EMDR

EMDR -- a close-up view of a human eye

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) is an extensively researched therapy shown to be an effective treatment for anxiety, depression, and processing through past traumas or distressing memories.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR is an eight phase therapy that uses bilateral stimulation as a way to activate both the emotional and logical parts of the brain while processing through past experiences. The process provides a safe space to fully honor the impact that our experiences have had on us, while also making sense of what we experienced and decreasing the emotional toll those memories have on us. 

Once we have processed through the disturbing experience, the negative beliefs attached to those memories start to no longer connect. We then move onto the next phase where we install new more positive beliefs that can be carried into future situations. 

When clients have completed all 8 phases, they often report a feeling as though a weight has been lifted and as if they have finally been able to let go of something they have been holding onto for far too long.

HOW DO I KNOW IF EMDR IS RIGHT FOR ME?

EMDR can be an effective treatment for many different issues including anxiety, self-consciousness, and trauma. Throughout our lives we create meaning about ourselves and the world around us based on our experiences. Some of the messages that we internalize are helpful and others can be negative and cause issues for us. 

EMDR works to gain an understanding of those negative messages that we have internalized and allows us to truly explore what we experienced and the impact those experiences have had on us. Through the process of being able to explore our past, we generally start to have a more accurate positive view of ourselves and are able to let go of the pain we’ve been holding onto.

If you have ever felt like an imposter, like you aren’t good enough, like there is something wrong with you, or a general feeling of being unsafe even in situations that you know are safe, then EMDR therapy might be helpful.

ISSUES TREATED WITH EMDR

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Imposter Syndrome

  • Highly Sensitive Person

  • Perfectionism

  • Self-Consciousness

  • Feeling inadequate, unlovable, or damaged

  • Feeling like there is something wrong with you

  • Social and Performance Anxiety

  • Phobias

  • PTSD

  • Trauma

  • Childhood Trauma

  • Low Self-Esteem

  • Negative Self Talk

  • Painful and Disturbing Memories

 

 Adjunct EMDR

Adjunct EMDR Therapy is when someone is already seeing a primary talk therapist and would like the additional support of working with an EMDR Therapist in order to process through a specific topic, memory, or negative belief.

 

EMDR Intensives

The intensive format provides an opportunity to experience accelerated healing.  Intensives are designed as short term therapy targeted at decreasing symptoms related to a specific distressing memory or negative belief. Intensives are multiple hours per day and meet between 1-3 days within a week. Longer sessions allow for clients to process through targets at an accelerated rate.

 
 

Our office is conveniently located near the intersection of Barrington Road and Interstate 90, putting us within a 15 minute drive of Schaumburg, Barrington, Palatine, Elk Grove, Streamwood, Elgin, Dundee, and Roselle. We’re under a 25 minute drive from Algonquin, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Bartlett, Carol Stream