trauma recovery & EMDR

Trauma and EMDR Therapy in Red Bank, NJ

What is trauma?

Most people will experience trauma in their lifetime whether it’s abuse or neglect, a bad breakup, a car accident, the sudden death of a loved one, a violent criminal act, or a natural disaster.

Many people can recover from trauma over time, especially if they have the love and support of family and friends. These people bounce back with resiliency. But others may have lasting effects of trauma. Those effects can cause deep emotional pain, fear, confusion, or post traumatic stress long after the trauma has ended. This is where therapy can really help.

Trauma can cause many different symptoms such as anxiety, depression, numbness, guilt, aggressiveness, anger, self harm, intrusive thoughts, avoiding places, avoiding thoughts/memories, loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed, etc. Psychotherapy is the most effective form of treatment for trauma, especially when paired with EMDR.

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful form of therapy that helps people heal from trauma and other distressing life experiences. It has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. It’s a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from different treatment approaches.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR therapy consists of 8 phases and uses a technique called bilateral stimulation to repeatedly activate opposite sides of the brain. It seems to help the brain reprocess the trapped memories is such a way that normal information processing is resumed.

Therapists often use EMDR to help clients uncover and process negative beliefs about themselves that developed as the result of relational traumas or childhood abuse and/or neglect. For a more detailed explanation please visit EMDR Institute, Inc.

What can EMDR treat?

Research has proven that it is effective for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), however, it is also used successfully to treat the following:

  • Anxiety, Panic Attacks & Phobias

  • Depression

  • Eating Disorders

  • Sexual, Physical, and/or Emotional Abuse

  • Grief & Loss

  • Personality Disorders

  • Substance Abuse & Addiction

  • Disturbing Memories

  • Stress Reduction

None of the above symptoms or experiences fit you?

Do you experience distressing emotions that seem excessive given the current situation? Do you tend to be highly reactive to certain triggers? Are there one or more dysfunctional beliefs that you believe about yourself that on an intellectual level you know are not true?

If so, you may still be a good candidate for EMDR therapy.

Contact me today for a free phone consultation to see if EMDR might help you release what no longer serves you.