Do symptoms of anxiety and depression interfere with your daily functioning or relationships?

Do you have phobias or fears that limit your life experiences despite your best efforts to overcome them?

Have you been in and out of therapy and feel that nothing has worked?

Do you experience unhealthy patterns in your life that you would like to understand and change?

Would you like to calm your negative or self-destructive thoughts?

Do you find that your reactions are emotional, despite the consequences?

If you have answered YES to any of these questions, then EMDR might be right for you!

EMDR is a practice of psychotherapy that is used to reduce symptoms of stress disorders.  It was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro, PhD to help clients with overwhelming reactions to traumatic events or memories desensitize from the emotional toll the stress reactions had on their brains and bodies.  In other words, EMDR can help a person reduce the attachment to and effect of a negative memory as well as create a new adaptive way of coping with it.  

EMDR uses bi-lateral stimulation, such as rapid eye movement from side to side, to help the client reprocess.  It works because the brain's system naturally wants to move toward health and the EMDR removes the blocks impeding this.  Thus, the emotional wound that has been festering (the traumatic event or memory) no longer has the same intense impact on the brain. According to Francine Shapiro, PhD, "Once the block is removed, healing resumes.  Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes." 

EMDR was originally developed to help people suffering from what we call big "T"raumatic events such as abuse, neglect, sexual assault and/or war.  However, research now shows that is is effective in treating a wide range of issues such as Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, Addictions, Insomnia, Chronic Pain, Phobias, Panic Attacks, Stage Fright and Stress.

EMDR is a powerful short-term evidence-based treatment that can be highly effective.  Many clients who were previously "stuck" report that EMDR has helped to relieve many of their more intractable symptoms.  

EMDR at Mindsoother Therapy Center is led by Tessa Vining, LCSW, LCADC.  Tessa was trained by the EMDR Institute, Inc. and is a member of the EMDR International Association.