefit us over the long term. 

Often, our biggest fear isn’t that these traumatic events will happen again; Our biggest fear is that we won’t be able to handle them if it does. EMDR helps you take your power back and harnesses you with the tools to turn your greatest breakdown into your most significant breakthrough.

 This post will explore how EMDR therapy will help you become the best version of yourself. 

1)     End Emotional Eating and Once And For All 

When we experience strong negative emotions, it isn’t uncommon to experience a feeling of emptiness and hopelessness. Food can be an attractive solution since it can give us a sense of physical fullness even if we still feel that strong emotional void.  

Here are the facts about eating disorders and obesity in the USA today:

 ●       According to The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States.

●       10,200 deaths each year are the direct result of an eating disorder

●       About 26% of people with eating disorders will attempt suicide.

●       The U.S. adult obesity rate stands are 42.4%. 

EMDR can help you navigate stressful situations and intense emotions that keep you vulnerable to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as binge-eating and substance abuse.  

2)     Build Strong Self-Talk and Self-Confidence 

Our thoughts influence our feelings. Our feelings influence our actions. Our actions create our habits, and our habits create our lives. What we think and feel about ourselves plays a prominent role in trauma recovery. EMDR builds mental toughness and self-confidence because you will begin to hit mental and emotional breakthroughs that you once thought were impossible. Debilitating flashbacks will, over time, become minor inconveniences that come and go, like riding a wave in the ocean.

 3)     Improve Relationships 

The quality of our lives is greatly determined by the quality of our relationships. EMDR helps us to discover who we are at the core. When this self-awareness is developed, it allows us to form more meaningful relationships, and we will be able to see people’s actions objectively instead of projections of previous trauma. Developing relationships with others will help us create a network of supporters that we can lean on in times of crisis. 

4)     Plan For Your Future

As EMDR helps resolve the pain and hurt associated with our trauma, you may notice that you will have more energy and courage to focus on new opportunities and experiences that can enrich our lives. When we keep our past big, it forces us to keep our future small. But when we come to terms with our past, it allows us to think about the future with a sense of wonder and start living intentionally to make it a reality. 

5)     Fade Debilitating Flashbacks

One of the classic symptoms of childhood trauma and PTSD is that trauma memories just won’t seem to fade. People with trauma might find themselves reliving their child abuse or sexual abuse repeatedly. A great thing about EMDR is that it transcends these traumatic events into more manageable, distant memories. Of course, you can still remember, but you will have the ability to separate the memory from your identity and self-worth. 

 6)     Develop A Growth Mindset 

A growth mindset simply means that you believe your talents and capabilities can be developed over time. EMDR shows us that setbacks are a part of life, and it doesn’t matter what happens to you; what matters is how you respond. Those with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges and be more resilient. In the face of adversity, you will shift your mindset from: “why is this happening to me?” to “what is this experience trying to teach me?”  

With a growth mindset, you will have a new approach to life. In the face of adversity, you will look for an opportunity to grow and develop yourself instead of treating every failure as a life sentence. 

How EMDR Helps With Inherited Trauma

Inherited trauma is the concept that past traumatic events and caretakers with a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can play a highly influential role in the way future generations react and respond to their surroundings. While the research surrounding “inherited trauma” is still relatively new, the notion of inherited trauma is research-backed by the proven concept of epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of how environments and learned behaviors can alter the way a particular gene is expressed. Through an epigenetics perspective, inherited trauma does not necessarily mean that traumatic events have the power to genetically alter someone’s DNA nor the genetic code of their children. Rather, epigenetics demonstrates how traumatic symptoms and responses can be taught and thus passed on through learned behavior.

One such way that traumatic symptoms can be inherited through epigenetics is through memories passed down from generation to generation – such as with cultural trauma as one example. As the retelling of traumatic ancestral narratives are retold and passed down, the lasting impact can resonate with the new generation who often experience PTSD symptoms in an attempt to cope with the traumatizing memories they inherited. Another way that inherited trauma can manifest itself is through learned behaviors. For example, there are many studies that indicate that anxious habits and other fight or flight stress responses can be learned behaviors. In other words, nervous twitches, certain behavioral habits, and fears can be inherited through observational learning.

Regardless of the origin of traumatic symptoms, experiencing traumatic symptoms is traumatic in and of itself, and EMDR is extremely effective for healing symptoms of trauma, inherited or otherwise.

Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a proven form of psychotherapy that has been especially healing for people who are struggling to cope with PTSD symptoms and traumatic memories. EMDR has been heavily researched as an effective treatment option for processing and reconciling with trauma-based memories so that symptoms of trauma ultimately disappear. Through EMDR treatment, participants do not forget the traumatic memory, rather they are able to recall the traumatic memory without experiencing the distressing symptoms associated with the traumatic memory.

As pain becomes processed in a safe, supportive, expert-led session, emotions and psychological sensations associated with the trauma resolve themselves as the compulsion to respond to a trigger with the former, learned way of reacting disappears. In this way, EMDR can help break the cycle of unhealthy behavioral patterns experienced or learned through inherited trauma or generational trauma.   

5 Ways EMDR Therapy helps heal inherited trauma

1.      Dysfunctional narratives and reactions are observed, identified, processed, and then released so that new, healthier, and more regulating patterns of behavior can be utilized.

2.      Triggers lose the psychological power they once held, and the distinction between remembering an experience and re-experiencing an experience through recollection is differentiated.

3.      The act of remembering a traumatic event will no longer be psychologically or emotionally disturbing.

4.      Dysfunctional memory networks that instill unhelpful and dysregulating beliefs and behaviors will be processed and released. As a result, cognitive distortions, addiction behaviors, intense internalized shame, self-loathing, guilt, and other distressing emotions will be processed and reconciled.

5.      EMDR therapy allows treatment participants to feel a sense of liberating freedom. Trauma halts the mind’s ability to balance the nervous system, and this can cause cognitive blockages or incomplete informational processing patterns. EMDR creates new neurological patterns of thought and provides support for informational processing to complete in a regulating and healing way. As a result, participants report no long feeling entrapped in the cycle of their trauma.  

There are many benefits of EMDR therapy, and EMDR therapy is particularly effective with shame-based or culturally sensitive traumas. Explore other benefits of EMDR Therapy.

Working with a compassionate, trauma-informed, and certified EMDR Therapist such as our certified EMDR Therapists at Therapy Cincinnati can be a healing step towards resolving the traumatic symptoms and emotions associated with inherited trauma. If you would like to learn more about how EMDR Therapy can help you find comfort and healing, please contact us today for a free, 15-minute phone consultation. 

EMDR Therapy for Grief and Loss: 4 Ways It Heals

 In the aftermath of trauma, people can experience a range of emotions. One emotion which often emerges following a traumatic event or loss, is grief. Many people associate grief with the loss of a loved one, and while this is an accurate assimilation, grief can be associated with any physical or emotional loss. If you have experienced trauma, it is normal to mourn what might have been, what could have been, or the loss of what was taken or missed out on. Even after events and situations that accompanied the trauma have passed, grief tends to linger and can transform into PTSD if it is not released and supported in a healthy and healing way.

 If you feel like you have tried everything to heal from your loss and are still struggling to resolve your grief, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a proven form of psychotherapy that has been especially healing for people who have experience deep grief. What is EMDR therapy?

Here are four ways that EMDR can provide healing as you cope with grief.

1.      EMDR Therapy reconciles your mind and body.
Trauma can sever the connection between your brain’s ability to process information and your body’s ability to successfully act on that information for the purpose of self-preservation and the facilitation of joy. When there is a disconnect between your ability to reason and your ability to act emotions, intrusive thoughts, and difficult memories can seem uncontrollable and overwhelming. EMDR reforges the severed connection between the mind and the body by stimulating different sides of the brain while actively engaging movements of the body through eye tracking, hand-tapping, or audio/visuals. In this way, EMDR therapy can sooth traumatized individuals by allowing them to process grief in a way that alleviates the internal disconnect. As a result, grief is comforted and distress fades.

2.      EMDR Therapy provides clarity.
EMDR Therapy’s gentle approach allows grief-stricken patients the support needed to address any guilt, shame, or debilitating sorrow that surrounds their grief. By freeing themselves of the judgements and unhelpful feelings that often associate grief patients are free to explore other more helpful feelings about their grief. As a result, participants of EMDR therapy often experience a sense of empowering clarity as they navigate through the grieving process towards healing and recovery.

3.      EMDR Therapy releases suppressed grief
When grief is especially consuming, the mind can sometimes attempt to protect itself by “locking-in” the grief. This suppression can look like denial, avoidance, or even anger, but grief is natural and essential for healing. If grief is kept “locked-in”, it can have a severely negative impact on mental health and overall wellbeing. Regardless of if the trauma behind the grief occurred last week, last year, or twenty years ago, there is a natural process of grief, and EMDR Therapy allows that natural process to continue.  EMDR Therapy focuses on the exact mental and emotional needs of the individual patient so that when the grief is released it is supported and processed in a healthy and healing way.

