formerly "Neuro Health and Counseling Services"
Somatic and Attachment Focused
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(SAFE-EMDR)
When something disturbing happens, it gets stored in the brain in a way that our human system feels like that event is either going to happen again at any moment or is happening now. This event is stored physically in the brain. When some event may be similar or just has an element that reminds our system of that disturbing event (thought, image, smell, sound, touch, or other sensation), the central nervous system reacts as if the original, disturbing event is happening.
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EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and is a form of therapy proven to be highly effective in helping provide relief from psychological stress and healing from trauma (single or complex) or other distressing life experiences. EMDR helps to move the storage of that memory to a more functional part of the brain that can experience the event as if it were actually in the past. It is important to understand that an actual physical change is happening with EMDR. The events that previously activated the brain into overreaction no longer have that effect. The person can now react to the present without the past interfering.
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Importantly, the practitioners at Sagebriar are trained in the S.A.F.E. approach to EMDR. A unique aspect of S.A.F.E. is that it follows the traditional EMDR protocols while focusing on somatic (body) and attachment (relational development) as influenced by trauma. S.A.F.E. allows a holistic view of the human condition in response to trauma while aligning more comprehensively with a biblical view of humankind (heart, body, mind, and spirit).
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Since trauma symptoms can include chronic pain, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, fear, tension, performance anxiety, anger, mood swings, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dependency, learned helplessness, self-esteem, eating disorders, sleep problems, complicated grief, phobias, stress, and addictions, EMDR therapy has also been found to be effective for assisting those struggling with these health issues as well.
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If you are ready to clear the lingering effects of trauma and find lasting peace in your life, please contact us to schedule a free in-person or phone consultation. We are happy to answer your questions, address your concerns and discuss how trauma therapy can help you.​​
WHAT IS EYE-MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)?
The mind can often heal itself naturally, in the same way as the body does. Much of this natural coping mechanism occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Francine Shapiro developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 1987, utilizing this natural process to successfully treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since then, EMDR has effectively treated a wide range of mental health problems.​ EMDR is evidence-based. It is an innovative clinical treatment that has successfully helped over a million individuals. The validity and reliability of EMDR have been established by rigorous research. There are now nineteen controlled studies into EMDR, making it the most thoroughly researched method used in the treatment of trauma (Details on www.emdr-europe.org and www.emdr.org) and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an effective treatment for PTSD.​           During EMDR treatment, the client remains in control of themselves and is fully alert and wide awake. This is not a form of hypnosis; the process can be stopped anytime. Throughout the session, the therapist will support and facilitate the client's self-healing and intervene as little as possible. Reprocessing is usually experienced as something that happens spontaneously and organically, and new connections and insights are felt to arise naturally from within. As a result, most people experience EMDR as being a natural and very empowering therapy.​           A significant benefit of EMDR is that the client is not required to retell or relive the entire event to produce successful results. EMDR can be brief-focused treatment or part of a more extended therapy program. Typical sessions last for a minimum of 80 minutes and begin after a comprehensive assessment is conducted where the client is assisted to become aware of how they are experiencing their 'past' in their 'present' day-to-day life. Additionally, this enables the counselor to begin developing the treatment plan as target memories are identified. Next, the EMDR treatment process utilizes eye movements similar to those observed during REM sleep. Depending on the client's response, a bar of moving lights, pulsators in each hand, and/or headphones may also be used or incorporated. These stimulations, known as bilateral stimulation, comprise a 'set' that occurs for a short while and then stops. The client is then asked to express what they noticed during each set. Experiences during a session may include changes in thoughts, images, feelings, emotions, or blanks. With repeated sets, the target memory tends to change so that it loses its painful intensity and becomes a neutral memory of an event in the past. Other associated memories may also heal at the same time or over time. This linking of related memories can lead to a dramatic and rapid improvement in many aspects of the client's life.​ ​ ​
IS EMDR FOR EVERYONE?
EMDR can accelerate therapy by resolving the impact of your past traumas and allowing you to live more fully in the present. It is not, however, appropriate for everyone. The process is rapid, and any disturbing experiences, if they occur, last for a comparatively short period. Nevertheless, you need to be aware of, and willing to experience the intense feelings and disturbing thoughts which sometimes occur during sessions.