EMDR Therapy in Minnesota
If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or are otherwise living with the effects of trauma, consider eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, also known as EMDR, at Spectrum Counseling. Mary Einarson, LMFT, can offer this treatment to Minnesota residents through online video therapy.
What to Know About EMDR
EMDR is based on the theory that the brain doesn’t always process traumatic memories the way it does others. Because of this, when people experience triggers that remind them of the trauma, they have intense reactions, sometimes feeling as if they are reliving the memory and under threat.
The point of EMDR is to process your traumatic memory or memories so they no longer fuel such intense reactions, or at least not as much.
Rather than discussing the memory as a whole, Mary may specifically ask you to focus on an image, physical sensation, or other aspect of the memory. While you do this, your therapist will perform bilateral stimulation, a technique that may incorporate tapping, following Mary’s fingers with your eyes, or performing another type of sensory stimuli.
When a memory has been reprocessed, it should be possible to access it without going into survival mode. Instead, your therapist will help you build up a positive belief to associate with it.
Are You a Candidate?
Before you begin with this technique, Mary will evaluate your medical history and situation to ensure EMDR is the most suitable option. Although it's safe for most people, if you have active psychosis or severe schizophrenia, to name a few examples, this treatment approach may not be right for you.
The clients who benefit the most from this therapy include those with PTSD and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Sometimes, the best course of action is to combine EMDR with another treatment to help you learn different coping techniques if the ones you’ve developed aren’t helping you.
Benefits of This Treatment
Many people prefer EMDR because they find it isn’t as emotionally taxing on them as other therapies that may require them to speak in-depth about traumatic experiences.
Your therapist considers your mind, body, and emotions during treatment, making this a holistic, comprehensive approach to mental healthcare. She’ll prepare you before starting therapy to help keep you stable during sessions and will remain attentive to you throughout. EMDR can usually be done in eight to twelve sessions of an hour each and doesn’t require clients to do much work between sessions.
Release Trauma with EMDR
Mary Einarson, LMFT, of Spectrum Counseling online in Minnesota, offers EMDR to help you overcome challenges and find peace within yourself.
