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EMDR Therapy - An Introduction

Writer's picture: Doria McGahey, LMHCDoria McGahey, LMHC

EMDR Therapy - Counseling For Trauma
EMDR can help keep every day events from triggering a negative emotional response

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy that combines something called bilateral stimulation with memory processing. Bilateral stimulation is either eye movements, audio sounds, or touch in the form of taping or little buzzers that you can hold onto. The stimulation moves from one side of the body to the other. Similar to the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase of sleep, when memories are processed.


EMDR has been around since the late 1980’s, thousands of studies have been done on the efficacy of the therapy with people living with PTSD, Anxiety and Panic attacks, depression, grief and loss, eating disorders, substance use disorders and many other challenges. It has been found effective in helping people heal from trauma, and the many manifestations of trauma impacting a person’s life like anxiety, panic disorders, depression, substance use, agoraphobia, and a multitude of other symptoms.


When a distressing memory or event has not been processed it is easily brought to the present when something triggers it. Triggers can be very subtle like a sound, a smell, tone of voice, or the way someone looks at you. Just like that, you are feeling what you felt when the incident happened as if you were right back in that moment.


As an example, let’s say a woman named Jane was driving home from work one evening when a car ran a red light and crashed into her car. Now everytime Jane drive’s through an intersection with a light (not just the intersection where the accident happened), her palms sweat, her heart races, she hears the sound of metal colliding, and she might feel like she’s dreaming.


So, Jane starts to avoid driving as much as she can while still doing the things she needs to do. Maybe Jane stops going to work and leaves the house less and less. This is really becoming a problem in Jane’s life. So you can see how this distressing event has impacted Jane’s life. Maybe you have a similar experience.


While doing EMDR therapy we will address the past (the event), present (the triggers), and future (how you would like to be in a similar situation) . EMDR therapy can help to effectively process those distressing memories, eliminate the emotional stress that comes with them, and help you be more adaptive in your responses to stressful situations.


EMDR is not appropriate for everyone and will require preparation and skills building prior to processing. EMDR therapy can be easily done virtually with good results. EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) has more information.

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Doria McGahey, MA, LMHC - (206) 659-1689

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