4.      EMDR Therapy fosters inner peace.
Time can heal many wounds, but some losses need some extra compassion, care, and support. EMDR Therapy does not turn back the clock, and it does not make you forget what happened. No therapy can do that. Rather, EMDR Therapy allows patients to grieve in such a way that they can safely complete the cycle of grief and experience a sense of closure, purpose, and inner peace.

Explore other benefits of EMDR Therapy. 

EMDR therapy in Cincinnati

Working with a compassionate, trauma-informed, and certified EMDR Therapist such as our certified EMDR Therapists at Therapy Cincinnati, you can take a healing step towards resolving your grief and many of the other symptoms and emotions associated with trauma and loss. If you would like to learn more about how EMDR Therapy can help you find comfort and healing, please contact us today for a free, 15-minute phone consultation.

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How To Find An EMDR Therapist

Each organ in our body fights hard every single day to ensure we are happy and healthy, and the brain is no exception. The goal of EMDR therapy is to help your brain’s natural healing process along by helping you to cope with trauma, intense emotions, and internal conflict. This is where an EMDR therapist comes in to help you achieve your interpersonal goals and alleviate suffering.

 What is EMDR Therapy? 

According to the EMDR Institute, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. EMDR therapy works by recalling traumatic images, senses, emotions, and thoughts, in a safe environment where the trauma is then redirected to a physical stimulation (hand tapping, controlled eye movements, etc.) to help the brain process the trauma and heal from it. After EMDR therapy, the physical, mental, and emotional effects of the trauma are lessened. 

How Does EMDR Therapy Work? 

An EMDR therapist will work with you to revisit your trauma in a safe space in order to process it, heal, and move forward. It’s important to feel comfortable in your sessions to reap the full benefits of EMDR therapy.  Usually, your EMDR therapist will ask you a series of questions to recall the specific traumatic incident and then redirect it with gestures such as hand tapping, hand movements, controlled eye movements, or other physical stimulation. As the physical stimulation occurs, your brain will take the cue to move forward with the memories, thoughts, and emotions tied to the incident. This is how the brain processes the trauma and heals itself mentally and emotionally. EMDR therapy will continue until either the effects of the trauma are lessened or pain and suffering are no longer tied to the incident. EMDR therapy is generally divided into five different phases.

 1.)   History of the trauma and coordinating a treatment plan

2.)   Preparation for EMDR

3.)   Assessment of specific memories

4.)   Treatment

5.)   Evaluation 

What is EMDR Therapy Good For? 

EMDR therapy is proven to be effective for treating post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic life events. It is also believed to help anxiety, depression, and panic disorders, and it is a largely safe and effective treatment. While you may experience heightened emotions and memory recollection during EMDR therapy, that’s a sign that it is working. It is often used as an alternative for medication.  

Where Can I Find an EMDR Therapist Near Me? 

At Therapy Cincinnati, we believe that EMDR can play a vital role in any patient’s therapy sessions. We pride ourselves on the highest quality EMDR and trauma therapy with our highly trained and expert therapists. If you feel like negative memories are constantly hindering your quality of life, EMDR therapy is a surefire way to help alleviate suffering and painful memories that you can’t stop thinking about. Instead of feeling trapped and hopeless in your memories and psyche, EMDR therapy can help you regain control of your life by winning your power back over setbacks in life and traumatic events. We offer EMDR therapy for clients of all backgrounds and history.

 To find an EMDR therapist near you, you can begin by searching the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) website to find certified EMDR providers in your area.

 What Should I Expect from EMDR Therapy? 

The number one thing in EMDR is to feel comfortable with your therapist. At Therapy Cincinnati, it’s our mission to go above and beyond to make our clients feel seen, heard, and comfortable as they confront some of their most painful moments and memories head on. As they say, you grow through what you go through, and that is our promise to our clients. Gain your power back today with EMDR therapy.

EMDR Treatment: What Makes It So Successful

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psycho-therapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. (Shapario’s, 1989a) adaptive information processing model posits that EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories and other adverse life experience to bring these to an adaptive resolution. After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are changed, and stress is lower. During EMDR therapy the client focuses on emotionally distributing material in small amounts while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus.

Most therapists use directed laterally eye movements as the external stimulus but a variety of other stimuli including hand-tapping and audio stimulation are often used.

