For decades, therapy was a process involving lots of talking and self-analysis. It could take years.
A person's childhood and family environment and interpersonal relationships were often dissected at length. But despite therapists’ best efforts and intentions, talk therapy didn’t always yield the hoped-for results. Clients often still struggled with anxiety, depression, phobias, and the effects of trauma.
Therapists and clients both felt frustrated and stymied by what seemed like intractable blocks to emotional healing.
Fortunately, with time, therapists began to discover the power of new therapeutic approaches. These new approaches helped clients tap into what was going on in their bodies during emotional distress. They found ways to address neurological underpinnings of anxiety, PTSD, depression, and more.
One such powerful tool for overcoming trauma is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing). EMDR relies on bilateral stimuli (this means both hemispheres of the brain are stimulated) to heal the neurological roots of emotional damage. The stimuli are gentle and may be visual, auditory, or touch-based.m
Somatic EMDR
EMDR is very powerful on its own and includes some level of increased body awareness. But certain people thrive when more somatic experiencing is involved in their therapy sessions. Somatic EMDR involves the bilateral stimuli as well as learning to pay deep attention to the physical sensations in the rest of the body.
The human body is a remarkably interconnected set of systems. The brain and its thoughts directly affect the emotions and the physical body.
When you are scared, sad, or overwhelmed, these emotions often spring from deep within your brain. While talking can be helpful, sometimes the brain is stuck in neurological reactions that literally cannot respond to talk therapy. The emotions are primal and need to be addressed at the source.
During Somatic EMDR sessions, I work with you to help you increase awareness of how your emotions are affecting your body. For example, when you feel stuck in anxiety, we figure out where this is being held in your body. Maybe your jaw is clenched, your stomach is tight, or your head is throbbing.
Once you’ve identified how painful emotions and memories play out in your body, you can learn how to respond and relax. With practice, when you relax your body, your emotions will follow suit. Combined with the healing neurological effects of EMDR, you’re helping all of the interconnected parts of your body, brain, and emotions find healing.
Attachment-Focused EMDR
For certain people who have experienced childhood and relational trauma or neglect, another variation of EMDR is especially helpful. This is called Attachment-Focused EMDR.
For this method, standard EMDR is combined with a strong focus on the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and client. Like some individuals, you may struggle to form close relationships as a result of trauma, betrayal, and abuse. In this case, you need to experience what a healthy attachment relationship looks and feels like. The therapist can step into this role during sessions.
When you learn to build a healthy relationship of trust with your therapist, you will be better able to benefit from the process of EMDR. As mentioned above, the body, brain, and emotions are finely tied together. And your brain can learn new ways of thinking and feeling. This is especially true in a positive, supportive environment.
The two elements of Attachment-Focused EMDR are mutually beneficial. As you learn what a healthy friendship feels like, you will be better able to respond to EMDR. This creates a positive feedback loop that removes emotional and cognitive blocks to healing.
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If you’ve struggled to find healing or have tried other therapeutic approaches that didn’t seem to help, please reach out to my office to learn more about my approach to EMDR. Together, we can find the appropriate tools to guide you toward emotional health.