emdr therapy: memory reprocessing therapy

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy is a unique, structured form of psychotherapy that helps you re-process traumatic memories, without having to talk about the details. It uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, sounds, or taps, to facilitate the brain’s natural healing process.

But how does it work? And what makes it so effective? Let’s explore how EMDR works through a simple metaphor:

The Healing Library

Your Brain as a Library:

Imagine your brain is like a vast library filled with books. Each book represents a different memory or experience from your life.

Normal Processing (Books on Shelves):

Under normal circumstances, when you experience something new, it’s like adding a new book to the library. The librarian (your brain) processes the book and places it on the right shelf. This allows you to easily find and recall the memory whenever you need it.

Traumatic Memories (Books Scattered on the Floor):

Sometimes, especially with traumatic experiences, the librarian (your brain) gets overwhelmed. Instead of properly processing the book and putting it on a shelf, the book gets thrown on the floor, disorganized and out of place. This makes it hard to move around the library, and you might trip over these scattered books.

Symptoms (Tripping Over Books):

These unprocessed books (memories) cause problems because they are not where they should be. You might trip over them, causing distress and symptoms like anxiety, flashbacks, or nightmares. These symptoms are your brain’s way of signaling that these books need to be organized properly.

EMDR Therapy (Helping the Librarian):

EMDR therapy is like having a gentle, skilled assistant come in to help the librarian. This assistant uses a soothing method (bilateral stimulation, like eye movements, sounds, or taps) to help the librarian pick up the scattered books and properly place them on the shelves.

Reprocessing (Shelving the Books):

During EMDR sessions, you recall the memory (the scattered book). The bilateral stimulation helps the librarian (your brain) reprocess the memory, so it can be placed on the right shelf. This way, the book is no longer on the floor causing problems, but properly stored where it belongs.

After EMDR (Organized Library):

Once the books are on the shelves, you can still remember the traumatic events, but they are no longer causing chaos in your library — or mind. They become just another part of your collection, accessible when needed but no longer disrupting your daily life.

Yes. IFS-Informed EMDR, or IFS-EMDR, is a type of psychotherapy that combines the Internal Family Systems (IFS) parts work model with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The IFS model is a creative, compassionate and curiosity-driven process that prepares clients for trauma processing. EMDR remains the foundational structure upon which the healing occurs. The integration of these two therapeutic modalities has been found to enhance the efficacy of both modalities in the treatment of complex trauma.

Yes. Attachment-Focused or AEDP-informed EMDR addresses and deeply considers the needs of those with early attachment wounding and developmental, relational trauma.

Our early relationships shape the way the mind and brain develop from our young years into our adult lives. Our connections with caregivers induce neural circuit firings that persist throughout our lives, shaping how we think, feel, remember, and behave. When we are lucky enough to have secure early attachment experiences in which we feel seen, safe, soothed, and secure— experiences that serve as the foundational for an adaptive, flourishing mind — these experiences stimulate the neuronal activation and growth of the integrative fibers of the brain.

Attachment-based modifications (utilizing key aspects of AEDP therapy) of EMDR therapy help to compassionately process memories related to non-secure attachment and developmental, relational trauma.

Which professional organizations have endorsed EMDR therapy?

The American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs/Dept. of Defense, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the World Health Organization among many other national and international organizations recognize EMDR therapy as an effective treatment.

I offer EMDR Therapy in NYC and virtually anywhere.