(Shapiro, 1991) hypothesizes that EMDR therapy facilities the accessing of the traumatic memory network so that information processing is enhanced, with new associations forged between the traumatic memory and more adaptive memories or information processing, new learning, elimination of emotional distress, and development of cognitive insights.

EMDR Therapy Uses a Three Pronged Protocol.

•       The past event that have laid the groundwork for dysfunction is processed, forging new  links with adaptive information.

•       The current circumstances that cause stress are targeted and internal and external triggers are desensitized.

•       Future events are imagined and worked on, to assist the client in acquiring the skills  needed for to best function.  

EMDR has been found to be successful more than other forms of therapy like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in post-traumatic stress disorder. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in children, adolescents and adults, and it can occur alone or along with other disorders.  A broad range of psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) have been developed for the treatment of PSTD. 

EMDR is one of the best remedies of PTSD as per World Health Organization (WHO) and there is a mounting number of studies reporting the effectiveness of EMDR has an effective role in reducing anxiety and depression in PTSD patient.

Method

Seven out of ten studies have shown that EMDR therapy require fewer sessions and /or is more effective than trauma-focused CBT. Only 1-2 hours of EMDR therapy targeting anxious memories can be enough to result in a decrease of anxiety.

In recent years, the scope for the use of EMDR has been expanded. Research has indicated potential applications for patients with stress-related disorders as well as those suffering from wide range of physical condition. Several studies have shown that EMDR can decrease the emotional intensity of anxiety, not only in cases of PTSD but also with regular anxiety. EMDR has also been applied to treat panic disorder and a variety of adverse life experiences.

FIVE REASONS WHY EMDR TREATMENT HAS BEEN FOUND SO SUCCESSFUL.

•       EMDR is a process that helps integrate your entire nervous system.

People who have experienced trauma may find that if remains with them in the form of disruptive emotions, sensation, or response. The nervous system may not be able to return to its natural resting space because the trauma is being stored in the body. EMDR allows you to deal with these emotion, sensation, and responses directly, with an impressive amount of accuracy.

According to the EMDR theory, ‘The goal of EMDR therapy is to process completely the experiences that are causing problems and to include new ones that are needed for full health. ‘Processing’ does not mean talking about it. ‘Processing’ means setting up a learning state that will allows experiences that are causing problems to be digested and stored appropriately in your brain. That means that what is useful to you from an experience will be learned, and stored with appropriate emotions in your brain, and be able to guide you in positive ways in the future.

•       EMDR therapy takes advantage of our brain’s natural inclination toward healing.

Often, there are mental blocks that get in the way of healthy trauma treatment. EMDR therapists believe there is no reason to assume that healing from trauma necessitate a long recovery time. If a block exists, you will likely find that stress and anxiety will dissipate due to EMDR. The method has been forward to help clients regain the metal process and reasoning unaffected by other treatment.

•       EMDR gives you the tools to make important mental connections.

Through bilateral stimulation, emotional responses are transformed and resolved. EMDR standardized treatment strategy hones in on past memories, current challenges, and helpful future action that can lead to healing.

Impressively, the result of recent research show that more than 80% of single-trauma victims experience freedom from PTSD following just three, 90-minutes session.

•       EMDR has been shown to yield results in as few as 3-5 treatment during office sessions.

You and your therapist will spend time in the session redirecting your brain and nervous system’s reactions to your trauma through simple bilateral tapping and the therapy is focused and unambiguous. Clients find that the insight and relief gleaned through EMDR are clearly their own, and not those arrived at with the help of their therapists.

•       EMDR trauma treatment elicits immediate relief which bolsters further recovery.

Trauma is devastating because it leaves the victims feeling out of control or helpless. EMDR trauma treatment empowers the client. Participants experience a sense of openness and emotional awareness that allows for improved outlook and decision-making. This leads to better, healthier, and a more permanent recovery moving forward.

With the help of EMDR therapy you can receive clear, effective trauma treatment, and finally, move a difficult past experience out of your present life.

6 Surprising Benefits of EMDR Therapy

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing or EMDR, is a successful form of psychotherapy in which stimulation, commonly through eye movements, is used to help individuals cope with traumatic memories and emotions. The memories and emotions of the past also affect present experiences. Over the course of multiple therapy sessions, a licensed therapist guides the client through a total of eight phases.

