EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. EMDR was discovered by Francine Shapiro, a Ph.D. psychology student in the spring of 1987. One day, she noticed that she felt better after taking a walk and looking left to right when worrisome thoughts came to her mind. After this discovery, she began to research, then developed this therapy. EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates aspects of left and right eye movement to heal painful memories. It helps lessen the impact of trauma on your mind, spirit, heart, and body.

How does EMDR work?

Image of an illustration of a brain with one half black and white and the other colorful. This image is representative of the brain's power that is harnessed when you use EMDR therapy in Pikesville, MD. Working with an EMDR therapist in Pikesville, MD can help women heal from the past. | 21117

Illustration by Troy Howard for exclusive use at R.I.S.E MD

EMDR therapy is an integrative psychotherapy that uses a technique called bilateral stimulation to repeatedly activate opposite sides of the brain. Therapists often use eye movements to facilitate bilateral stimulation. These eye movements mimic the period of sleep referred to as rapid eye movement or REM sleep, and this portion of sleep is frequently considered to be the time when the mind processes the recent events in the person’s life. EMDR also uses tapping, swaying, light bars and more to facilitate bilateral stimulation. In case you’re wondering if this type of movement will be possible for you, we will find a way to modify it for it to be perfect for your needs.

EMDR seems to help the brain reprocess the trapped memories in such a way that normal information processing is resumed. Therapists often use EMDR to help clients uncover and process beliefs that developed as the result of relational traumas, childhood abuse, and/or neglect. EMDR is a game-changer for folks that have experienced trauma. And we know that many Black folks have been traumatized at least once throughout their lifetime. EMDR works to help to store memories like a filing cabinet. This way, when you want to remember something, you can pull them from your memory without feeling like you’re back in the thick of the experience all over again.

What does EMDR therapy help?

Eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy has been proven useful for helping with the following:

  • PTSD
  • Racial Trauma
  • Complicated Grief
  • Childhood Trauma
  • Disturbing Memories
  • Hurtful Relationships
  • Pain Disorders
  • Performance Anxiety
  • Addictions
  • Stress Reduction
  • Sexual and/or Physical Abuse
  • Guilt and/or Shame

How do I know if I should try this for trauma?Image of a black board reading "you didn't come this far to only come this far." This image depicts what a trauma therapist in Pikesville, MD may say to some during EMDR therapy. | 21117 | 21136

This therapy can help many things and many folks. It may be time to try EMDR if you notice a distressing feeling, pattern, or character trait that you would like to change, but just cannot seem to shake it. This might be something such as dating certain types of people or having difficulty believing in yourself. Honestly, you can also try EMDR if what you’re doing right now just isn’t working. Here’s the truth: you’ve tried many things that have caused you pain. It’s time to try something that has the possibility to bring you healing. You deserve it.

Why try EMDR therapy?

As a trauma therapist, one thing I know for sure is that talk therapy by itself doesn’t help folks heal. EMDR is time-efficient therapy. This means that the time you spend in therapy is shortened because it addresses the root of the concern in a short time.

EMDR is so effective because it directly targets painful and dysfunctional thoughts as well as memories in clusters. Then, it transforms information in multiple ways, and once that information is transformed, it positively impacts associated memories. What am I saying? Eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy helps us process multiple things and provides substantial healing. Think of it as a tree, with EMDR helping you get to the root cause so that you can bloom.

My Approach to EMDR Therapy

This type of therapy takes time. We will explore those feelings, thoughts, and origins using the traditional EMDR protocol. But here’s the thing: that is not all we will do. In fact, we will also incorporate mind-body medicine practices to help you process, ground, and further the healing process. This work takes time because change takes time. But, EMDR therapy works.

Curious about beginning EMDR therapy but not quite ready to start? Check out some of our blog posts.

Begin Healing from Trauma with EMDR Therapy in Pikesville, MD

Image of a woman in a field of sunflowers smiling and looking into the sun. This woman represents how free people feel after undergoing EMDR therapy in Pikesville, MD. Often, domestic violence survivors feel empowered after working with an EMDR therapist in Pikesville, MD. 21208

Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash

I have worked with some of the most powerful women over the years. They came to me with trauma and heartbreak. And we worked together to heal and move forward. It would be my honor to work with you in the same way. If you are ready to start EMDR therapy at my practice in Pikesville, MD, please follow the steps below.

  1. Contact me if you have questions or are interested in starting EMDR therapy.
  2. We’ll have a consultation call to see to discuss how I can help you reach your goals.
  3. Start working through the pain of the past and find peace for the future.

Other Services Offered at R.I.S.E. in Pikesville, MD

My goal is to help women heal from the past and build fuller, healthier lives. To fulfill this, I offer multiple therapy services at my Baltimore, MD-area therapy practice. My focus is trauma therapy with specializations in therapy for homicide survivors and therapy for domestic violence survivors. I accept folks for who they are and where they are at in life. Additionally, I incorporate mind-body medicine practices in therapy to help you fully connect with yourself.