EMDR is one of many types of therapy that aims to help people with trauma-related conditions find peace and move forward when they find themselves stuck.
Different kinds of therapy benefit different people. There's no one "fix-all" solution. EMDR therapy might be the best choice for you if you've found yourself resistant to talk therapy, DBT, or CBT.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's a way to process difficult emotions and memories and let go of the mental and physical responses that arise from them.
Can EMDR help you? Let's talk about it. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of EMDR therapy.
It's Proven to Work
Studies on EMDR have shown that it's an effective treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related conditions. It's backed up by the APA, the Department of Veteran Affairs, the United Kingdom Department of Health, and more.
The majority of patients benefit from EMDR therapy, and the prognosis for patients is excellent.
Treatment Is Targeted to Your Needs
When you're doing EMDR, your therapist will begin with a brief history of the traumatic events in your life. This helps them assess the situation and determine with you your best treatment approach.
After going over these events, your therapist will work on a treatment plan that helps you associate these memories with a more comfortable response.
Many kinds of therapy aren't catered to the patient's specific needs, at least not at first. EMDR is a very specific type of treatment, so you know that your trauma-related condition will be targeted. EMDR therapists have had special training to be able to do this.
Effects Are Maintainable
There is evidence to suggest that the long-term effects of EMDR therapy are promising. Patients suffer from fewer trauma-related symptoms even months after their treatment and may benefit more from EMDR than other types of therapy.
EMDR is generally applied over a period of several months, meaning that the patient and the therapist will work together for several months until treatment is "over" and then assess progress and whether treatment should be continued. It's anticipated that patients will continue to see the benefits of their treatment long after it's done.
It's Shorter Than Other Trauma Therapies
Talk therapy and CBT are good choices for problems that may last throughout the patient's life or small issues that come up in day-to-day life. Some people combine talk therapy with EMDR.
EMDR is intended to handle a significant issue that's causing distress in a relatively quick manner. It generally continues over a period of months, which helps people who don't find relief from intense trauma symptoms with other long-term therapy.
EMDR: Is It Right for You?
Making a choice to see a therapist is a big step. You're working towards your healing and a better life. EMDR therapy is tried and true and might be exactly what you need to live the life that you deserve.
If you're seeking an EMDR therapist in Thunder Bay, Ontario, visit us at Thunder Bay Psychology. We want to help you live a more full and peaceful life.