Common Questions People Have About EMDR Therapy Phoenix
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Here in Phoenix, we have a lot of great things! We have amazing Arizona sunsets, First Friday events downtown, some of the best food, and beautiful hiking (when the heat isn't taking over!). Living in Phoenix can be a truly wonderful thing. This is not to say that Phoenix doesn't have some downsides, struggle points, and challenges. Like any place growing and changing along with the mental health landscape, most people are more curious about holistically taking better care of themselves. This is terrific! And it can leave many people wondering how they find a therapist that's right for them, what type of therapy they need, or if they need some other type of healing path entirely. You may have already seen some great therapists in Phoenix and set up consultations; they all seem nice. You probably have many questions, and I want to reassure you that that is entirely normal! In this blog post, I want to talk about some of the most common questions I hear when people are looking for EMDR therapy and some ways you might be able to determine if it's what you're looking for.
I hope these questions will give you the information you need to determine if EMDR therapy is the right fit for you because it isn't for everyone at the end of the day, and that's okay! What is so great about the age we are living in is that there are many paths to healing, and at different times of life, you'll need different ones. If you read through this and are still unsure if EMDR therapy is right for you, I invite you to reach out, and we can chat. I am more than happy to point you in the right direction! It can be tough dealing with trauma triggers, past memories that keep popping up, anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. I want you to know that you are not alone. So many people struggle with the effects of trauma. You deserve to feel better and start stepping into the life you are craving for yourself.
What is EMDR therapy? Why is it a promising therapy for trauma and anxiety?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro. It has mostly been used to help people process unresolved emotional distress tied to traumatic experiences, often creating anxiety and pain in their daily lives. EMDR therapy operates from the concept that when someone experiences something traumatic, it can overwhelm the brain's natural processing, leaving us feeling on edge and dealing with trauma symptoms and triggers after the event is over. EMDR therapy aims at helping our brain process the memory so the information can be integrated and we can come out of survival mode and into the present moment rather than continuing to live in the past.
During an EMDR session, a trained therapist guides the individual to focus on distressing memories, images, or sensations associated with the trauma while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This bilateral stimulation can be achieved through eye movements, taps, or tones delivered to alternate body sides. This aims to stimulate both brain hemispheres, helping the person process traumatic memories and reducing their emotional intensity.
EMDR therapy is considered promising for trauma and anxiety for several reasons. It helps to reprocess the traumatic memories that lead people to feel anxious and struggle with trauma symptoms. Another concept that EMDR therapy is based on is that our brains can adapt positively, and the purpose of the processing is to help the person shift or reframe negative beliefs formed by trauma. This also helps in decreasing anxiety and trauma symptoms. EMDR therapy helps desensitize triggers as time is spent developing resources and supporting one to feel more grounded. As reprocessing happens and a person feels less overwhelmed by the traumatic memory, the triggers from that memory also decrease. This helps them feel more in control and less anxious and overwhelmed. EMDR therapy has also been extensively researched, with numerous studies demonstrating its effectiveness in treating trauma-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It has also shown promise in addressing other anxiety disorders, phobias, and depression.
What is EMDR therapy like? What makes it different from traditional talk therapy?
There are quite a few ways that EMDR therapy is different from traditional talk therapy. In EMDR therapy, the session isn't just spent talking about anything and everything that has been going on in life. It's more focused and targeted. After developing grounding skills and resources to help a person feel better in their day-to-day life, we start to specifically hone in on traumatic memories or distressing experiences that bother them. I like to think of it as most people have common themes in their daily life underneath the trauma symptoms and anxiety. For example, "I'm not good enough" is a common theme I hear from many clients. After determining the theme, we can start looking at the memories that have reinforced the theme and made it stronger. Those will likely be our target memories unless the person has come in with a singular traumatic event, they know have impacted your life and need processing. We then can use bilateral stimulation to help you process past memories.
