EMDR Therapy Can Help Women Heal From Trauma
People keep telling you that you need to go to therapy. It would help if you talked out all those negative thoughts, emotions, feelings, and memories associated with what happened.
But that’s the problem. You’d rather do anything else in the world than have to talk through what happened, how you felt, and how you’re still feeling.
You went through a traumatic event. And if you’re being honest, once was enough. You don’t want to have to relive everything. It’s too much. It’s too painful.
Thankfully, with the help of EMDR therapy, you don’t have to talk about anything. Let’s learn more about how EMDR therapy can help women heal from trauma.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. This form of therapy is known as an effective treatment option for individuals who are in need of assistance with moving forward after experiencing a traumatic or stressful event.
EMDR was first discovered by Dr. Francine Shapiro, a psychologist who noticed that eye movements can help reduce or minimize the intensity of negative thoughts and emotions. While she was taking a walk one day, she noticed that her own feelings of stress significantly reduced when she observed her surroundings and darted her eyes back and forth.
How EMDR Therapy Works
EMDR therapy involves using eye movements to replace the negative associations to a traumatic event with more positive feelings. This is done with the help of a therapist. A therapist will work with you by having you perform various eye movement positions while thinking of bits and pieces of the traumatic event.
The process of the small eye movements while thinking of the traumatic event can help you unfreeze your brain and help you fully process the trauma in a less upsetting, safe, and secure environment.
The Phases
While the benefits of EMDR therapy can be seen almost immediately, it’s important to note that EMDR consists of eight phases. Working through all eight phases of the process is extremely important in order to see long-lasting and sustainable results. These are the eight phases of EMDR therapy:
History and treatment plan
Preparation
Assessment
Desensitization
Installation
Body scan
Closure
Reevaluation
The Benefits
Although EMDR is still a fairly new therapy type, it has shown many benefits for its clients.
Timeframe
One of the main benefits of EMDR is the timeframe in which it takes for someone to see benefits. No matter how deep-rooted the trauma may be, someone will be able to see and feel benefits almost immediately following an EMDR session. Eight to twelve weekly sessions are usually all that is needed to help resolve a trauma using EMDR therapy.
Cost Effective
Due to the relatively short timeframe needed for the treatment to work, it’s a highly cost-effective therapy option. Not only is the timeframe easier for people with busy schedules to commit to, but due to the few required sessions, it won’t break the bank either.
No Need to Talk About Your Trauma
Another huge benefit of EMDR therapy is that you don’t actually have to talk about the trauma that happened. A lot of people avoid going to therapy in the first place because they don’t want to have to talk, think, or relive the trauma that occurred. EMDR is a great option for those who aren’t interested in various forms of talk therapy.
Next Steps
EMDR is a highly effective therapy option. If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR and seeing if it’s a good fit for you and your needs, reach out to us today to set up a consultation.