EMDR Therapy in Berkeley, CA
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy
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EMDR helps people process traumatic experiences and alleviate symptoms associated with trauma, anxiety, phobias
EMDR focuses on processing specific memories or themes related to the person's complex trauma. These may include incidents of abuse, neglect, or other adverse experiences.
EMDR facilitates the brain's natural ability to heal and integrate traumatic or emotionally charged material, leading to a reduction in emotional distress and the emergence of more adaptive beliefs and emotional reactions. -
Individuals suffering from PTSD or CPTSD
Individuals with stubborn negative beliefs about themselves
Individuals with developmental or adult attachment rupture
Individuals who have a relative level of stability in their lives currently -
Decrease in fear around triggers and phobia
Decrease in intrusive memories and hypervigilance
Decrease in distress and emotional reactivity
Increase in compassionate beliefs about self and increased self-awareness
Increase in resilience and positive coping mechanisms
“Beneath the surface of the protective parts of trauma survivors there exists an undamaged essence, a Self that is confident, curious, and calm...”
Simply, EMDR helps process trauma...
What trauma does...
"Often, when something traumatic happens, it seems to get locked in the brain with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings...since the experience is locked there, it continues to be triggered whenever a reminder comes up. It can be the basis for a lot of discomfort and sometimes a lot of negative emotions, such as fear and helplessness, that we can't seem to control." --Francine Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing [EMDR] Therapy
How does EMDR work?
"[the applications of] EMDR seems to unlock the system and allow your brain to process the experience. That may be what happens in REM, or rapid eye movement, sleep, when our most intense dreaming takes place...[this] appears to be involved during the processing of unconscious material." --Francine Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing [EMDR] Therapy
“If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.”
What the process may entail...
EMDR reprocessing is what makes EMDR therapy stand out; however, reprocessing (bilateral stimulation while recalling certain memories, feelings, and experiences) is only one part of the therapy. EMDR can take place as part of other work in individual or couples therapy. Even if you come to therapy specifically for EMDR trauma reprocessing, therapy will still include:
Robust history taking
Assessing whether EMDR is likely to be effective and safe
Ensuring clients can successfully use regulation skills and are generally stable in their lives
Building trust and safety between the therapist and client
Using EMDR to increase positive beliefs and feelings
When appropriate, talk therapy and/or parts work
The research and more info:
Research.
National Institute of Health - EMDR for Complex Trauma (C-PSTD, Complex PTSD)
The CPTSD Foundation on EMDR for Complex Trauma
EMDR For Attachment Trauma
Change in Adult Attachment with EMDR
EMDR Effectiveness Studies
Information.
Overview - Experiencing EMDR Therapy
Short Video Describing EMDR
EMDR Therapy and Dissociation
EMDR and Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence
EMDR and OCD
A few more things...
Practically.
Individual sessions are provided during a regular weekly appointment. I do not provide every other week or as-needed therapy sessions for new clients. I have found that committing to regular, consistent therapy sessions is crucial for experiencing change. Here are my current rates and my current office policies.
Who I work with.
I work with individuals who have been told they're “too sensitive” or “too much,” feel misunderstood, or feel alienated from the mainstream. I work with non-traditional families or partners looking for a therapist who "gets it." The number one reason clients reach out is they are experiencing some kind of distress--and they would like to experience less of it. This distress may arise from our relationships with friends, family, partners, jobs, school, systems, or from our emotions and thoughts, or from our behavior. Many want to make a change but are not sure how--therapy is great for that. Others simply want to deepen their connection with themselves, their community, and the world around them--therapy is great for that, too.
Let me tell you more...
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro. It is primarily used to help individuals who have experienced trauma and are struggling with related symptoms such as anxiety, flashbacks, emotional dysregulation, poor self-image, and distressing memories. EMDR aims to facilitate the processing and integration of traumatic experiences, ultimately reducing their impact on the individual's daily life.
During an EMDR session, the therapist guides the client through a series of bilateral stimulations, which can be achieved through eye movements, auditory tones, or tactile sensations. These bilateral stimulations are designed to activate both hemispheres of the brain, facilitating the processing of traumatic memories. The client is asked to bring to mind a distressing memory while simultaneously focusing on the therapist's hand movements or other bilateral stimulation. This process aims to promote adaptive information processing, enabling the individual to reprocess the traumatic memory in a more adaptive and less distressing manner.
Numerous studies have supported the effectiveness of EMDR, and it is recognized as an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by reputable organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization.
Attachment-Focused EMDR
Attachment-focused EMDR (AF-EMDR) is specifically designed to address the emotional wounds stemming from attachment trauma. AF-EMDR emphasizes the relationship between the therapist and client, the client's attachment history, and the use of additional resources to foster a deeper sense of safety and healing.
Attachment-Focused EMDR is particularly well-suited for individuals dealing with complex trauma, which often involves multiple, prolonged, or repeated traumatic experiences, such as chronic childhood neglect or abuse. Unlike single-incident trauma, complex trauma tends to create deep-seated patterns of emotional pain and relational difficulties that are woven into the fabric of a person's everyday life.
EMDR Training:
EMDR Basic Training with Phillip Manfield
Attachment-Focused EMDR with Laurel Parnell
IFS-Informed EMDR: A Systematic Integration with Bruce Hersey and Michelle Richardson