EMDR Therapy in SHALIMAR, fl
Move on and feel better. For good.
If traditional therapy hasn’t helped or you’re looking for something different to help you actually heal, EMDR can help.
Something from the past is holding you back.
“The past affects the present even without our being aware of it.” - Francine Shapiro
Maybe you know exactly what that “something” from your past is—a painful past experience whose impacts keep showing up in your life despite all of your best efforts. You’re tired of it keeping you on high alert, anxious, and disconnected from others.
Maybe you have no idea what that experience could be. All you know is that it feels like something is wrong. You have a sense that things from your past could be showing up in your present and you’re willing to explore that if it means finding freedom from this inability to relax or enjoy life.
You’re not interested in rehashing your past and every little detail, but you know you do need to do something if you're going to feel like yourself again.
How EMDR Therapy works
Let’s do more than just talk about what’s going on. Let’s actually heal it at the source.
Neurobiology shows us that the things you’re feeling right now—the shame, guilt, hypervigilance, overdrinking, doom scrolling, people-pleasing—are likely responses to painful past experiences. Trauma impacts the brain’s ability to think rationally, causing the memories to be stored in fragments.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured therapy used to repair your brain’s processing “errors” by utilizing its natural ability to resolve and consolidate memories. It helps the brain process fragments of memories into logic, taking the emotional charge out of them and alleviating the associated physical, emotional, and mental symptoms.
My clients come to me looking not just to feel better, but to actually understand what’s happening under the surface. We’ll take the time to explore the science behind neurobiology and EMDR, what your symptoms might be indicating, and what the best path forward is for you.
“Trauma comes back as a reaction, not a memory.”
— Bessel A. van der Kolk
EMDR is right for you if you are…
Looking for something beyond “talk therapy.”
You may have been to therapy before and didn’t experience the change you were looking for. EMDR goes deeper than traditional talk therapy approaches, incorporating your brain and body’s innate ability to heal themselves.
Motivated to make changes in your life.
EMDR can’t work if you don’t. If you’re ready and willing to do what it takes to get better, then this method can be a powerful way to do that.
Open to exploring the connection between past and present.
EMDR does not require you to talk about every detail of your experience—you can share as little or as much as you’d like. However, since this method is grounded in reprocessing memories, it is important that you are open and able to think about those things.
What would it be like to feel really, truly free?
You would be calmer and less reactive to the inevitable challenges that life throws your way. You would sleep better, worry less, and connect more deeply with the people in your life. All of this is possible for you.
Don’t let the past keep you from the life you deserve.
Frequently asked questions
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You remain fully conscious, alert, and awake during every phase of EMDR. It is not hypnosis and does not involve a trance-like state. You’re in full control at all times.
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It can be. The emotions associated with memories can sometimes be intense and bring up unexpected feelings. However, since most of the real work is done within your brain, it is a great option for people who don’t want to have to go into detail verbally about their experiences.
Having a highly trained clinician, like myself, to guide sessions simplifies the process and ensures things go smoothly. In fact, before we even begin reprocessing, we’ll spend time developing coping skills and strategies to help you regulate emotions and return to a state of calm both in and out of session.
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This technique works best for those who are ready and motivated to move on from things that have happened in the past. This means that for those who are currently experiencing ongoing trauma, or who cannot tolerate bringing up painful memories, EMDR may not be a good fit.
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EMDR therapy has shown effectiveness in addressing things like anxiety, depression, PTSD, low self-esteem, and burnout. It can also help reduce tendencies toward harmful coping mechanisms like emotional eating, overdrinking, or binge scrolling on social media.
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You’re going to get the most out of therapy if you’re working with someone you feel truly comfortable with. Click this link to schedule a free consultation with me. We’ll use this time to decide if I’m the right therapist for you (and if I’m not, I’ll happily refer you to some of the talented therapists in my network).