EMDR THERAPY FOR TRAUMA

Whatever life is throwing your way, we see you, and we’re here to support you fully.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a term used to describe an event or series of experiences that threatens our sense of safety or control, and results in severe mental, physical, or spiritual pain. Traumatic experiences can include (but are not limited to): war, natural disasters, car or motorcycle accidents, sexual or physical assault, child/vulnerable adult abuse or neglect, sudden loss of loved ones, or bullying. Your natural response during a traumatic event is triggered automatically and consists of the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response.

Impact of Trauma

Trauma-related symptoms can surface at any point and seemingly with or without a trigger. These symptoms can be highly disruptive, intense, and can be clustered into the following four categories:

Intrusion
Intrusive nightmares or flashbacks (vivid re-experiencing of trauma while you are awake)

Avoidance
Avoiding people, places, smells, or sounds that remind you of the traumatic experience(s)

Arousal
Your body is constantly scanning for danger with a high startle response

Negative Mood & Cognitive Changes
Apathy, anger, sadness, paranoia
Thinking changes include lack of focus, difficulty with short term memory.

EMDR: an effective trauma treatment

One of the evidence-based and highly effective treatments for trauma-related symptoms that we offer is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a multi-phased approach consisting of first establishing a sense of safety so that you feel supported to explore traumatic memories from the past. From there, you will begin to re-process your traumatic memories in conjunction with techniques that reduce the emotional and physical response to that memory. As you revisit the traumatic memory, you will experience images, sounds or sensations that activate both sides of the brain. This is called bilateral stimulation. The goal is to anchor your brain to the current moment, while you revisit the past with your memory. 

How can EMDR help?

EMDR can reduce the power that your traumatic memories hold so that you feel free from their grip. The goal of EMDR is to help your body and brain begin to really feel a sense of safety and calm in the present, even when you are revisiting a traumatic memory from the past. You will start to notice that negative shifts in your beliefs about yourself or the world caused by the trauma will change to more hopeful thoughts. This opens space for self-exploration and an opportunity to reshape your narrative. EMDR can help you re-engage in healthy relationships with yourself and others, and to feel less anxious about being reminded of traumatic experiences that you have survived. Eventually, these memories will become an integrated part of your story, and you will not have overwhelming responses to them.

Ready to feel a sense of freedom from your trauma?

Unfortunately, many trauma-related symptoms will not resolve themselves without treatment. Traumatic memories may feel powerful, but the real power comes with your decision to tell your story and to seek support. Treatment for trauma-related symptoms is a path that leads you past the memories that prey on you and guides you towards the present world that deserves you and your many gifts. If you are ready to be free from the grip of trauma, contact us today for a free consultation. 

  • "As someone who wasn’t too sure about therapy, I am beyond thrilled that I reached out to Charlotte and began my therapy journey. She is kind, responsive, provides tools to cope with emotions and life changes and even taps into more spiritual aspects of the mind. She’s helped me through difficult times and guided me through life with a more open mind and positive outlook. I’ve since been able to recommend her services to many of my friends and colleagues and I highly recommend her to you!"

    - A. P.