What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy?

Treating trauma is one of the most difficult things in mental health. Trauma can be deep and incredibly personal, making it difficult to create therapies that work for everyone. Luckily, trauma therapies have come a long way in recent years. Here at Delray Center for Healing, we offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), an innovative therapy that can help to treat trauma. But what exactly is it?

What is EMDR?

EMDR is a new form of trauma therapy which is around 25 years old. The therapy aims to relieve distress which relates to traumatic memories. EMDR helps remove mental blocks involved trauma, which helps accelerate psychological healing. During EMDR therapy, a patient is to recall distressing images with relation to their trauma while generating one of several types of bilateral sensory input. Often this is a side-to-side eye movement or hand tapping.

EMDR therapy operates on the basis that negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are the result of unprocessable memories. By having patients realize and address the root of their trauma, they are able to learn how to process it correctly.

What does EMDR treat?

EMDR therapy can help in the treatment of trauma disorders. Furthermore, it’s been proven to be effective in treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), general trauma, and trauma in children. Furthermore, while it can help with trauma, it can also address any emotional disturbing memories that contribute to low self-esteem, hopelessness, and other psychological issues.

How effective is EMDR therapy?

Therapy is a very individual thing. What works for some people doesn’t work for others. However, here at Delray Center, we have had great results with using EMDR therapy to treat patients. Studies have shown a success rate of trauma resolution from around 84%-100% depending on the repetition of trauma. EMDR therapy is an effective treatment, especially when coupled with other forms of therapy, such as DBT.

What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy?

We always require patients to undergo a comprehensive evaluation before starting this therapy in order to ensure it is an appropriate treatment path for them. So, if you or someone you love has an interest in EMDR therapy contact us today.