EMDR therapy is different for everyone. There are a lot of factors, starting with if you feel a positive therapeutic connection to your therapist. Trust is the basis of this relationship and must be there to move forward. Some clients have felt intense sensations like heat in their hands, their hearts beating faster, or pressure in another part of their body. Others have had strong emotions when thinking about the memory, while others might experience more thoughts about the event. Some people feel tired during EMDR therapy processing, while others feel anxious and on edge. During processing, our goal is to keep you in what's called the "Window of Tolerance," which means we don't want you to feel too distressed, anxious, and overwhelmed, but we also don't want you to feel zoned out, numb, or depressed. We aim to remain in the middle, where you can have one foot in the memory network and be in the room with me. The very nature of reprocessing traumatic material is uncomfortable and can come with many emotions, thoughts, and body sensations. The goal is that they are not so overwhelming that you go to a place of absolute distress and overwhelm. This is why communication and trust are so vital with your therapist.
How long does it take for EMDR therapy to work? I've read some people have had bad experiences.
This is a question I hear so often! And the answer is that it really depends. There is no one short and fast answer for every person, but EMDR therapy is known to be a time-limited approach. If we stick to the modality, form resources, and coping skills, develop a map for reprocessing, and shift negative stuck beliefs by processing past trauma, it's likely that after a few months, you'll start seeing solid results. It's important to remember that the resourcing and grounding done at the beginning of the process is so incredibly important! Many clients I meet want to jump straight into processing, but if this happens too soon, the person can become re-traumatized and feel more on edge than when they started. Taking time to build the foundation is essential. I like to think of it as we are walking into a dark cave together, neither of us knows the terrain yet, but I have a flashlight that helps shine us in the right direction. It takes trust and communication for us to get through the cave and to get you towards feeling better and where you want to be with your goals.
And it's true EMDR therapy is not for everyone. If you feel good within the therapeutic relationship and are processing but not seeing the results you thought you would, I encourage you to talk with your therapist and figure out if something is getting in the way. Suppose you struggle with a lack of instability in your daily life (moving, changing jobs, an unstable partner, a crying baby keeping you up at night, active addiction, etc.). In that case, EMDR might not work the way you want because the rest of your life is too unpredictable.
How do I find a qualified EMDR therapy provider here in Phoenix (or somewhere else)?
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The best way to look for an EMDR therapist is to go to EMDRIA.org and search in your area. When you set up consultations, ask about the therapist's training and certification. Below is a breakdown of the different steps an EMDR therapist might be in after the initial training, often pursued after they are initially licensed as a therapist. When you talk with an EMDR therapist, ask where they are in this journey and what additional training they seek to help them continue to hone their craft.
Basic training is done by an Accredited Program, and the therapist can practice EMDR therapy.
Under consultation working toward certification - the therapist is receiving active consultation from an EMDR consultant and using EMDR therapy in their practice.
Certified EMDR Therapist - after a certain number of hours of supervision and working with clients using EMDR, a trained EMDR therapist can apply for certification.
A consultant in training - after a certain amount of experience being certified, a certified EMDR therapist may take additional training and consultation to get to a place where they can supervise other EMDR therapists looking to become certified.
Accredited consultant - A therapist can apply for this title after hours, training, and supervision have been fulfilled so they can provide training to other therapists.
Does EMDR therapy work for everyone? Are the effects long-lasting?
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Again, EMDR therapy does not work for everyone. Especially if you are in a place of life that feels unstable or unpredictable, EMDR therapy can be challenging. Finding the right therpaist is also crucial because this can impact how safe you feel to open up old wounds and process past trauma. If you feel like EMDR therapy is not working for you, I encourage you to bring this up with your current therapist so you can problem-solve and discuss what may be a better fit for you.
Once processing a past trauma and stepping into a new, more adaptive, and accurate belief system, the effects of this should be long-lasting. You should not have to go back into EMDR therapy to reprocess the same memories or past experiences.
More than half of Americans experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Adding to the global pandemic that the world is still recovering from, many people are presenting with trauma-like symptoms that impact their life and having small and big traumas emerge from their childhood, adolescence, and earlier life. You're not alone in this struggle and shouldn't have to live in the anxiety, overwhelm, stress, and darkness. There are ways to start moving out of the trauma you have experienced and into the life you want for yourself.
I hope this helps you find the right EMDR therapy provider in Phoenix. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at (602)805-5200 for or click here to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. I'd be happy to hear what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you're looking for help with sexual abuse trauma, you can read more about how I can help here.
My specialties include EMDR Therapy Phoenix, Online EMDR therapy, EMDR Therapy Tampa, Sexual Abuse Therapy, and Anxiety Therapy
