CHRISTIAN MONKS, MA, RCAT, RCC • REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR & ART THERAPIST
TRAUMA THERAPY & EMDR
Trauma can result from major experiences like experiencing abuse or witnessing violence but trauma can also result from 'minor' but persistent experiences where our needs were unmet, for example, the physical or emotional absence of a caregiver while growing up. Trauma affects us both mentally and physically and impacts us in broadly one of two ways: we can find ourselves struggling with our emotions, feeling constantly on alert and having frightening memories or, in contrast, we feel numb, disconnected from ourself and others.
EMDR is an effective treatment for trauma. Traumatic experiences are stored in our memory networks and block our capacity to adaptively process information. When traumatized, we feel as if the event happened yesterday which affects how we see and act in the present. EMDR is able to stimulate the information processing system by stimulating both the left and right hemispheres of the brain, permitting the reprocessing of the traumatic experience.
EMDR is effective, efficient and client centred. Initially, EMDR was identified as being successful in the treatment of PTSD but it is, increasingly, now evident EMDR is effective in the treatment of many other problems including grief & loss, anger management, depression and anxiety as well as with feelings of shame, loneliness, fear and regret. Other important benefits of EMDR is that it is easily tolerated by clients and there is minimal homework. EMDR is a therapy that is appropriate for all ages.
