What is Trauma?

Trauma can reverberate throughout our entire lives. We can feel its impact long after the danger has passed. We may see its reach in our beliefs, emotional life, physical health, behaviors, and relationships with ourselves and others.

We may not see the “why” behind our mental health struggles, but oftentimes, unhealed trauma can be the culprit. Trauma can be a driver for anxiety, depression, addictions, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, sleep disorders, relationship struggles, and more. The distress of the trauma can linger, like a splinter under the skin. On the surface, you appear healed and your life is put together, but underneath, the hurt festers and affects your entire system. The aim of EMDR therapy is to pull that splinter out and restore true health.

"The distress of the trauma can linger, like a splinter under the skin."

Megan Martin, LPC

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing. This therapy uses the brain’s natural ability to heal and adapt. This is done through a mechanism called bilateral stimulation. Early on in the history of the therapy, bilateral stimulation was achieved through back-and-forth eye movements, often guided by a therapist’s hand. Now, there are many methods, including tapping both sides of the body—either your shoulders or knees—holding vibrating technology, or listening to alternating sounds in a pair of headphones. All of these mechanisms are meant to bring both sides of the brain into processing a traumatic memory so that your brain can heal and adapt.

What Are The Benefits of EMDR?

EMDR therapy has these reported benefits:

• Integrates healing for mind, body, and spirit
• Decreases distress from traumatic memories
• Puts the past in the past 
• Creates new neural pathways for more positive core beliefs in future
• Improves sleep and concentration
• Reduces anxiety
• Improves emotional regulation

How Do I Get Started?

EMDR therapy is a highly researched and effective treatment for unhealed trauma. Schedule an appointment with one of our EMDR-trained therapists to explore whether this therapy may be the right fit for your healing journey.