EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based treatment for psychotherapy that helps folks heal from the emotional distress and symptoms of disturbing life experiences. Developed in 1987 by Francine Shapiro to help her process distressing thoughts while walking in the park, the technique involves moving her eyes from left to right.
To do EMDR, you pick a distressing memory to target while simultaneously moving your eyes back and forth, tapping your body, or listening to sounds that alternate between your ears. This process is called Dual stimulation or Bilateral stimulation. EMDR mimics REM eye movement by bilaterally stimulating (BLS) the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This helps bring relief to the client by integrating the two sides of the brain to bring an adaptive perspective about the trauma and desensitizes the brain to the distressing situation
It has been shown to help with anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, eating disorders, and addictions. It usually takes 6-12 sessions, depending on the trauma history of the client.
Celine is also trained in Flash EMDR for those who have difficulty with Flash EMDR is an evidence-based treatment for past, present, and future distressing experiences. Developed in 2017 by Phil Manfield, the modality was created for clients who had difficulty tolerating highly distressing feelings or memories, so they could process the disturbing without shutting down, dissociating, or becoming overwhelmed. As a result of using this technique, Dr. Mansfield noticed that his clients were able to process distressing experiences more quickly and with greater ease.
How Flash Works
First, the Flash EMDR technique allows a person to find a Positive Engaging Focus (PEF). Second, the person identifies a distressing memory or situation and briefly engages with the thought. Third, they then tap their thighs with Bilateral Stimulation and then talk about their PEF. Next, the therapist will say flash occasionally, and you need to blink three times and then begin to tap your thighs again and then continue talking about your PEF. Till you reduce your SUDS (subjective units of distress) to a 0, you will continue to work on reducing the memory by engaging with your PEF. When the SUDS is a 0, then you can begin to install a new belief. Lastly, the new beliefs will be integrated using eye movements to link them between the two hemispheres of the brain.
Treatment
In Conclusion, this technique works quickly and a person can clear a difficult memory within one session with Celine. EMDR is a stand-alone treatment or it works by combining several modalities together. Celine also can tailor your session so that you can integrate other tools of art therapy, hypnotherapy, EFT, or Havening, to help you further consolidate your healing.
Credentials
Celine is EMDR trained and was trained by Phil Manfield, Ph.D., and Lewis Engel, Ph.D. They have completed the beginning advanced levels of their training in The Flash EMDR technique. Want to learn more? Please reach out to Celine to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Fill out the form below.
