Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy

 

The EMDR Therapy Process

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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy is an extensively researched evidenced-based treatment approach for recovery from post-traumatic stress (including complex PTSD and childhood emotional neglect) and other past distressing life experiences that have caused or contributed to emotional suffering, distorted beliefs (example: "I'm not enough"), and physiological over/under arousal in the present (think the 4 F's - fight/flight/freeze/fawn).

 

Inadequately processed memories can result in negative beliefs about self, others, and the world around us, as well as difficulties experiencing joy and gaining perspective in the present. When triggered, these beliefs can override all logic and have lasting heavy impacts on our relationships, our parenting, our careers, and our overall sense of self and wellbeing.

 

As we come up against tough situations in adulthood, even when we are able to logically deduct the right path to take, we may struggle to take action because of deeply ingrained negative thought patterns and beliefs rooted back to these past experiences that we may not even be aware of. Even when we are aware, simply trying to challenge these thoughts is often not enough to create lasting change, especially when strong emotions are present. 

 

If you are struggling to fully engage in your life and your relationships and find yourself stuck repeating patterns that no longer serve you, this may be an indicator of inadequately processed experiences from your past. Engaging in the EMDR process with a highly skilled EMDR therapist can help. 

 

EMDR Therapy works by allowing you to fully process your past experiences and address present triggers in a way that reduces current symptoms, integrates new learnings, and reformulates core beliefs that are holding you back in life and negatively impacting you and your relationships. In other words, the EMDR process helps shift the beliefs that have been keeping you stuck for so long.

 

During EMDR Therapy, I will help you in reprocessing emotionally disturbing material from your past while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus, engaging bi-lateral stimulation, while we work to reduce the disturbance and overall impact of these experiences. During EMDR therapy the therapist acts as a safe and secure guide throughout the process, where you maintain ultimate control as I assist you in reprocessing these distressing past life events and experiences. 

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It is important to note that although we frequently think of trauma as these big memorable experiences from someone's past, it can be the seemingly small incidences or things that actually did not happen (as is the case in emotional neglect) that have contributed to current negative beliefs and ways of functioning in the world. 

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"I'm not sure if I'm ready to face all of my past", is a statement I hear often in my office when clients first come in. For many, there are at least some things in the past that you may not be fully ready to address when you first come into the office. Although EMDR therapy does help to target and resolve symptoms from past traumatic experiences, its uses are much broader when going beyond the basic model. There are many EMDR techniques for stabilizing, developing strong internal resources, and helping to create a sense of safety within the therapeutic setting that can be incorporated prior to reprocessing past traumatic events, or in place of targeting the traumatic events altogether if preferred by the client. 

 

Research on EMDR shows the effectiveness of this type of therapy for healing from psychological trauma and demonstrates gains made in treatment are maintained over time. EMDR therapy has further been shown to bring about change in a shorter period of time than supportive therapy alone. EMDR therapy requires a commitment to the process that my clients most frequently find to be worth the time invested. 

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Additional Information

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In the EMDR process you, the client, are encouraged to help determine and communicate when you feel ready to move forward and it is the therapist's position to assist you in creating enough relative safety within the office and within your relationship with the therapist to engage in the process as you feel ready to do so. 

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EMDR therapy sessions generally last 55-60 minutes and recommendations for this type of work are most commonly weekly to bi-weekly sessions to start out with reduced frequency over time. The initial intake session is 75 minutes in order for me to collect as much information as possible and to begin developing our plan for meeting your goals. You and I will collectively determine the pace and frequency of our work together with my recommendations provided based upon our initial intake session and history exploration. I do offer intensive EMDR therapy sessions tailored to your individual needs upon request. For further questions on EMDR therapy intensives, please reach out below to schedule a consultation call and I would love to answer any questions you may have. 

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Please fill out the inquiry form below to discuss further. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

 

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EMDR Therapy With Courtney Fyvolent, a Certified EMDR Therapist in Greenville, SC can be helpful for (including but not limited to):

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• Those with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) symptoms and C-PTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder) as well as those suffering from other trauma and stress-related concerns

• Those suffering from anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, and phobias

• Those experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety 

• Those struggling with dissociative experiences including those previously diagnosed with DDNOS and Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Those struggling with low self-esteem/low self-worth

• Those engaging in persistent people pleasing behaviors

• Survivors or sexual assault

• Survivors of emotional, psychological, and physical abuse

• Survivors of childhood trauma including childhood neglect and abuse

• Adult children of alcoholics

• Adult children of parents with a personality disorder or other mental illness

• Parents struggling to manage becoming triggered in day-to-day life

• Those struggling to make or maintain desired healthy lifestyle changes 

• Those struggling through recent life events including break-ups, divorce, and new parenthood

• Those struggling with attachment, lack of connection, problems with emotional intimacy

 

 

For further information on Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and the EMDR process visit: EMDRIA

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Please fill out the inquiry form below to get started with in-person EMDR therapy in Greenville, South Carolina. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

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