Therapy forms
EMDR
What is EMDR?
EMDR works well both in person and via video call, allowing you to heal in the space where you feel safest. EMDR is short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It was originally developed by Francine Shapiro, and is a trusted method used to transform and heal trauma.
Additionally, it can be used in a very gentle, soothing way to help your body process what you already understand intellectually. For example, you might rationally understand that you are allowed to set boundaries, yet your body or nervous system still experiences stress the moment you try to do so.
This means you don't have to have severe trauma to benefit from EMDR.
Processing of key situations or trauma
Guided treatment and change of patterns
Since a wealth of information about EMDR can easily be found online, I will skip the scientific explanation here. Instead, I will break down the practical side of how we use it.
EMDR is a technique where you gently step back into the feeling of a distressing or defining situation or dynamic. From there, you focus on a specific mental image of that moment, capturing how it still impacts you.
When you get that image, we'll get to work. With distraction (your work memory is asked to take action), for example with sounds via headphones (changing left right, at relatively high speed), or with alternating soft tapping of your own upper arms or knees. What turns out is that your brain cannot hold on to a physically difficult memory while your working memory has to work simultaneously.
This allows heavy dynamics or painful situations to be processed—something you will notice during those beeps. Your body often re-experiences the sensations there was no room for at the time. This can include tension, a racing heart, restlessness, or intense emotions. Afterwards, these feelings simply fade away.
Ending with positivity
Ending the session positively
Finally, we end the session positively: You may still offer yourself that space, the safety, the warmth you needed at the time, in a visualization. Or you can evoke a certain feeling of self-confidence, security and strength (for example) and link these feelings to the situation at the time.
This can give your nervous system the relaxation needed to really change course in your life!
