Is EMDR Therapy Right For Me
Hi there, my name is Kandace Ledergerber. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Yoga Teacher in Florida.
This post is the second in a series regarding Questions/Fears and Concerns I often hear about EMDR therapy. These questions have come from people looking into EMDR therapy and from the people I have had the honor of working alongside in EMDR therapy. In the last post of this series, I shared my understanding of how EMDR therapy is different from hypnotherapy. And if you'd like to read that post or watch that video, you can find it by clicking here.
So on to today's topic – I get asked often next to "Is EMDR therapy like Hypnotherapy?" and that question is, "Is EMDR therapy right for me?".
It depends. It depends on many factors – one of the most powerful being, what are you looking to get out of therapy? And what type of modality fits the kind of therapy you are comfortable with?
For instance, therapists are a sounding board in most therapeutic modalities where an issue can be pieced apart and discussed. Other modalities focus on analyzing negative thoughts and working through them consciously to shift them into a more positive perspective. And while I, as an EMDR therapist, may use these techniques at times, they are not typically the sole focus all the time in therapy with EMDR.
As a therapist, I can say that when working alongside someone who is interested in EMDR therapy, I am intentional about using the EMDR model. As a team, we work together for a hand full of sessions, first on tapping into and building resources and coping skills so that they feel more grounded and present. And when they feel they have a healthy amount of skills to deal with triggers that tip their internal balance, we start to use EMDR to process past adverse life events, trauma, and stress that have impacted their current thought patterns, how they see themselves and how they see the world. I like to do this with a lot of feedback from the person I am working alongside, as they know themselves best and they know when they are ready to process the trauma.
Here are a few common threads I have seen with people I have had the honor of working alongside in EMDR therapy, and who have shared that EMDR felt like a good fit. Indeed, this is not a one-sized approach, different therapists may work differently, and I am only sharing my observations.
Common thread number one: Prior to trying EMDR therapy, they have tried other therapy modalities. And while those therapeutic modalities do help, the issue itself may not feel resolved entirely, and present triggers and anxieties still come up in daily life.
Common thread number two: They practice the skills they have within them and the skills they are learning to help them find stability in their emotional states. We practice in session together when they feel it's beneficial, and they practice outside of the session. Side note - EMD (Eye Movement Desensitization) can help in present-day processing triggers that can feel unsettling while not focusing on reprocessing old trauma. This can help a client feel more balanced and have fewer ups and downs in their emotional states.
Common thread number three: The most significant common factor I have seen is that they are tired of having past trauma, anxiety, stress, and so forth rear their ugly head at the worst times. They're tired of these things disrupting and running their lives. They want more.
I hope this has helped give you some insight into EMDR therapy with me as a therapist in Tampa, Florida, and as you decide if EMDR therapy is right for you. It is so important to ask questions and discuss with your therapist or a potential therapist when you are thinking of working with them to find out if they are a good fit for you. If you have questions, please reach out!
