EMDR Therapy for Trauma
Being stuck in the past is keeping you from moving forward.
What is EMDR Therapy and How Does it Work?
EMDR Therapy, or "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing,” is a scientifically-proven and effective way to recover from trauma. It can also be used to help people find relief from anxiety, grief, and other forms of distress. When you’re experiencing a traumatic event or emotionally charged situation, your brain has a hard time processing the information. As a result, you may feel like your memories, feelings and sensations are “stuck” inside your head. When you can’t tell the difference between things that happened in your past and what’s happening in your present, it can lead to distress in your everyday life.
EMDR therapy connects the left and right sides of your brain, kickstarting the brain's natural ability to heal and process information. This allows you to separate intense emotions from your memories, so they can be “reprocessed” and become part of your past. The therapy begins by teaching you how to ground yourself, and then gradually breaks down the tough stuff into smaller, more manageable chunks. If traditional talk therapy hasn't worked for you, EMDR therapy may be an alternative approach that can help.
What are the Benefits of EMDR Therapy for Trauma?
Reframes past traumatic events
Enhances relationships and establishes healthier boundaries
Improves focus and concentration
Enhances sleep quality
Reduces reaction to triggers
Strengthens self-confidence
How to Prepare for EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy starts with History Taking and Preparation. During the History Taking stage, we will discuss your past experiences. Remember, you are in control- you don’t need to share anything you don’t feel ready to share. We will then create a roadmap and answer any questions that you may have. The next step is the Preparation stage, which is the fancy way of saying that you will develop coping strategies and strengthen your ability to cope with distress.
Can EMDR Therapy Help Anxiety Too?
Absolutely! EMDR therapy focuses on helping people who experience stress, and anxiety is a big part of that. Following a traumatic event, individuals often develop negative self-beliefs, a pattern that also occurs with anxiety. EMDR therapy effectively addresses negative anxious experiences by helping you think more positively about yourself and letting go of those negative thoughts.
Get Started with EMDR Therapy for Trauma in Evanston, Chicago, IL and Beyond
Ivy Ellis, LCSW is a licensed mental health therapist dedicated to providing empathic counseling to adults in Evanston, Chicago, and beyond. Ivy at Empathic Counseling Center offers EMDR therapy online in Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Indiana, and Michigan. Her practice is LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC inclusive and affirming. For more information regarding these topics, visit www.emdria.org.
“Because EMDR doesn’t require people to speak about the intolerable or explain to a therapist why they feel so upset, it allows them to stay fully focused on their internal experiences, with extraordinary results.”
— Bessel van der Kolk