“Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows.”
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy all about?
EMDR therapy is different from traditional talk therapy in that you are not asked to focus on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from a distressing experience and instead you’re guided to allow for the brain to resume its natural healing process through stimulation with bilateral movement in a similar pattern to REM sleep. The bilateral movement is most commonly stimulated through eye-movement following a hand or light bar, tactile movement with tapping or handheld buzzers, or through auditory tones while wearing headphones. In this experiential method, EMDR accesses your pain points directly to allow the body to resume and complete its innate healing process.
How might this help me?
Your senses are a direct pathway to your nervous system, your home for mental wellbeing and safety. Your sensing body also reacts and processes stimulus more quickly that your mental body. With the intention of allowing your body to naturally metabolize what has been stuck in your nervous system, talking is minimal during reprocessing so as to not interrupt your body therefore you are not asked to continually tell your story. Most commonly known for the treatment of PTSD and trauma, this extensively researched evidence-based intervention is found to reduce vividness and emotion connected to maladaptive memories networks to help individuals in recovery from anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences.
What does this look like in session?
In session, you are trusted to be honest, vulnerable, and present in your mental and physical experience and in your self-expression. We will partner to ensure you are well-resourced with regulation skills and mindfulness practices, a support network or support tools, and are in a stable enough environment to receive this care. As an 8-phase model of care, you will guided through each step and informed of the process along the way.
Click ‘play’ for a brief video introduction to EMDR with Kase & Co founder, Rebecca Kase, LCSW and consultants of Kase & Co.
Curious if EMDR may be a good fit for you?
You can learn more through the resources shared or feel welcome to schedule a free call with me to talk about what you are seeking at this time and to learn if we may be a good match for your goals.
Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro, PhD (creator of EMDR)
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EMDR is an 8-phase intervention. Reprocessing or utilizing bilateral stimulation is only one phase and while foundational to the effectiveness of treatment there is more to this.
In the reprocessing phase, we access memory networks that often hold multiple experiences that have become connected in our wiring. Reprocessing allows our brain and body to metabolize what’s stuck and initiate rewiring into our adaptive memories to create a new relationship with the experience.
The reprocessing experience is unique to you. We do not rush and there are no timeline expectations in this phase of care nor in the comprehensive intervention.
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You are not required to have EMDR to receive therapeutic care with me. You will never be pressured, rushed, or coerced into this treatment or any other intervention.
EMDR is an intentional structured activation of your pain resultant of trauma with the therapeutic goal of restructuring your relationship to the experience allowing for release, healing, and healthy connection. This mental and physical activation may be an intense experience and is likely the root of why you are seeking help. There are many pathways to access healing and many options are available to you.
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Yes.
Identifying and indicating your limits is healing and also built into the EMDR process. You can stop session or interrupt treatment at any time with no explanation and no questions asked. This is true of any intervention that may be used in the therapeutic setting.
We will also agree upon and practice a stop signal that you can use.
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EMDR has the potential to shift your relationship with a dysfunctional experience allowing you to live and function in a more healthful way with the imagery and somatic memory.
About my training and specialization:
I have completed EMDR Basic Training and am currently on an EMDR certification track. I am receiving direct consultation with Kase & Co.