Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (E.M.D.R.) is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with posttraumatic stress and traumatic memories. (Shapiro, 1989a, 1989b.)

How is E.M.D.R. therapy different from other therapies?
E.M.D.R. therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. E.M.D.R. therapy, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process.

E.M.D.R. therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For many clients, E.M.D.R. therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapeutic interventions.

How does E.M.D.R. therapy affect the brain?

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 flight, fight, 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." E.M.D.R. 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.

Santa Fe Psychotherapy and Consulting has multiple therapists certified to provide E.M.D.R. please contact us for an initial consultation.