EMDR Therapy

[Sue84]

I have been looking into EMDR for my PTSD with complex anxiety. I have so many traumatic events in my life I couldn't even count them all. Childhood through today. I am on Effexor and it has worked for many years but my dose keeps needing to go up and I hate it. If I miss one day of my meds I'm down. I sooooo need something other than more drugs. I am exercising and on a diet plan right now that is working wonders for my thyroid and aging lady fatness that was piling on, so that is helping my self esteem etc. but in no way helps my PTSD with complex anxiety. If anyone can explain exactly what they do in EMDR and if it does indeed make a world of difference I would appreciate it. I have been to tons of "talk" therapy and seriously, it is just that ….talk. I haven't gotten any results from any of it other than to know I have it and I'm not just a crazy woman. So anyone that can give me some down to earth, honest, information and feedback would be very helpful to me. Thank you!!

[Sunshine425]

My counselor suggested doing it with me. But new methods tend to increase my anxiety. I believe the therapist would have you be as relaxed as possible in your session and have you follow her finger. Not quite being hypotized... but on some level it sounds very similar. And ask a serious of questions to help figure out how to heal and cope on things that trigger us. There are many articles about it online. I will try to find a good one and link it here for you. 🌱🌻 I wish you peace today!

[Sue84 in reply to Sunshine425]

That is great information!! Please do send links. .ive seen some info but didnt break it down for me...

[Sunshine425 in reply to Sue84]

emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

[Dolphin14 in reply to Sue84]

There are some you tubes on it. Can give you a visual of the experience.

[Kitten58]

I have done emdr and or really helps with PTSD. My therapist uses a light bar with LEDs that move left to right and back along with little paddle like things that vibrate one in each hand. he had me think about a single event and watch the lights. Ot causes the brain to process events like rem sleep. They have had a lot of luck treating Vietnam vets with this. This treatment should only be started with a qualified professional.

[Sue84 in reply to Kitten58]

Thank you!! I am in the milwaukee wisconsin area..new berlin to be exact. Do you know how to find one that really knows their stuff?

[Hidden in reply to Sue84]

Google EMDR. There is a website where if you put in your location will bring up therapists in your area. Make sure you ask for certified ones...they have additional training.

[Sunshine425 in reply to Kitten58]

Thank you as I started thinking more and more about I wonder if I am ready to take this step with my counselor. She met me 15 years ago and I trust her advice🌱🌻 thanks for your response.

[NWGal]

Dreamer720 explained it well. EMDR does take 8 sessions to complete. It worked well for me to identify the childhood trauma I experienced that I had blocked from memory. Once identified, we can work on coming to terms with it and healing. I'd try it.

[Dolphin14]

Depending on the amount of trauma you've been through and how each session goes, it could take many sessions for some resolution.

I had read 3-8 sessions in my research. But, once I got into the therapy I did it for 1 year.

If you have a psychiatrist or therapist they should be able to find you a certified EMDR specialist. My therapist did the research and made the connection with the specialist first.

It's an emotionally draining session. However, as long as you are open and willing to do the work it should help you.

[Hidden]

This kind of EMDR really helped me the type that they tap on you did nothing for me.

HOME THERAPISTS SERVICES CLIENTPORTAL RESOURCES EVENTS+ CONTENT BLOG CONTACT

Teagan Darnell Therapy - East Bay San Francisco

WHAT IS EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms of emotional distress and trauma that occur after a disturbing life event.

When people are very upset, their brains do not process information in an adaptive way. A traumatic experience can remain frozen in the mind and can be re-triggered in daily life. Remembering the trauma may feel as bad as going through it the first time because the images, sounds, smells, and feelings are re-experienced. Such memories can cause extreme stress and discomfort that interfere with the way a person responds to people and the world around them.

