What is EMDR?

November 15, 2016

Kathy Thome, LPC

Having been fascinated with how this therapy helps people recover from traumatic experiences, I was recently trained to do EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a therapeutic tool that seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes information that is “stuck”.  These stuck sensations (such as images, feelings, sounds, and smells) can cause people lasting negative effects in their daily lives.
 
A successful EMDR session has helped people be less disturbed by the memories or triggers that evoke those memories. Traumatic memories become stuck because when someone becomes very upset, the brain does not process information in the same way it does ordinary memories.  That trauma becomes “frozen in time” and each time you remember it, it is as though you are experiencing the memory as you did the first time. 

EMDR allows for your brain to process those memories that are frozen and store them as it would store other information. Each client is different in how they have experienced trauma and how long it takes for them to recover from it.  EMDR is not a “one size fits all” technique.  Each client is adequately prepared to process the trauma prior to having his/her first EMDR session. If you would like to experience a session utilizing EMDR, schedule with Kathy in the bio below.

For more information about EMDR, go to:  http://www.emdria.org/






Kathy is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Esprit Counseling & Consulting in Neenah, WI.  She has extensive experience working with individuals, couples, and families who want to make changes in their lives.  Kathy believes that you possess the tools necessary to make positive changes in your life, and she offers a comfortable, open, and supportive setting in which to do so. Kathy's experience as a teacher and school counselor also offer a unique perspective when working with adolescents and their families. She is currently accepting new clients. To schedule an appointment with Kathy, please go to www.espritcounseling.com and schedule online today.