EMDR Therapy in Columbus, Ohio
About Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR)
Are you looking for EMDR Therapy in Columbus, Ohio? This article will give you more information on what EMDR is, what it can help with, who it works for, how it is different from other types of therapy, how it affects the brain, the types of training an EMDR therapist needs, where to find recent research and how to get EMDR therapy in Columbus, Ohio.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a psychotherapy modality that was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987, as a way to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
EMDR is thought to help by reprocessing traumatic memories. The eye movements or other bilateral stimulation help to desensitize the memories, and make them less emotionally charged. This, in turn, makes them easier to process and integrate into the person’s memory.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new type of therapy that has been very useful for people suffering from trauma. EMDR sessions usually consist of the client talking about their experiences while receiving one of several types of bilateral sensory input, such as side
What can EMDR Help with?
EMDR therapy can help with a variety of problems, including:
– PTSD
– Anxiety
– Depression
– Stress
– Relationship issues
– Panic Attacks
– Addictions such as alcoholism and drug abuse
– Phobias such as fear of flying or public speaking
– Physical pain that is associated with emotional or psychological trauma
Who Can EMDR Help?
Almost anyone. EMDR therapy has been used to help people of all ages, races, sexes and backgrounds who are struggling with traumatic experiences. It can be used to treat the effects of sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, car accidents, military combat and many other types of traumatic situations.
How is EMDR therapy different than other therapies?
EMDR is different than other therapies in the sense that it facilitates the integration of information. The therapist will help the client to produce a coherent narrative of past experiences that includes imagery, emotions, cognitions, and sensations. The therapist will guide the client into processing their traumatic memories by using bilateral sensory stimulation to allow for information reprocessing. Bilateral stimulation can be sound, visual, or something that is physically felt. At Columbus Therapy and Hypnosis we use a variety of bilateral sensory stimulation techniques. For online sessions, we use a light bar program. In-person we use a light bar or electronic tappers. The tappers feel like you are holding a video game controller when it buzzes.
How does EMDR therapy affect the brain?
EMDR therapy is thought to help by reprocessing traumatic memories. The eye movements or other bilateral stimulation helps to desensitize the memories and make them less emotionally charged. This, in turn, makes them easier to process and integrate into the person’s memory.
There is some evidence that suggests that EMDR may also cause changes in brain activity. One study found that after EMDR therapy, there was an increase in activity in the left hemisphere of the brain, which is associated with positive emotions. Another study found that after EMDR therapy, there was an increase in activity in the hippocampus, which is involved in memory formation.
Does my EMDR therapist need to be trained?
According to the EMDRIA website, EMDR therapy should only be done by trained EMDR therapists as it is considered a medical procedure. This training is only offered to licensed clinicians and should not be done by people who are not duly licensed and trained. This includes not using EMDR applications.
What is it like to get EMDR therapy?
It can be helpful to have some idea of what to expect before you start EMDR therapy. Generally, the first session will involve an assessment of your symptoms and history. The therapist will also ask you some questions about the traumatic event or events that you would like to work on.
The next sessions will involve focusing on the particular event or events you would like to work on while receiving bilateral stimulation. It is up to you how much you want to talk about each memory, and how much you wish to keep to yourself. It is not necessary to discuss the memory with the therapist for EMDR therapy to help you. If thinking about memory is particularly difficult, you might also be asked to picture the memories as if they are scenes from a movie or TV show. This helps to provide some distance between you and the memory and makes it feel less difficult to process.
Recent EMDR Research
The best place to find recent EMDR research is on the EMDRIA website. This website is dedicated to promoting and disseminating information about EMDR therapy. It includes articles, studies, and other resources about EMDR therapy.
What Therapies can EMDR Integrate With?
EMDR therapy can integrate with a variety of therapies. Some of these therapies include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, emotionally focused therapy (EFT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and narrative therapy. It can be integrated with individual, family, and couple therapy techniques. In order to integrate EMDR with another therapy, the therapist should be trained in both therapies. This training helps them to understand each type of therapy and how to best merge the models. It also helps the therapist or counselor understand when to use EMDR vs. traditional therapy during treatment.
EMDR Therapy in Columbus, Ohio
If you would like more information about eye movement reprocessing and desensitization (EMDR), please contact Columbus Therapy & Hypnosis at 614-245-5119, or contact us via the website. We offer individual, couple, and family therapy sessions in our office conveniently located in Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus Therapy & Hypnosis is a private therapy practice with clinicians trained in EMDR. The owner, Yvonne Judge is a member of the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). You can see her profile on EMDRIA here. Appointments are available days, evenings, and weekends for your convenience. Both in-person and telehealth appointments are available.
Integrated EMDR Therapy in Columbus, Ohio
We use not only EMDR therapy, but several other methods as well, and are able to integrate EMDR into individual, family, and couple treatment as needed. If you would like to know more about how EMDR or other therapy can help you, we offer free phone consultations. During these consultations, we can discuss what you need and how we work. The goal is to help you determine what type of therapy is right for you and if one of our therapists is a good fit for your needs and personality. Don’t suffer alone. Call now and get the help you need to live your best life.
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