EMDR

Many of us that seek to improve our emotional well-being have an intuitive understanding that our past influences our present. We can find ourselves stuck in familiar ruts, unsure of how to get ourselves out of these ineffective ways of living. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy designed to allow people to let go of their past in order to realize the rich and dynamic nature of the present.

The actual practice of EMDR relies on bi-lateral stimulation:  A switching back and forth in the brain, moving a thought, feeling or motion from one side to another, like rocking.  Our eyes naturally simulate this movement while sleeping and dreaming.  This gentle movement allows people to access difficult past experiences in a way that does not feel overwhelming or hopeless.  Remember that your EMDR therapist is there as a guide, ready to adjust the practice at the first sign of overwhelm.  History may seem daunting to face but EMDR allows people to gradually re-process these memories in a manageable way.

Do note, however, that EMDR can be too much for some people, flooding them with too many memories and increasing overwhelm.  Your FRG therapist is trained in finding the right fit with the latest Tools available in the field.

If you are interested in learning more specifics about EMDR, please refer to these sources:

http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/

Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy by Francine Shapiro

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. (Chapter 15)