What is EMDR Therapy? 

Summary from The Maiberger Institute and M. Wilensky

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EMDR is used to treat troubling symptoms such as anxiety, depression, guilt, anger, and post traumatic reactions. It can also be used to enhance emotional resources such as confidence and self-esteem.

EMDR has been successful with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), phantom limb pain, trauma, childhood wounds, abuse, irrational thoughts, fears, phobias, and anxiety.

EMDR Therapy has received worldwide attention for helping millions of people heal from PTSD caused from traumatic events, such as rape, sexual abuse, auto accidents and combat. EMDR Therapy can also help people who feel distress in their lives to heal and feel more whole after events that have been disturbing, such as divorce, life transitions, grief, anxiety and much more.

Sometimes events happen in a person’s life and they struggle to find a way to integrate that incident. That event can become an unprocessed memory and get stored in the brain creating symptoms that are uncomfortable. Physical sensations, emotions, thoughts, and images associated with the event can get locked into the brain, and without treatment, may lead to distressing symptoms and behaviors.

EMDR Therapy is designed to help a person identify and process these stuck pieces so that the symptoms can decrease and one can feel more alive and less distressed. EMDR Therapy helps facilitate the activation of the brain’s built-in system to process and integrate the information that got stored or stuck.  EMDR Therapy will not erase memories; rather you will be able to remember the story without all the emotional charge that was distressing before the treatment.

Please check out my new website for the most up to date information. www.khcounselling.com

Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?

There are many kinds of symptoms or problems clients bring to EMDR therapy from their home, work, or relationships. People tend to think that EMDR only helps people who suffer from severe experiences like auto accidents, war, sexual abuse and rape. If you have suffered from these traumas, EMDR might be very helpful for you. But other issues can also be helped with EMDR.

Answer the following questions with a “Yes” or “No” to see if EMDR might be helpful to you.

I find it difficult to be assertive in my relationships at work or at home.  Yes ____ No ____

I struggle with my body image thinking I’m fat when others think my body is thin. 

Yes ____ No ____

I overeat when I get emotionally upset.  Yes ____ No ____

I feel anxious or depressed most of the time.  Yes ____ No ____

I have the tendency to procrastinate and feel bad about myself.  Yes ____ No ____

I have behaviours that sabotage my efforts to succeed.  Yes ____ No ____

I have a low tolerance for frustration or anger.  Yes ____ No ____

I have a difficult time concentrating.  Yes ____ No ____

I have lost interest in activities that used to bring me pleasure.  Yes ____ No ____

I fight a lot and experience a lot of anger.  Yes ____ No ____

I abuse substances and have an addiction.  Yes ____ No ____

I struggle with making decisions.  Yes ____ No ____

I experience somatic Illnesses that doctors can’t explain.  Yes ____ No ____

I am experiencing some sexual dysfunction.  Yes ____ No ____

I feel panic a lot during the day or night.  Yes ____ No ____

If you said “yes” to any of the above questions you might benefit from some EMDR Therapy. 

For information about how EMDR can help you, please e-mail Kimberley.