EMDR
What is EMDR?
The theory that drives EMDR explains that sometimes past memories get stuck in our head causing us to react more intensely to present situations.
I like to use an analogy of the toddler toy where the circle goes into the circle hole and the square goes into the square hole. If you took a walk in the park today each of your senses would be a specific shape. The circle would go into the circle hole the square would go into the square hole, etc. Once all of the shapes go into their prospective holes the memory is stored into your memory bank. This will allow you to remember it but not be impacted by it in the same way you were when you were on your walk.
During highly stressful times, sometimes the circle tries to go into the square hole etc. leaving the senses floating around our bodies and keeping the memory active for long periods of time. With these senses floating around, the next time you smell the same smell or feel the same feeling the memory becomes active again. You do not have to know why the past memory comes up and you are still reacting to both that past memory and your current one.
EMDR allows you to reprocesses this memory so that all the shapes go into their prospective holes and become a memory you no longer react to as intensely.
Natural Processing
An off shoot of EMDR, Natural processing also utilizes bilateral movement. It has a wider focus on body sensations and the awareness of the natural processes that happen in our body as survival mechanisms. I utilize EMDR to assist with awareness and power in ones life to overcome anxiety, depression, performance, difficulty with follow through and other struggles that get in the way of meeting ones goals in life.
EMDR in the Media
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Prince Harry Speaks out about his experience with EMDR
https://www.emdria.org/emdr-in-the-news/prince-harry-speaks-out-about-his-experience-with-emdr-therapy/
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Introduction to EMDR from EMDRIA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pkfln-ZtWeYEMDRIA video
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Minnesotans Speak about EMDR