What’s so special about 1987? That year is widely recalled as the Black Monday stock market crash. Yet in California’s Vasona County Park, something quite revolutionary was taking shape. Francine Shapiro’s brain made a connection that would change everything. Not in some fancy lab or university office. On a walking path, noticing a reduction in her distressing thoughts when she rapidly moved her eyes
Yeah, we all carry bad memories. Don’t we? Some whispered, others screamed. There are moments that still grip your chest. A scent or sound that brings it all back without warning. Trauma doesn’t always arrive like a storm. Often, it settles in quietly and refuses to leave.
The stock market may crash, but you don’t have to.
Therefore, EMDR therapy is considered to be a highly effective psychotherapy for PTSD. It allows you to properly process a memory through rapid eye movements guided by a trained therapist. NIH suggests that 7 out of 10 studies declared it to be even more effective than trauma-focused CBT.
This article explores what EMDR therapy is, how it works, and the powerful benefits it offers for those living with trauma, anxiety, or emotional wounds in Highland Park, IL.
The Science Behind EMDR Therapy
EMDR is based on the notion that PTSD is a result of unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. As a result, an individual experiences sudden flashbacks and nightmares. The treatment uses a structured 8-phase approach that lasts for 60 to 90 minutes. Depending on the severity of symptoms, each individual is prescribed multiple therapy sessions. Generally, according to APA, you will observe significant changes after 6 to 12 EMDR sessions in total.
Now, let’s break down how each phase looks so the actual session won’t feel unfamiliar to the residents of Highland Park, Illinois.
|
Phase |
Purpose |
Procedures |
|
History Taking and Planning |
Obtain information about the past, current triggers, and future goals |
Standard history-taking procedures and psychometric tests like PCL-5 and CAPS-5 are used. |
|
Preparation and Explanation |
Explain the aims of EMDR therapy to the clients |
Patients are shown peer-reviewed articles regarding the effectiveness of the program. They are also educated about breathing and imagery techniques. |
|
Assessment of Targeted Memory |
Stimulate the specific memory |
Analyze negative beliefs and physical and emotional sensations related to the traumatic event. This can take around 30 to 60 seconds. |
|
Memory Desensitization |
Reduce emotional intensity related to traumatic memory |
The goal is to decrease the patient’s Subjective Units of Distress Scale rating to zero. Techniques like side-to-side eye movements and tapping are used to stimulate both sides of the brain. |
|
Installation |
Strengthen positive beliefs |
Beliefs like I’m worthy and safe are reinforced until they are believed to be true |
|
Body Scan |
Complete scan to find any residual disturbance |
The client is asked to rethink the positive belief and the memory in mind and scan themselves from head to toe to see if any negative sensation arises. If it does, the therapist will continue to apply bilateral stimulation until every negative feeling fades away. |
|
Closure |
Ensures the patient is in a state of calm |
Guided imagery and self-control techniques are used |
|
Reassessing Treatment Results |
Offers long-term effectiveness |
The client and therapist discuss the progress to make sure distress is low and positive cognition is still strong. |
The Healing Power of EMDR: Three Core Benefits
Trauma rewires the brain. EMDR helps rewrite the story. This isn’t about forgetting; it’s about finally moving forward. Here are three ways this therapy changes more than just memory.
Trauma Resolution
Trauma doesn’t just sit there like a normal memory you can flip through when you want to.
It gets stuck. Lodged somewhere deep in your nervous system like a splinter that won’t come out. That’s why your body still reacts like the danger is right now. Even when you know, logically, that you’re safe. Your amygdala is a primitive part of your brain. It is supposed to keep you alive. Instead, it keeps beeping the alarm.
Unlike traditional therapies, EMDR works differently than just talking about it over and over.
You follow your therapist’s finger back and forth with your eyes while you think about what happened. Sounds weird, right? But something about that bilateral movement (left, right, left, right) helps your brain do what it couldn’t do before. Process it. File it away properly.
After some time, the brain becomes accustomed to the memory as being in the past instead of in the present. This enables profound, permanent resolution of trauma without the client having to retell each detail aloud. Some individuals not only describe fewer PTSD-related symptoms but also a feeling of deep emotional relief and understanding.
Self-Esteem and Confidence Are Improved
It takes a great deal of bravery to fully relive a traumatic event in a therapeutic setting. Resilience Behavioral Health is very proud of their clients when they exhibit this courage and strength to literally confront a face-to-face duel against fears. What follows? They become empowered. More than ever.
Studies have shown that EMDR therapy is highly effective at boosting confidence and self-esteem. The facilitated procedure done by our licensed and professional psychologists offers a relaxed and assured atmosphere to proceed. You can rewrite the script by refuting your negative beliefs and telling yourself that you are safe and able to deal with whatever happens.
Brain’s Ability to Heal and Remember Is Awakened
EMDR therapy can stimulate the brain, enabling access to vivid and detailed memories and REM sleep. Other clients also mention that they can recall their childhood experiences, which they had lost. This transition frequently demonstrates the natural tendency of the brain to reprocess emotional information.
The negative, old beliefs start getting replaced by more adaptive and healthy perceptions. The brain is healed in real-time.
Resilience Behavioral Health’s PTSD and Trauma Therapy Program
Your trauma doesn’t define your future. It’s just information your brain hasn’t figured out how to file away yet. That’s where Resilience Behavioral Health comes in.
We don’t do therapy the way it’s always been done. We do it the way it actually works. Our PTSD and trauma therapy program gives you access to EMDR along with several other interventions. Our trained staff and supportive environment are all that the residents of Highland Park, IL, need.
Ready to give it that permission? Resilience Behavioral Health is here when you are.
Call us today at (708) 775-3952. Your future self is waiting.