As EMDR slowly gains more popularity and recognition in successful therapeutic interventions, there are many benefits of the therapeutic methods that may be surprising for potential therapy clients. Utilizing EMDR therapy is based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are the result of unprocessed memories. Let’s explore six of the most surprising benefits to EMDR therapy.

Encourages Communication

Traumatic experiences tend to move a person more inward, as a reaction or response to dealing with the threat of reliving the traumatic events. It is more common than not that people who have gone through trauma tend to keep their experiences to themselves. This is especially true for those who may feel that communicating their trauma experience will cause them to be judged, targeted, or burdensome on others.

EMDR encourages individuals to communicate their experiences step-by-step with a therapist. It challenges individuals to finally be able to verbalize their physical responses, thoughts, and memories. When these things can be communicated, it opens opportunities for true healing. Individuals may become empowered by knowing that they are survivors, and they have the power to assist others in their experiences through communication and connection.

Reshapes Past Events

With the trauma and mental health concerns that EMDR is used for as an intervention method, the history of EMDR began with helping people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR helps build connections between the physical body and the psychological mind, improving cognition. As traumatic events are broken down with a therapist during sessions, individuals can take a step back and see another viewing angle of the incident or incidents and reshape what occurred.

Creating a different vantage point or a new lens to see past events can be just as life altering as the traumatic events. This different view provides individuals control over the current life adaptations the trauma has created. Understanding how trauma has a daily effect on life can help reduce symptoms related to PTSD.

Relationships and Boundaries Change

Tapping into traumatic events or memories and processing them with a licensed therapist can be a challenge. On the other hand, the aftereffects of having processed and identified memories can lead individuals to feel empowered. With trauma keeping others at bay and being more closed up mentally and emotionally, opening back up from the therapeutic process can lead to other life changes.

Relationships and boundaries may change for the better. Suddenly there may be more confident energy and emotional incentive to relate differently with others in life. Having more self-assurance in dealing with other people, expressing viewpoints more openly and having stronger limits in boundaries are all positive relational outcomes. While some relationships can be improved, others are better left at their stuck point while moving on and exiting is the best outcome for continued growth.

No longer feeling burdened or burdensome and no longer being consumed with the idea that limits are destined to be breached can spark expectations for setting boundaries. EMDR helps find clarity and balance. Collaborating with a therapist, the therapeutic relationship can help place safe zones and boundaries to change relationships and set new boundaries with confidence.

Changes Reacting to Rationale

EMDR treats different conditions tied to panic or anxiety. Working through traumatic events and stress responses gives individuals the perspective needed to resist reacting and instead create rationale. Trauma triggers such as noises or smells that would have led to reexperiencing a trauma can now lead to minimizing the reaction and being able to examine the real safety threat from the stimuli. Essentially when the brain and body’s survival instinct (fight, flight, or freeze) is triggered, the reaction overpowers any rational thought or response.

Rather than allowing anxiety and survival instincts to kick in, EMDR can help desensitize. The freedom to face life’s problems with less grief, depression, and anxiety improves the quality of life. Therefore, EMDR therapy benefits include providing the ability to stay more present and engaged in everyday challenges.

Acceptance Creates Mental Strength

Getting better means coming to terms with identity, self-esteem, and the internal narratives that become the life story experiences lived each day. EMDR and guided therapeutic processing provides a calm, quick, and confident environment to learn to accept the past and move forward. Going through the therapeutic process helps individuals feel more powerful and eager to face anything else that keeps them from feeling their best.

After acknowledging the past and coming to terms with acceptance, the mental strength gained from the process can lead to no longer feeling intimidated. Traumatic memories are no longer repetitive, intrusive mental bullies. No longer having mental bullies can lead to finally feeling capable to leave the past in the past.

The negative feelings connected to the past lose power to sneak up and destroy the rest of a perfectly good day. Being aware of the past without leading to a sudden reaction or response which occurred previously can be empowering. No longer living with so much anxiety or panic provides empowerment to face uncertainty with courage and resilience.

The Brain’s Ability to Heal and Remember

A common EMDR therapy benefit is more accessible memories and an active dream state. EMDR therapy may awaken the brain, stimulating access to vivid detailed memory and REM sleep. Many EMDR clients report clear memories of their childhood including sights, smells, and sensations, all lost prior to therapy intervention.

Dreams and REM state can also be affected by making dreams feel real and often tapping into memories of relationships and experiences. The content in the new dreams can then be explored and used for increasing self-awareness. With triggering different dreams and REM sleep changes, individuals also realize the power of the brain’s ability to heal itself.

