Desensitization and Reprocessing

EMDR-Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

attune into your own inner wisdom

What is EMDR?

EMDR enables you to attune into your own inner wisdom, to learn to integrate a greater sense of trust within the ‘self’, to learn to listen to the body’s wisdom and learn to reframe any misjudgements (of self/others) held in daily life by correcting preconditioning values, beliefs…

EMDR helps to process the negative thoughts, images, emotions, beliefs and body sensations associated with traumatic memories that seem to be stuck. These associations can contribute to a range of mental health problems. As such, EMDR can ultimately help you to see things from a different perspective and relieve the symptoms that you were suffering.

treating trauma

What can EMDR help with?

EMDR was developed, and is best known, as a therapy for treating trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It’s recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a treatment for PTSD, though it can be used to help with a range of mental health difficulties including anxiety, depression, addictions, behavioural difficulties, relationship issues and more serious mental illnesses such as psychosis and personality disorders.

feeling comfortable

How does EMDR work?

Philosophically speaking; when our body is unwell we might take antibiotics so to assist the body’s natural healing process…our mind has a similar healing function referred to in EMDR as the natural information processing system which heals emotional wounds…

emotional wounds...

EMDR triggers an accelerated information processing experience

If you look at this image of a scar…

…on the surface, the scar looks to have healed…however, touch the scar and it triggers pain. Underneath the scar, the wound may be infected and so, we must gently clean out the wound, healing matters of infection so it can heal fully from the source through to the surface. Its important to remember that the scar will remain but, the pain will lessen considerably if not dull entirely.

Our minds own natural information processing system can get obstructed just like an infected emotional wound, our natural flow can become interrupted triggering an array of symptoms such as that synonymous to PTSD, anxiety, depression etc…and so, EMDR triggers an accelerated information processing experience.

memory network

Accelerated Information Processing

By focusing on a “target” related to the trauma; memories including images, emotions, body sensations, negative beliefs associated through it, we are ultimately stimulating the memory network where the trauma is stored…

…once this is achieved during our sessions we move into reprocessing called bilateral stimulation (BLS) which involves rapid eye movements, auditory tones and tactic taps…accelerated information processing…

EMDR has a specific structure and as your therapist, I will work through several stages with you. These include assessment of your current symptoms and your readiness for EMDR, as well as understanding how your past has shaped your present.

anchored in the present...

Dual Attention Focus..

EMDR works with a duel-attention focus which means clients are anchored in the present, but also have one foot in the past so to process unresolved information.

Our brain stores information through a process of association where information is contained in channels within a ‘memory network’…this consists of inadequately processed and stored issues which manifest in dysfunctional behaviour, negative beliefs etc.

ripple effect

EMDR

Picture this;

a stone thrown into a pool of water, the surface of the water is disturbed where the stone strikes and ripples move outwards from the place of disturbance. However, that ‘stone/trauma’ produces a wave train within the vicinity of the ripples sometimes creating seismic waves under the waters surface; though the water looks calm once more, waves of energy propagate through the earths layers and depending on the force of movement from the original source of distress, this can create other negative ripple effects within our internal processing systems.

EMDR is a comprehensive, well researched, integrative approach ( integrating modalities such as CBT, NLP, Hypnotherapy and many more) that addresses the physiological storage of memory, ‘healing’ individuals dysfunctional memory networks to adaptive resolution from the recurrent symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experience(s). EMDR incorporates the skills needed for adaptive and authentic behaviours, more desirable beliefs, thoughts about self/others to bring about a greater sense of stability and contentment within the ‘self’, improving the overall wellbeing of your life…

unlocks what is natural within our own internal world...

Clearing the blockages in your own stream of thought

EMDR unlocks what is natural within our own internal world, our inherent wisdom. We are in fact, already whole and have all the resources we need to heal ourselves. As a therapist all I assist you in retrieving these resources, clearing the blockages in your own stream of thought so that you can access your own innate wisdom once more with the knowledge you have to heal yourself.

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Appointments

I will endeavour to provide weekly sessions (or at longer intervals if required).

EMDR sessional cost £95 per hour payable by paypal/bank transfer…some sessions may last 1.5 hours (if necessary), but this will be agreed upon with each participant prior to the 1.5hr long session.

I am a member of the EMDR All-Ireland Association.