EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR Therapists in Westchester, NY

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is a popular form of therapy. The purpose of EMDR is to aid in lessening the severity of traumatic beliefs and memories. Through research, it has been discovered that trauma is stored within our bodies, which comes from painful memories. This internalized pain can lead to both physical and emotional symptoms when certain events cause triggers for us, even in daily life. 

With EMDR therapy, we can process those memories and prevent them from causing further harm to us, both now and in the future. It is a long-term solution. EMDR therapy involves eye movements, pulsations, or sound to stimulate both sides of the brain. 

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What is EMDR Effective With?

The use of EMDR therapy can be a fantastic therapeutic solution for a range of issues, and these are some of the most common issues in which EMDR can be used for treatment:

• Physical discomfort
• Emotional reactions/overreactions
• Harmful or negative thought patterns
• Deeply entrenched habits

For those who cannot seem to benefit from more traditional forms of therapy, such as talking therapy, EMDR has proven itself to be a fantastic alternative. Despite its popularity in the therapy world, talking therapy is not a universal remedy, and many are left feeling as though they cannot recover from their past experiences.

EMDR has proven its effectiveness for many, with a substantial number of people reporting a significant improvement in their mental state with just a few sessions of EMDR therapy treatment.

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Common Examples for EMDR Therapy Use

EMDR has established a name for itself in being one of the most effective psychotherapy treatments for a plethora of issues, due to the amount of research that has been put into this form of therapeutic treatment. We have compiled a list of some of the most common issues that EMDR has been proven to be effective in treating:

• Neglect and abandonment 
• Attachment trauma
• Grief, bereavement, and loss
• Chronic illnesses and other medical conditions
• PTSD, trauma, and other stress-related issues
• Sexual assault, abuse, and violence
• Phobias, panic attacks and anxiety
• OCD

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How Does an EMDR Therapy Session Work

Here at Westchester Therapy, we want you to have a good understanding of what to expect within an EMDR therapy session. Having prior knowledge of what the therapeutic process involves is a fantastic way to prepare yourself for the session. It allows you the space in which to be comfortable with both your therapist and the treatment itself.

In a typical EMDR therapy session, your therapist will guide you to identifying the current memories and beliefs you hold that are negatively impacting your life. From here, your therapist will guide you into activating those thoughts – these can be thoughts in your brain as well as feelings in your body. 

During this stage, your therapist will focus on current stressors and how past traumas could trigger these. You will also be asked about future concerns, to see how they link in with both past and present troubles.

Whilst recalling past events, your therapist will guide you through bilateral stimulation, which is the primary element of EMDR therapy. Bilateral stimulation is the process of using auditory, visual, or external tactile stimulation in a side-to-side pattern.

An interesting point here is that your brain is doing all the work for you at this stage. During EMDR therapy, you will remain in control the whole time. Differing from exposure therapy, EMDR is not used to relive painful life events. EMDR therapy is used to link traumatic memories with positive, helpful information already stored within the brain, creating a sense of dual awareness.  

The purpose of EMDR therapy is to stay rooted in the present, whilst also having a safe space in which to recall and process traumatic memories.

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Is EMDR Therapy Intense?

Many people find EMDR emotionally intense. But you can be assured that your therapist will follow your lead and ensure that you remain in control of the session. Your emotional safety and comfort will always remain the top priority for your therapist. Your therapist will support you to remain grounded and present, whilst coaching you through the difficult and painful parts of the EMDR therapy process. 

An important thing to note is that EMDR will not make you forget your traumatic experiences. Through successful treatment, the memories will remain as memories only, not present struggles. They will gradually become less triggering as they become something stored in your brain as a past experience. 

Successful EMDR therapy prevents reliving the memories in the present and allows you to recall the memories without experiencing painful emotions.

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Take Our Quiz

For EMDR Therapy, at Westchester Therapy we want to make sure that you’re matched with the right therapist for your needs. If you have ever wondered “is there EMDR therapy near me,” the answer is yes. We have created a simple quiz that takes less than five minutes to complete. We will use your answers to better understand who you are and what you are looking for so we can match you with a top-ranked therapist in Westchester, NY. Click here to take the quiz. 

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