EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a psychotherapy approach designed to help individuals overcome the effects of traumatic experiences. It was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. EMDR therapy is primarily used to address symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but can also be effective in treating other mental health conditions such as anxiety, phobias, and depression.

EMDR is effective for Adults, Teens and Children who have PTSD, attachment issues, anxiety, fears and phobias and can be used to boost emotional resources such as confidence and self esteem.

The therapy involves a structured eight-phase approach that integrates elements from different treatment modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and bilateral stimulation. During an EMDR session, the client is asked to recall distressing memories or experiences while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, which can be achieved through eye movements, hand taps, or auditory cues. The bilateral stimulation is thought to facilitate the processing and integration of traumatic memories and reduce the emotional distress associated with them.

The goal of EMDR therapy is to help individuals reprocess traumatic memories in a way that allows them to integrate these experiences into their overall life story and decrease the emotional charge attached to them. This process involves accessing and reevaluating the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations associated with the trauma. EMDR therapists guide clients through this process, helping them identify negative beliefs about themselves that resulted from the trauma and replacing them with more adaptive and positive beliefs.

Research has shown that EMDR therapy can be effective in reducing the symptoms of PTSD and other trauma-related disorders. It is considered a well-established treatment by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

It's important to note that EMDR therapy should be conducted by a trained and licensed mental health professional who is specifically trained in EMDR techniques. The therapist will assess the suitability of EMDR for each individual, their developmental level (age) and determine the appropriate treatment plan based on their unique needs and circumstances. A licensed therapist who is fully trained in EMDR is well-equipped to help adults, children and teens. However, Child Therapists should have training in how to apply the method to the child’s specific developmental needs and an ability to explain the process to the child in a way he or she will understand. A full history should be obtained from the parents, who should be considered partners in tracking changes in the child as the treatment progresses.

EMDR is often used in combination with other therapeutic modalities to offer a multifaceted approach, based on the individual’s unique needs and interests.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is a unique approach to psychotherapy that uses the power of eye movements to allow voluntary changes in the client’s mind with well-established therapies like Gestalt, Psychodynamic Therapy and Guided Imagery. Within the ART protocol, the eye movements, along with other ART enhancements, make these therapies work much faster and more effectively.

Our therapists will guide clients to replace the negative images in the mind that cause the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress with positive images of the client’s choosing. And this is done quickly, most often within one session! Once the negative images have been replaced by positive ones, the triggers will be gone. Nightmares and repeated intrusive thoughts will stop.

With these therapies, combined with ART’s eye movements and other ART enhancements, many mental health problems other than Post Traumatic Stress can also be resolved quickly. Among the things ART can deal with are OCD, Eating Disorders, Generalized Anxiety and Generalized Depressive Disorders, Addictions, Performance anxiety, Grief, Codependency and Job/Family related stress.

One of the special aspects of ART is that when clients replace their negative images with positive ones they don’t need to talk to the therapist about any details of the trauma. This is because ART is procedural, though creative; and the client is really in control of the process, while the ART Therapist is a helpful guide. This makes the therapy easier on the client and easier on the therapist.

Although some traumatic experiences can be very painful to visualize, early in the ART session the client has already rapidly moved beyond the place where they are stuck in these past experiences and is making positive changes of their choice. ART sessions are calming for the client and very often joyful, especially at the end, for both the client and the therapist.

You can learn more about this model here:

https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/