EMDR positively impacts the way that the brain processes information. Normal information processing helps "unfreeze" a traumatic memory. Following a successful EMDR session, a person no longer re-lives the images, sounds, and feelings that are associated with a traumatic event. They will still have a memory of what happened, but it will be less upsetting.

Repeated studies show that EMDR is an effective, evidence-based practice. People often experience immediate results with EMDR, even after they have spent years trying to resolve specific issues in talk therapy.

HOW DOES EMDR WORK?

Clients participate in EMDR by holding paddles and wearing headphones that vibrate and make quiet beeping noises. This is done while they process through traumatic memories. These tools create bi-lateral stimulation in the brain. Bi-lateral stimulation can have a calming effect and can help clients integrate information from their right and left brain hemispheres. Processing through difficult memories while using bi-lateral stimulation can lessen the effects of traumatic experiences because more positive brain associations can be made. Essentially, memories are stored in more adaptive brain networks when they are reprocessed with EMDR. This prevents clients from being easily re-triggered.

The therapist can explain and answer questions about EMDR in the session to ensure that the client has a clear understanding of the process.

WHAT DOES EMDR TREAT?

Trauma

Panic attacks

Complicated grief

Dissociative disorders

Disturbing memories

Phobias

Performance anxiety

Stress reduction

Attachment Issues

Addictions

Sexual and/or Physical abuse

Body Image Issues

& more...

Portions of the above content have been retrieved from EMDRIA, the EMDR International Association. Visit. emdria.com

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Teagan Darnell Therapy

1931 San Miguel Dr. Suite 210, Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist LMFT # 93748

Services available in SF East Bay: Berkeley / Lafayette / Moraga / Orinda / Walnut Creek / Danville / San Ramon / Pleasanton / Livermore / Dublin

Phone: [phone]

[e-mail]

Monday — Friday

Contact therapist for availability

EVENING SESSIONS OFFERED

Sorry since I took it off there site I felt I had to share all the information. But I got the good kind from my psychologist at Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento and the other at a Christian therapist. I no longer belong to Kaiser but would like to find someone else that does this kind or if I could find the device and work with it myself would be great and helpful. Hope this helps you understand if not convinces you to try it.

[Sue84 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!!

[Hidden in reply to Sue84]

My pleasure anything that helps I'm glad to share

[smhall3]

I am in the process of EMDR therapy right now and I think you could really benefit from it. It helps you get out all of the anger and frustration and pain and put it away for good. You take one bad memory at a time and work on it. It has helped so many people with PTSD. Find someone who specializes in it and give it a try! You'll know after one session if you think you can benefit from it. It has great results. Good luck!

[Sue84 in reply to smhall3]

Thank you!!! That really gives me hope and...excitement!!

[56artist_]

EMDR worked wonders for me I have been in treatment 7 years come January of next year I have seen the same therapist the same nurse in the same psychiatrist for 7 years on my list they have helped me tremendously upping medication and continue to up it I would say is not the answer I take a very small dose of Sertraline and I will not increase talking and getting all your issues out in the open even if it isn't but just to us support group of course you have to have therapy I suppose I don't know in order to get your medication you have to see a psychiatrist I know that but there is no better medication than talking about your issues some therapists don't work for everybody but I must have got the perfect one for me I love her to death EMDR she done to me after about a year and treatment she took the therapist took her finger in my eyes were to follow and she said a word and if it doesn't mean anything to you from trauma or a flashback or any kind of remember me then you don't respond she said one word that she knew I was afraid of and I burst into tears while my finger my eyes were following her finger and I burst into tears and I recalled the childhood memory from one word I have lived through childhood trauma and adult trauma as well just as you but I appealed the mine it took me 57 years to get to the point that I am now and I'm free

[LelandK]

Sue,

I began with One Eye Integration(OEI) and moved to EMDR as well as flash EMDR.

I found Flash EMDR the best to alleviate/treat symptoms. Medication is only part of teh equation. Everyone is different but you owe it to yourself to try what works for you.

God Bless and keep you.