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EMDR 

Are you stressed? Anxious? Overwhelmed with worry and fear? Feeling stuck? Perhaps you’ve tried to work through your issues with traditional talk therapy but did not find that entirely successful. Often people try EMDR  (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) because traditional therapies haven’t been useful in helping them overcome their symptoms. With EMDR we’re able to identify and work toward changing limiting beliefs that are keeping you stuck.

WHAT IS EMDR?

EMDR is an exceptionally effective therapy approach used to overcome a wide range of emotional symptoms including anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, phobias, OCD, childhood abuse, and low self-esteem. The therapy incorporates many of the successful aspects of a range of therapeutic approaches that help individuals make the last changes they desire.

HOW DOES EMDR WORK?

When stressful experiences happen, they get stored in the body and brain. When we get very upset or overwhelmed, the brain and nervous system have difficulty processing the experience as it would normally. As a result, the negative thoughts and feelings get trapped in our nervous system. Since the brain is unable to process the emotions, feelings, and experiences, we suppress them into our unconscious. While we may not recognize the impact the situation or event has had, it still lives in our nervous system and over time, it can manifest in uncomfortable and meddling ways.

EMDR does two things. First, it unlocks the negative memories and emotions stored in the nervous system. Second, it helps the brain to process the experience successfully.

DOES EMDR REALLY WORK?

Substantial research has proven EMDR effectively decreases or eliminates the symptoms of a range of issues including, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Due to its success, this therapy is recognized by many organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, World Health Organization, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Research has shown that this therapy can be an efficient and rapid treatment.

Given its worldwide recognition as an effective treatment of trauma, you can easily see how EMDR would be effective in working through the “everyday” memories that are the reason people have low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, feeling worried, and the other many issues individuals come in for therapy.

To date, over 100,000 clinicians throughout the world use the therapy. Millions of people have been treated successfully over the past 25 years.

EMDR therapy is used for the treatment of the following:

– anxiety
– depression
– phobias and fears
– low self-esteem
– obsessive-compulsive disorder
– trauma, such as direct or indirect experiences of violence, accidents or natural disaster
– post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
– shock or loss in adult life
– issues experienced during childhood
– relationship issues
– feeling stuck
– stress
– chronic pain

EMDR processes memories, reducing their impact and helping clients to develop coping tools. This is achieved through an approach that addresses the past, present and future aspects of stored memories.

HOW CAN I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR EMDR PSYCHOTHERAPY IN TORONTO? 

To book an appointment or to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to learn more about what working together would look like contact me or call me at 416-388-7545. I’m currently offering virtual therapy only. All modalities offered work equally well virtually as in person.