You may have heard of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a type of psychotherapy that is increasingly well known and widely used. EMDR is a well-researched therapy recommended by NICE and used within the NHS to help people with a range of difficulties, particularly those connected to distressing or traumatic experiences.
How Does EMDR Work?
Our brains have a natural ability to process difficult experiences. Most of the time, when something upsetting happens, we gradually work through it and eventually feel better.
But sometimes an experience is simply too distressing or overwhelming for the brain to process properly. The memory can then remain stuck, continuing to affect how we feel, think and behave. This can mean that situations that remind us of the original experience trigger strong emotions, anxiety or even flashbacks. We may also develop negative beliefs about ourselves, such as “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t deserve to be loved.”
EMDR Helps Get Processing Moving Again
EMDR aims to help the brain reprocess these difficult memories, allowing the natural healing process to continue. During EMDR, the therapist uses something called bilateral stimulation, which involves stimulating both sides of the body alternately. This might involve following the therapist’s fingers with your eyes or using gentle tapping. Importantly, you remain aware and in control throughout the session. EMDR is not hypnosis, and you can stop at any time. You aren’t taken away from the present — you remain grounded in the here and now while working with the memory. The goal isn’t to erase the memory. Instead, the memory can become less emotionally triggering, and the negative beliefs attached to it can begin to lose their strength. In simple terms, EMDR helps your brain process what happened so that the past feels more like the past.
Perhaps you have a painful memory from the past that is stopping you live your life today as you would want or perhaps you feel stuck in an emotion you would like to move on from.
If you are interested in EMDR Therapy at reasonable rates Email us at rebecca@takeactioncounselling.co.uk
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