What is EMDR Therapy and How Can It Help
At our holistic practice based in Northeast Los Angeles, California in the Highland Park neighborhood, we work with many clients who want support processing traumatic events—both recent and from their more distant past. And while talk therapy can be helpful and certainly one component of therapy for those with trauma histories, research shows that other modalities can be more effective in treating trauma. One such somatic modality is EMDR.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a somatic modality that is often used with individuals who find that they are experiencing some form of dysregulation in their nervous system following a traumatic event or series of events.
When a person experiences trauma or a disturbing event where someone feels powerless, scared, and/or confused, we go into survival mode. After the event, the experience and feelings of trauma can get stuck in our body, nervous system, and mind. This leaves us feeling like we are under threat all the time, even when we are not.
EMDR helps to integrate the trauma experience into a part of your brain that understands the past is over and the threat is no longer here. We do this by using "bilateral stimulation" (BLS). This could look like using eye movements, or sometimes pulsars and audio tones that alternate between the body's left and right sides. For example, tapping the tops of your legs back and forth or watching a light move from right to left.
The goal is to use the movement along with revisiting a selected memory while also stimulating both sides of your brain. This is what allows the individual to reprocess and discharge negative emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations—allowing the person to feel more regulated when confronted with a trigger or memory.
The truth is even though EMDR has been proven as extremely clinically effective with over 30 years of research, we aren’t quite sure why this approach works. All we know is that it does work. People are often amazed that the thought of an event that used to leave them feeling anxious at the mere mention of it, feels like a distant memory after EMDR.
How Does EMDR Help?
From a holistic perspective, it’s important to remember that trauma can impact both our minds and bodies.
The nervous system can become dysregulated after a traumatic experience which is what can cause us to become more sensitive or triggered by specific sounds, places, or other stimuli that remind us of the trauma.
EMDR therapy is a tool that helps regulate the nervous system so individuals can regain a sense of control and groundedness. This helps your mind and body to know that you’re safe—and to be less reactive to triggers. And the good news is, once we’ve reprocessed a memory or trauma using EMDR, we don’t have to reprocess it again.
What Concerns Does EMDR Therapy Treat?
While EMDR is considered an evidence-based tool for treating trauma—especially for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, it has been shown to be impactful for the following concerns and symptoms:
Panic attacks
Performance anxiety
Phobias
Substance use
and more.
Can EMDR Be Done Virtually?
While many would assume that EMDR could only be done in person, it can also be just as effective when done virtually. This is important to know as some clinicians who offer EMDR don’t offer in-person sessions or have limited in-person availability. Additionally, we’ve found that some clients prefer doing EMDR from the comfort of their own homes as they're doing the work to reprocess their trauma. It can be helpful to be surrounded by a familiar and safe setting. And others like that they don’t have to drive home after a session but can instead immediately rest.
Are there any risks with EMDR?
Your clinician will want to check with your doctor before beginning EMDR if you are pregnant or have suffered a significant brain injury. But because EMDR is so adaptable, it is suited for most people. You may experience intense emotions when you begin EMDR and feel tired after your EMDR sessions. Some people experience new memories and/or vivid dreams after beginning EMDR. Our therapists provide tools for managing this in between sessions. For most people the intensity of emotion subsides after one or a few sessions. Our team of holistic psychotherapists are trained in adapting their approach with EMDR so that it is tailor made for each of their clients. Clients report that the initial emotional discomfort is far outweighed by the overall relief EMDR therapy provides.
Begin EMDR Therapy in Los Angeles, CA (Available virtually to residents of California)
If you're interested in doing EMDR therapy in Los Angeles, contact us today to learn more about our team and the next steps. Our team of caring therapists would be happy to offer support with in-person and online therapy across the state. Or, you can schedule a complimentary phone consultation with our Care Coordinator by clicking the button below.
Other Services Offered With Highland Park Therapy
EMDR therapy isn’t the only service our team offers. We provide a wide range of mental health services through online therapy statewide in California and in person at our Los Angeles, CA office. Other services we offer include depression treatment, group therapy, grief counseling, eating disorders, stress management therapy, and LGBTQ+ therapy. We also offer EMDR, HSP counseling, trauma therapy, and couples therapy. You can also read more by visiting our blog, FAQ, about us, or groups page.