EMDR in effect unfreezes the integrative capacity of your brain to process memories effectively. We do this by engaging both the left brain and the right brain (bilateral stimulation), which activates the brain’s information processing system to process unresolved traumatic experiences. 

According to Robert Stickgold, Ph.D. at Harvard Medical School, “We believe that EMDR induces a fundamental change in brain circuitry similar to what happens in REM sleep — that allows the person undergoing treatment to more effectively process and incorporate traumatic memories into general association networks in the brain. This helps the individual integrate and understand the memories within the larger context of his or her life experience.” Think of it as combining your raw experience with wisdom that was unavailable at the time.

Trauma can be defined into two types, Big “T” and small “t” traumas. A “Big T” trauma is a single incident trauma or life changing event. A “Big T,” would be a single or series of severely traumatic experiences (e.g. war, rape and major accidents).  

I specialize in small “t” traumas which are experiences that lessen a person’s self-confidence and affects a person’s ability to deal with life stressors. Small “t” traumas create a perpetual filter that narrow and limit your view of yourself and the world, which impedes your ability to live to your full potential and causes suffering. 

Small “t” traumas are a series of traumatic or abusive events that occur over a period of time. Some examples of small “t” traumas include: 

• Childhood neglect and abuse

• Verbal abuse from a close family member or authority figure

• Domestic abuse or witnessing domestic abuse as a child

• Bullying

Most people have experienced small “t” traumas and probably do not think of these events as traumatic. However, these subtler and more complicated experiences can shape and unconsciously influence how you are in the world, oftentimes in disempowered ways. Small “t” traumas usually require more EMDR therapy sessions than Big “T” traumas.

Together we’ll discuss the possibility of using EMDR. We can discuss whether it’s appropriate, and how it can be part of our work together. The length of treatment will vary, depending on what you’re looking to resolve, your life circumstances, the extent of past trauma, your current psychological resources, etc. While EMDR is designed to speed up your ability to heal, it’s not a one-time treatment. But results may be somewhat more rapid than in conventional talk therapy. My clients and I continue to be amazed at how quickly change can occur with this technique.

EMDR therapy has many applications but the most documented is trauma. Other areas which have found success with with EMDR are performance enhancement, panic attacks, anxiety, phobias, addictions, stress reduction, complicated grief, stage fright, public speaking, and pain in general. We may use a modified version of the standard EMDR therapy protocol to treat these issues.

Disturbing events can be stored in the brain in an isolated memory network. This prevents learning from taking place. The old
material just keeps getting triggered over and over again. In another part of your brain, in a separate network, is most of the information you need to resolve it. It’s just prevented from linking
up to the old stuff. Once we start processing with EMDR, the two Separate target and adaptive networks. networks can link up. New information can come to mind and resolve the old problems.”