EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
Counseling and Wellness Services of Archbold is committed to providing treatment models that are recognized in the therapy field as best practice models. These models have proved through research and use that they are most effective in treating specific mental health and addiction disorders. EMDR is a recognized treatment model. More information is provided below describing what EMDR is and how it may be beneficial. Counseling and Wellness Services has two staff that are EMDR trained and routinely provide this service.
Below information provided courtesy of emdria.org
How is EMDR therapy different from other therapies?
EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or
completing homework between sessions. EMDR therapy, rather than focusing on changing the
emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to
resume its natural healing process.
EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For
many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other
psychotherapies.
How does EMDR therapy affect the brain?
Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process
involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the
hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the
prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times
traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed
without help.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a
disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an
overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy
helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is
still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.
Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?
EMDR therapy helps children and adults of all ages. Therapists use EMDR therapy to address a
wide range of challenges:
- Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
- Chronic Illness and medical issues
- Depression and bipolar disorders
- Dissociative disorders
- Eating disorders
- Grief and loss
- Pain
- Performance anxiety
- Personality disorders
- PTSD other trauma/stress-related issues
- Sexual assault
- Sleep disturbance
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Violence and abuse
Can EMDR therapy be done without a trained
EMDR therapy is a mental health intervention. As such, it should only be offered by properly
trained and licensed mental health clinicians. EMDRIA does not condone or support
indiscriminate uses of EMDR therapy such as "do-it-yourself" virtual therapy.
How did EMDR therapy start?
In the late 1980s, Francine Shapiro discovered a connection between eye movement and
persistent upsetting memories. With this personal insight, she began what became a lifelong
study and development of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
Over the years, and in the face of initial skepticism, Dr. Shapiro’s work developed from a
hypothesis to a formal therapy process. EMDR therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for
treating trauma in randomized clinical trials, case studies, and millions of clinical hours
treating trauma and trauma-related disorders across the globe. From the American Psychiatric
Association, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USVA) and Department of Defense
(USDOD), the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE), and
the World Health Organization (WHO), multiple global organizations now recognize the
effectiveness of EMDR therapy that Dr. Shapiro developed. Most recently, the public acceptance
of EMDR therapy was illustrated when Prince Harry reported that he engaged in EMDR
therapy to treat trauma from his childhood.
Dr. Shapiro encouraged the foundation of EMDRIA, which comprises over 10,000 mental health
professionals who use EMDR therapy in their clinical practice to treat many conditions that
impact mental health. Dr. Shapiro died in 2019, but her legacy of trauma-informed mental health
care lives on in the EMDR therapists, researchers, and patients for whom EMDR therapy heals.
Experiencing EMDR Therapy
After the therapist and client agree that EMDR therapy is a good fit, the client will work through
the eight phases of EMDR therapy with their therapist.
Attention will be given to a negative image, belief, emotion, and body sensation related to this
event, and then to a positive belief that would indicate the issue was resolved.
A typical EMDR therapy session lasts from 60-90 minutes. EMDR therapy may be used within a
standard talking therapy, as an adjunctive therapy with a separate therapist, or as a treatment all
by itself.
For more information, please visit the EMDR website at www.emdria.org or
Meet The Team
