Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidenced based treatment proven to help people recover from distressing experiences that are often associated with mental health concerns and/or are simply those experiences that still bother us or make us cringe when they come to mind.

EMDR is a structured therapy used to change the way traumatic information and experiences are stored in the brain. EMDR involves bringing to mind distressing events while simultaneously incorporating repetitive back and forth movements in the form of visual eye movements, tactile self-tapping or hand held buzzers, and/or auditory sounds. This continues until the disturbance is lowered and ultimately eliminated.

EMDR is not hypnosis, and does not make one forget the painful experiences.

After EMDR however, the memories will become far less upsetting. This occurs because during EMDR the experiences will be “repackaged” and stored in the brain differently so they are recognized as part of the past, instead of being relived over and over as though they were happening in the present; you will be able to recall them but without the painful emotional charge.

EMDR allows us to connect with more positive beliefs about ourselves and/or the world. In doing so shame, regret, guilt, and other difficult feelings related to the specific past experiences are much less intense if not resolved completely.