The brain can update old, negative perceptions with positive resolutions. The brain can heal and change in real time. With the brain’s ability to heal itself and update, EMDR seems to offer quick results. Therapy utilizing EMDR has proven to work quickly in those who include it in their interventions. This is a huge benefit for those who are struggling with the effects of PTSD and other types of anxiety, as living day-to-day without relief can be crippling.

Final Thoughts

EMDR therapy can improve the lives of those who utilize it in their therapy. The greatest benefit of all is that EMDR therapy helps to improve the lives of people who were negatively affected by mental triggers. As with any other type of therapy, the benefits that a person will see because of their participation in EMDR will be reflective of the effort they put into it. However, continuing the work allows for individuals to work through their trauma in a faster, less painful manner.

Looking for a licensed therapist in the Cincinnati area who incorporates EMDR to therapeutic interventions? Therapy Cincinnati has been using EMDR to help clients process traumatic events and empower a healthier, happier life experience. Feel free to contact us through our website and skip the phone tag.

Healing From Trauma with EMDR

Sexual violence, which affects one in three women worldwide, can result in people feeling overwhelmed and struggling with things like sleep disturbances, flashbacks, emotional detachment, depression, and anxiety. Although more than 500 brands of psychotherapy exist, many of these practices require months to years for full healing to occur, and many women do not achieve full recovery due to high drop-out rates and high costs of healthcare. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic alternative targeted at patients who develop symptoms from traumatic events. Since its development in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro, EMDR has helped people alleviate distressful and painful memories. The therapy has been used by clinicians for decades, but has become an increasingly popular and sought-after treatment to deal with traumatic or adverse life experiences.  

What makes EDMR different from traditional therapeutic methods? EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions like other exposure-based therapies. By accessing and processing these traumatic memories, patients are able to feel better much more quickly. Rather than focusing on changing emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the painful memory, EMDR helps the brain resume its natural healing process in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies. Therapists can utilize EMDR to facilitate rapid recovery in as little as three to four 90-minute sessions. 

Stress responses are part of our natural fight or flight instincts. When a woman experiences a sexual trauma, memories of the experience can become locked in her neural memory network. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being “frozen in time”. Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events, though. EMDR therapy helps stimulate this healing process by connecting traumatic memories with new information and blending distressing emotions with positive ones. After successful treatment with EMDR, distress is relieved, negative feelings are reshaped, emotional symptoms are reduced, and a peaceful resolution is achieved.  

So, how does EMDR work exactly? During EMDR sessions, patients relive triggering experiences in brief doses while their eye movements are directed by their therapist. The therapist moves their fingers back and forth in front of the patient’s face and asks them to follow their hand motions with their eyes. At the same time, the therapist leads the patient through the recall of the traumatic event(s) they experienced. The patient focuses on a troubling memory and identifies the belief he or she has about himself connected to this negative memory. The individual then formulates a positive belief he would like to have about himself to replace their negative belief with.  

EMDR is thought to be effective because recalling distressing events is often less emotionally upsetting when the patient’s attention is diverted. The method of bilaterally stimulating both sides of the brain, which mimics our natural REM sleep cycle, causes activation of an adaptive information processing (AIP) system. This stimulation bypasses the area of the brain that has become stuck, preventing the left side of the brain from self-soothing the right side. In turn, patients are able to learn how to be exposed to their unpleasant thoughts and memories without having a strong negative response. 

Ultimately, EMDR therapy results in increased insight regarding both previously disturbing and long-held negative thoughts about the self that have grown out of the original traumatic event. For example, it can help an assault victim come to realize that they were not to blame for what happened. They can finally achieve relief from understanding that the event is truly over and that they can feel a sense of safety again. EMDR therapy has been proven to be effective in treating trauma and PTSD, especially for victims of sexual violence. A 2012 study of 22 people found that EMDR therapy helped 77% of individuals with psychological disorders and PTSD. It found that their hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and depression symptoms were significantly improved after treatment. An older study from 2002, which compared EMDR therapy to typical prolonged exposure therapy, found that EMDR therapy was more effective in treating symptoms and had a lower drop-out rate from participants. Although there is still much to learn, EMDR is an effective therapy which can promote psychological healing for sexual violence victims.

 If you’ve been struggling with the aftereffects of trauma, it’s important to know there is professional expert help available. Please reach out to me if you think EMDR therapy may be right for you. It’s time to let go of your fears that are rooted in the past and move forward towards a happier, calmer life.