EMDR Therapy
A highly effective therapy for changing how you think and feel about distressing life events
- Transform Painful Memories & Feelings
- Reduce Vividness of Past Traumas
- Relieve Psychological Stress
Trauma
Traumatic Events can lead to PTSD, come in many different forms and drastically change the way you experience every day life
These events can be anything that has left a lasting impression on you and has been very difficult to move past
Childhood Trauma
Emotional Abuse
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Death of a Loved One
Serious Injury
Automobile Accident
Surviving Natural Disaster
Common Symptoms of Trauma
- Anxiety and Fear
- Gult and Shame
- Withdrawing from Others
- Feelings of Hopelessness
- Lack of Joy in Things that Used to Bring Happiness
- Sadness
- Anger, Irritability, Mood Swings
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Trouble Sleeping
- Feeling Disconnected from Everyday Life
Trauma can be difficult to address on your our own as our brain tends to re-live and ‘loop’ through the most distressing part of the traumatic event. It can become difficult to feel a sense of safety and be able to work through these memories and symptoms without help.
EMDR CAN HELP
EMDR – More Effective Therapy in Less Time
Clinical Studies – Proven Results
- Significant Reduction or Elimination of Trauma Symptoms (Such as PTSD) After Only 6 Sessions of EMDR
- Multiple Studies Show Rapid Reduction in Negative Emotion or Vividness of Disturbing Images
As Much or More Improvement Compared to Other Therapies
Trusted by Mental Health Professionals Worldwide
How Does EMDR Work?
Once a negative memory is stored in your long term memory it can bother you for quite a long time. The disturbing memory can keep coming back unintentionally and can express itself in negative feelings like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not safe”.
By accessing your ‘long term memory’ of this experience we bring the memory into your ‘short term memory’, or what is also called your ‘working memory’.
While focusing on this memory the healing eye movement (or bilateral stimulation) is applied allowing your brain to process information.
As the emotional information has a chance to be processed eventually the memory starts to lose its emotional charge and becomes distant.
EMDR Therapist Team
Devon
MSW, RSW -
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist & Clinical Director
EMDRIA Certified
“My passion for truly understanding people’s personal experiences, feelings and their challenges go back as far as I can remember, and allows me to provide the best support possible during times of need.”
Amy
MSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
Whatever your goal for therapy, Amy’s down to earth, client-centered, collaborative approach will help you work through the changes that you want to bring to your life, while developing deeper insight and strengthening resilience
Katelyn
MSW, RSW -
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
“I strongly believe that everyone has the capacity for change already within themselves – I aim to empower individuals towards their unique goals in ways that are meaningful to the life they want to live.”
Bradley Vasquez
MA, RP
Registered Psychotherapist
Brad believes that people are capable for change and have the strength to do so within themselves. He is thankful for the opportunity to work with clients in achieving their goals and supporting them throughout their journey
Michelle
MSW, RSW -
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
“I recognize how much strength and courage it takes to reach out for help in times of suffering. I’d be honoured to be apart of your journey towards wellness.”
Contact us to Book an Appointment or Consultation for EMDR Therapy
Your First Step to a Path Made Clear
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR was discovered by chance by Francie Shapiro in the 1980’s. On a walk Francine realized that the thoughts around a disturbing memory she had had suddenly disappeared. Fascinated by this, she started paying close attention to what she was doing.
She realized that when she brought up distressing memories her eyes started moving back and forward. By chance, she realized that her eye movement was the reason she become desensitized to her disturbing memories.
She started off with EMD (Eye Movement Desensitization) and later added the R for Reprocessing. Her further studies realized the therapy is not just about desensitizing but also reprocessing the events and feelings as a whole.
She later stated that she would have just called it “Reprocessing Therapy”, but that name stuck after so many years.
No, EMDR does not involve hypnosis. The goal of hypnosis is to have the persons attention so focused that while in a state of hypnosis, anything going on around the person is temporarily blocked out or ignored. This is not the case in EMDR, in EMDR you are aware of what is going on around you and you are not in an altered state.
EMDR was originally developed to reduce the symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR has been widely researched as effective for PTSD and trauma with up to 100% effectiveness for single trauma and 77% effective for those with multiple traumas.
There is ongoing and promising research suggesting that EMDR is helpful in treating anxiety and depression.
There is ongoing and promising research suggesting that EMDR is helpful in treating anxiety and depression.
Yes, EMDR can be used to address past childhood pain in general related to neglect and abuse by an adult or parent.
EMDR allows for your brain to go deeper and work through more than traditional talk therapy can.
It allows for your brain to experience a more thorough healing and become “unstuck”. This is achieved by helping your brain make more connections than talk therapy.
EMDR does not mean that you won’t engage with your therapist as in ‘talk therapy’. In fact, talk therapy is used in conjunction with EMDR.
It was eventually discovered that eye movement is not the only way to allow the brain to process information.
The eye movement actually creates movement between the left and right hemisphere of the brain. This back and forward process, or bilateral movement in the brain, is believed to be what is required for processing and desensitization
This Bilateral stimulation can be achieved with the traditional eye movements, but also with touch and sound.
The therapist will either tap on a clients knees (if they are comfortable) or use EMDR pulsers that they hold in their hands.
For auditory stimulation the client wears headphones that make alternating beeps from left to right ear.
There has been major leaps in the understanding of neurobiology, the full understanding of why it works is still being researched.
At this point, the best explanation relates to the eye movement we naturally make to process information when we are sleeping.
When in a deep dream state our eyes make the same movement that is used in EMDR, This movement is called REM sleep. This eye movement creates Bilateral stimulation in the brain.
Repeated traumatic childhood experiences can often carry a emotional heaviness that follows us as we grow.
Children need to feel loved by their parents, they are sensitive to their parents perception of them and overly critical parents can leave their children questioning whether they are lovable.
We can love our parents and at times reflect back on our childhood feeling like we had unmet childhood needs or resentment for how we were treated.
On the other hand, it is common try to manage our feelings by minimizing our experience, you tell yourself that you should just be able to “get over it” by now, it was “not that bad”, or your parents are “different now”. These are common misconceptions about the serious impact that adverse childhood experiences can have on us.
Whether you are wanting to address complex trauma in general or complex trauma related to childhood events, it can feel overwhelming to think about how to address such long standing traumatic events.