Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is the leading treatment protocol for treating trauma. EMDR is proven by research to be effective and efficient in helping to address distress caused by any past or ongoing incident or recurring upsetting thought. This could be anything from a major traumatic incident (assault, car accident, abuse, etc) or anxiety about something that has yet to happen (an upcoming presentation or interaction). Although it iss difficult work, EMDR therapy is a gentler approach to trauma treatment. It is highly effective and more efficient to resolve trauma than other therapy approaches.

EMDR was originally designed to address symptoms of trauma. Since its inception in 1987, the protocol has been extensively researched and adapted to treat a variety of mental health conditions. Typically, EMDR can be helpful if you notice you sometimes have negative beliefs about yourself (even if you know in your logical brain it’s not true). Examples of these are “I’m not good enough,” “I’m a failure,” “It’s my fault,” “I’m not loveable.” EMDR can also be used to treat other conditions like intrusive thoughts, phobias, OCD-related symptoms, addiction, and prolonged or ongoing stress/trauma.

This varies for each person and based on the things we are working on. For many folks coming to address a recent event (within the last 1-2 months) they haven’t experienced before, they can find relief in just one 90 minute session. Older experiences may take 10-12 sessions. For more complex trauma (repeated experiences throughout life, childhood or relational trauma, etc) it takes longer.

Driftwood Healing offers 50, 90, or 120 minute regular sessions for EMDR. Many clients choose to do longer sessions or come twice per week when actively processing.

In addition, EMDR intensives are an option for clients who want to make progress faster, who are unable to schedule weekly, or who need/want to travel to our area to do this work. Intensives typically are 3-6 hour blocks of concentrated time focused on addressing an identified issue. We usually hold intensives on Friday-Monday in our Grayton Beach office. Contact us for more information.

EMDR can be a supplement to your current therapy and you continue to meet with your established therapist. You can also choose to pause other therapy while you focus on EMDR therapy.

Our team often integrates other types of therapy into the EMDR process, including talk therapy, skill building through CBT and DBT, Internal Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing, and more. If you are not already established with another therapist, we recommend just allowing your EMDR therapist to be your therapist!

You should only seek EMDR therapy from a licensed mental health professional who has completed additional EMDR basic training and consultation. All Driftwood therapists are licensed mental health professionals.

Hillary is certified in EMDR by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). Hillary is also an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and can provide EMDR consultation for those pursuing certification. She has provided EMDR therapy to hundreds of clients and has served on faculty for an EMDR Basic Training. She has also completed advanced training on utilizing EMDR in a variety of specialized treatment areas, including complex trauma, recent or ongoing trauma, psychological first aid in crisis, OCD, addiction, dissociative disorders, and working with young children.

Autumn, Brantley, Hailee, and Alexa have completed EMDR Basic Training and are working toward EMDR Certification under Hillary’s supervision. Certification requires a therapist to utilize EMDR for at least 50 sessions with 25 clients, received an additional 20 hours of consultation, ongoing continuing education courses about EMDR treatment, and be an independently licensed therapist.

EMDR International Association is a great resource to learn more about EMDR through videos, articles, and research studies posted.

EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the client to focus briefly on the upsetting memory or thought while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (via eye movements, handheld tappers, or headphones with audio stimulation), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the negative thought. The bilateral stimulation replicates the brain’s processing that typically occurs in REM sleep in a fully awake and conscious state. It is not hypnosis nor does it simulate hypnosis.

EMDR is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. EMDR is efficient and allows people to process trauma without having to extensively talk about what happened.

Learn more about EMDR from leading experts through this video.

Learn more about the 8 phases and how your therapist will facilitate the process through this short video.