Healing with EMDR and
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

EMDR is actually one of the most research validated methods for therapists treating trauma. Think of our brain as an information recorder that doesn’t miss a thing.  When there is an upsetting life event, the recording can become blocked, preventing the brain from integrating the experience in a healthy way.   As a result, the feelings and sensations we experienced at the time of the traumatic event are essentially “stuck” in our nervous system. If we are reminded in some small way of this trauma (it could be something as simple as a tone of voice or a smell), we feel as if we are reliving the original event, experiencing the same intensity of feelings and sensations as we felt the first time.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

ART is a modality that uses bilateral stimulation in a unique way focuses on shifting the images that are associated with an unresolved memory.

EMDR, brainspotting, and ART each use bilateral stimulation in a unique way that helps to reorganize the way the information about the unresolved experience is being stored by the brain and move the activation associated with a challenging event through your nervous system so that you can process the stored material to resolution. When the information has been resolved and stored in long-term memory, then when you are reminded of the original incident, you feel appropriate emotions of sadness or anger instead of reliving the event.

Here’s an example…

“When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound.  If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.  EMDR therapy does the same thing in your brain.  Our minds want move towards emotional health, but if our processing is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event or traumatic memory, the emotional wound will fester and can cause intense suffering.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.”

What does EMDR and ART involve?

These techniques can evoke strong emotions and body sensations during a session. This is normal and to be expected, since the method works to process out those stored negative feelings and body sensations. Usually this discomfort is brief and will fade as our mind and body are able to begin moving towards healing.

Many people have dramatic responses and experience relief in a very short time compared to traditional talk therapies. Individuals with multiple traumatic experiences accompanied by abuse in childhood usually require a more complex approach including IFS. More time will be spent in the preparation phase, strengthening positive self image and improving access to positive feelings and sensations.