What Is EMDR For?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a psychotherapy that uses rhythmic left-right (bilateral) stimulation to help peoplerecover from trauma or other distressing life experiences.

EMDR is based on the idea that when a person is exposed to traumatic or emotionally distressing events, their brain’s natural healing process can become blocked.

EMDR works to unlock this healing process by stimulating the brain’s natural
information-processing system through eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping tones or tactile stimulation. Another valuable instrument for bilateral stimulation is a metronome. It produces a steady pulse (or beat) that maintains an established tempo. The mind experiences the beats as monotony and can relax completely.

The traumatic memory is processed and integrated through bilateral stimulation into the person’s other memories. After EMDR therapy, people often report feeling that their trauma has been resolved and no longer harms their life. It can help reduce feelings of guilt, fear, confusion, and shame associated with traumatic experiences.

EMDR may also help with anxiety, depression, phobias, and other mental health issues. It is generally considered safe and effective for people of all ages.
As much as EMDR can be a beneficial tool in the healing process from trauma, it is essential to be aware that it is a tool in the therapeutic context, but not the only one. In my experience, EMDR combined with hypnotherapy has been highly effective.

I’m a certified EMDR practitioner and have helped many clients resolve their traumatic memories.

I use EMDR frequently when treating morbidly obese clients whose excessive weight often stems from unresolved traumatic experiences. It has helped in every case to reach the bottom of the hurtful event, reducing the memory’s emotional impact.