EMDR: Trauma Therapy for Women in New Jersey

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy

The official website for EMDR explains that EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages you to briefly focus on distressing events while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements or tapping), which is linked to a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with traumatic memories.

EMDR does not require talking in depth, like some psychotherapies. Rather it focuses on naturally healing the brain by changing your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that are tied to previously distressing events.  EMDR therapy is designed to help resolve any triggering emotions of unprocessed memories.

Healing our brain through EMDR allows previously blocked communication between the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex to begin working together again. Trauma and traumatic experiences have a chance to be healed. Eye movements help the brain naturally reprocess our fight or flight response, so there is no longer distress when a trigger arises. Once EMDR is completed, our memories and experiences are not forgotten, but the emotions tied to those traumatic experiences are healed.

(2022). About EMDR Therapy. EMDRIA.org. https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/