Counseling Services

EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) supports natural healing from past trauma or distressing life events and decreases related symptoms to improve daily well-being.  It was founded in 1987 by Francine Shapiro and is currently one of the most researched and empirically proven methods of treatment for PTSD and developmental trauma.

• PTSD (flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, anger outbursts)
• Developmental traumas, including sexual abuse and neglect
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Depression
• Anger issues
• Physical pain not explained by medical issues
• Sleep problems
• Attachment issues

Eye movements, similar to those in REM sleep, are used by following the therapist's fingers or other sensory tool for a short period of time.  Current images, beliefs and sensations are focused on while past distressing memories are explored.  This "bilateral stimulation" helps create new brain connections that were interrupted by trauma so that the associated anxiety, pain, anger and distress does not interfere with daily living.  You are in control and fully alert at all times.

Trauma may occur from a single incident or continual exposure of distressing events.  You may have been exposed to trauma in childhood that impacts your adult life or trauma may have occurred later in your life.   Trauma can affect our emotions, physiological responses and our relationships.  Here are some common symptoms:

• Hypervigilance
• Nightmare/difficulty sleeping
• Recurring flashbacks of the event
• Avoidance of distressing memories, thoughts, or reminders of the event
• Mood fluctuations: depression, feeling numb, anger, overwhelm, anxiety

• Acute trauma: results from a single incident (e.g., accidents, traumatic grief)
• Complex trauma: exposure to multiple traumatic events and long-term effects 
• Developmental trauma: the experience of multiple, chronic and prolonged, developmentally adverse traumatic events, most often of an interpersonal nature (e.g., sexual or physical abuse, neglect) and early-life onset.
• Medical trauma
• Intimate partner violence
• War
• Natural disasters
• First responder incident response