ABOUT
EMDR THERAPY
with Mary Jo McHaney
WHAT IS EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
The American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs/Dept. of Defense, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the World Health Organization among many other organizations recognize EMDR therapy as an effective treatment.
More specific information on treatment guidelines can be found on our EMDR and PTSD page.
How does EMDR therapy affect the brain?
According to the EMDR International Association, our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.
WATCH TO LEARN HOW EMDR WORKS:
FAIRY TALES ARE MORE THAN TRUE: NOT BECAUSE THEY TELL US DRAGONS EXIST, BUT BECAUSE THEY TELL US THAT DRAGONS CAN BE BEATEN.
G.K Chesterton
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM EMDR THERAPY?
EMDR therapy helps children and adults of all ages. Therapists use EMDR therapy to address a wide range of challenges:
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Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
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Chronic Illness and medical issues
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Depression and bipolar disorders
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Dissociative disorders
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Eating disorders
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Grief and loss
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Pain
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Performance anxiety
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Personality disorder
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PTSD and other trauma and stress-related issues
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Sexual assault
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Sleep disturbance
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Substance abuse and addiction
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Violence and abuse
WATCH TO LEARN MORE
