Join the Authentic Movement event with Dr Hillary McBride on Friday, October 18, 7:30pm, at Elgin Hall in South Surrey.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a unique, evidence-based structured therapy technique that, over the last 20 years, has accumulated significant research evidence to suggest it’s highly effective in helping people process and heal from traumatic memories, distressing events, and overwhelming life experiences, including PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Sometimes, our minds need a little guidance to process these experiences fully, and that’s where EMDR therapy comes into play.
In Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing, we use bilateral stimulation (left and right), such as guided eye movements, to help your brain process and ‘re-file’ distressing or traumatic memories, allowing you to see them from a new perspective that’s less emotionally charged and less overwhelming.
In a typical EMDR therapy session, you’ll be asked to recall traumatic or distressing memories (and feel their associated emotions and body sensations) while your therapist guides your eyes to move back and forth.
By simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation through eye movement, your brain is encouraged to reprocess the traumatic memories, reducing their emotional impact over time. Other than eye movements, other forms of bilateral stimulation used in EMDR sessions include auditory tones (a tone in your left ear, alternating right and left ears) and tactile bilateral stimulation (holding, in your hands, buzzers that offer stimulus in an alternating, left and right pattern).
EMDR therapy outcomes are a bit like reorganizing a cluttered filing cabinet. Once your ‘files’ (or memories) are more organized, they become less distressing and easier to manage. The technique doesn’t erase the traumatic memories but helps you remember them without the uncomfortable, intense emotional reaction.
Our highly skilled, empathetic therapists are extensively trained in EMDR therapy. They create a welcoming, secure, and compassionate environment to help you navigate the therapy process with comfort and ease. We understand that each person’s experience is unique, and we tailor our approach to meet your individual needs.
We believe that therapy is a collaboration, and your voice matters deeply in this process. Our goal is to empower you, provide support, and guide you toward a healthier perspective on life’s challenges.
Schedule your free intake call to ensure we're a good fit!
EMDR therapy focuses on the emotional and physical sensations associated with distressing memories from a disturbing or traumatic event. Other treatments and therapies, such as more traditional talk therapy methods, often require patients to articulate and speak in depth about their experiences. In EMDR therapy, you don’t have to vocally share every detail of your experienced trauma for the treatment to be effective.
This makes it an ideal choice for those who:
Feel overwhelmed or retraumatized by discussing their past.
Struggle to articulate their emotions or experiences.
Prefer a therapy that emphasizes resolution and progress rather than extensive conversation.
This approach allows you to work through the emotional impact of the experience without having to relive it in full detail.
EMDR therapy is a versatile tool that can help with a variety of dissociative disorders and other mental health conditions. It has been proven effective for those dealing with:
EMDR therapy is a highly effective treatment in treating PTSD and other acute stress disorders. It helps individuals process and desensitize painful events and upsetting memories, reducing the emotional and physical symptoms associated with past trauma. If you’ve experienced events that continue to affect your daily life, EMDR can offer relief and a renewed sense of peace.
For individuals struggling with anxiety, EMDR therapy can address the negative thought patterns and emotional triggers that contribute to symptoms. This approach can help reduce the intensity of anxiety and improve your ability to manage stress effectively.
EMDR therapy is an effective tool for overcoming phobias that have developed from a disturbing event or traumatic experiences. EMDR therapy helps individuals regain confidence and control by addressing the root causes of fears and replacing negative emotional responses with healthier coping mechanisms.
Even if you do not have PTSD, EMDR therapy can still be a highly effective treatment to help you with distress from any traumatic event you have experienced. If you’re struggling with the emotional aftermath of any distressing life experience, EMDR therapy could be a valuable part of your healing journey.
If you’re experiencing distress related to painful memories, persistent fears, or overwhelming emotions, EMDR therapy could be a transformative step in your healing journey. Our compassionate team is here to help you explore whether EMDR therapy is the right approach for your needs.
Schedule your free intake call to ensure we're a good fit!
If you’re interested in EMDR therapy, we’re here to answer any further questions you may have. We offer a free initial consultation to help you determine if EMDR therapy is right for you. Together, we’ll map out a course of therapy designed around your unique needs and experiences.
No matter where you are on your journey, we’re here to help. Reach out today and take your first step towards healing with EMDR therapy. Remember, the courage to heal is already within you. Let us help you tap into that strength.
We look forward to accompanying you on your path to healing and growth.
Our clinician Tracy Tillapaugh specializes in EMDR. Please check out her page: https://lovethistherapy.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/8/bio
In our daily acts of living, loving, working, healing, learning & playing, we would like to acknowledge with gratitude that we are on the traditional & unceded territory of the Katzie, Kwantlen, Semiahmoo and other Coast Salish Peoples. Huy ch q’u.