EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment that uses eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation such as tapping) are used during one part of the session. After determining which memory to target first, I will ask the client to hold different aspects of that event or thought in mind and to track my hand as it moves back and forth across the client’s field of vision. As this happens, for reasons believed by a Harvard researcher to be connected with the biological mechanisms involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, internal associations arise and the clients begin to process the memory and disturbing feelings.
In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level. For instance, a war veteran shifts from feeling horror and anxiety to holding the firm belief that, “I survived it and I am strong.” Unlike traditional talk therapy, the insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from the therapist’s interpretation, but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes.
The final effect is that clients end EMDR therapy feeling empowered by the very experiences that once debased them. Their wounds have not just closed, they have transformed. As a natural outcome of the EMDR therapeutic process, the clients’ thoughts, feelings and behavior are all robust indicators of emotional health and resolution-all without speaking in detail or doing homework used in other therapies.
This video may help to answer some questions about EMDR:
Courtesy of EMDR International Association
Please feel free to visit www.EMDR.com or the international site www.EMDRIA.org for more information.
Benefits of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy:
EMDR is a powerful psychotherapy approach that has been proven effective in treating trauma, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Understanding the benefits of EMDR can help you see the value in undergoing this treatment in therapy.
One of the key benefits of EMDR is its ability to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. By using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, EMDR helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories in a more adaptive way. This can lead to a reduction in symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, EMDR can help individuals develop more adaptive coping mechanisms and improve their overall quality of life.
The benefits of EMDR are vast and can have a profound impact on the lives of those who undergo this therapy. Whether you are a mental health professional looking to expand your treatment options or an individual seeking healing from past trauma, EMDR offers a unique and effective approach to therapy. By understanding the benefits of EMDR, you can make an informed decision about incorporating this therapy into your practice or seeking it out as a client.
References
EMDR (2018). What is EMDR? http://www.EMDR.com Retrieved October 10, 2018, from http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/
Starting January 15, 2024:
Before any new client wanting EMDR therapy begins, we will require that they start with our Graduate level Counseling Interns at Stillwater CCS to thoroughly prepare the clients for the EMDR process. This therapeutic process can be powerful. We want the clients to be prepared with a program of resource-building, coping skills, and grounding skills for these EMDR therapy sessions. The EMDR Groundwork program will have oversight by a certified EMDR therapist/EMDR Consultant and an LPC Supervisor. The cost for these EMDR groundwork sessions will be the client’s insurance co-pay or $25.00/prep session, whichever is less. The Groundwork program includes: Assessments for suitability and resources such as breathwork and guided imagery to prepare for the intense sessions. There will be 6-8 EMDR preparation sessions.
Our EMDR therapists
Dr. Caroline K. Gonzales is Certified in the use of a method called Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing or EMDR. She is also an EMDR Consultant, so she is able to provide EMDR consultation for hours needed for the Basic Training completion of Weekend 1 or 2 and 20 supervised hours needed for certification. If you are a CIT and need consultation hours, Dr. Gonzales can provide up to 25 consultation hours of this requirement. Her specialties include: PTSD with dissociative features, dissociation, and sex-related trauma therapy. Contact Dr. Gonzales for more details: cgonzales@stillwaterccs.net
Dr. Gonzales also offers EMDR Intensive sessions in 2-hour or 4-hour blocks.
These EMDR Intensives are exclusive of the assessments, preparation and previous phases of EMDR needed to start the Intensive processing.
The cost for these EMDR Intensives are as follows:
Two-hour intensive blocks: $240.00
Four-hour intensive blocks: $480.00
Parts of these EMDR Intensives can be paid through your insurance. Please check with Olivia in billing about this.
The following therapists have been trained in EMDR Therapy:
Dr. Melissa Lee, LCSW
Terri Lewis, LPC Associate
Colette Chase, LPC
Vanessa Romero, LCSW
Valerie Montgomery, LCSW Intern
Xochitl Kladis, LPC
Jennifer Powell, LPC Associate
Cindy Warden, LCSW
Kim Ghezzi, LPC Associate
Claudia Pozas, LPC
Stefanie Banda, LPC
Elizabeth Schram, LCSW Intern