What is EMDR?

What is EMDR?

EMDR involves a simple procedure where different parts of the brain are stimulated at the same time as you are thinking about a disturbing, traumatic memory. "Bi-lateral stimulation" of the brain is created by having you hold pulsing paddles or listening to tones pulsing back and forth, from left to right. While this is going on, you and your therapist will intermittently check-in on the thoughts, images, memories and feelings that come up during the process. If you and I decide to use EMDR with you, you will be fully prepared beforehand.

How does EMDR work?

We do not yet know exactly how EMDR works, but research over the past 20 years continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating EMDR into psychotherapy for trauma and related problems.

The brain has a natural way of resolving strong emotions, but it can be overwhelmed, such as during a life threatening, catastrophic event, or, in the case of developmental trauma, intense emotional experiences during childhood, when the child's emotional system is not fully developed. Current theory has it that this overwhelm of emotions and "stuckness" of the brain could be an important factor in how people develop PTSD and suggests that involving a greater number of neural connections in the brain, than from the usual pattern, can affect a change in how a person experiences stimuli (or, what "triggers" anxiety). For more about this research, see: http//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17284128

When is EMDR helpful?

- A recent life threatening event: Recent emotional trauma is a common target: For example, if you recently experienced or witnessed a physical assault, an auto accident, etc., EMDR can help you resolve the trauma and diminish the symptoms of PTSD (e.g., "flashbacks", nightmares, hyper-vigilance, etc.)

- Developmental Trauma: Within the context of a comprehensive psychotherapy, EMDR can be helpful for resolving early, developmental trauma. Often, a course of EMDR can help clients get "unstuck" from negative patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving that cause problems relating to others and affects the quality of your life.

FAQ about EMDR: http://www.emdria.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=2

Barbara Elbl, MFT, CEAP, CGP

Marriage and Family Therapist Ca Lic #33788

Certified Employee Assistance Provider (EACC #028021)

Certified Group Psychotherapist (AGPA)

EMDR practitioner

Substance Abuse Professional

4333 California Street

San Francisco, CA 94118

415-681-1757

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