EMDR

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

is a form of psychotherapy that is used to help individuals process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences. Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved.

Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences.

More About EMDR

How Can EMDR Help within the perinatal Period?

Utilizing EMDR therapy for reproductive trauma

(Infertility, Conception - Postpartum)

Learn more about Reproductive Trauma

  • Greiving the journey of infertility, miscarriage, infant loss, or experiencing prenatal/postpartum anxiety, depression or another mood disorder can be fueled by negative beliefs or thoughts about oneself, parenthood, or the future. EMDR can be used to identify and target these negative beliefs, working to replace them with more adaptive and positive cognitions.

  • EMDR involves bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, sounds, or taps. This bilateral stimulation is thought to help desensitize the emotional charge associated with distressing memories or thoughts. By reducing emotional reactivity, individuals may find it easier to manage anxiety.

  • Through the processing of memories and beliefs, EMDR aims to facilitate the development of more adaptive coping strategies. This can be particularly helpful by providing them with tools to manage stress and challenging situations.

  • EMDR is believed to contribute to improved emotional regulation. This can be beneficial as it helps them regulate their emotions in response to the challenges and demands of parenthood.