If you follow the Sovegna blog, you’ve likely read our article about Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy, or EMDR – and if you haven’t, you can find it here.
EMDR is an evidence-based and highly effective therapy intervention that assists with healing from traumatic experiences. EMDR focuses on the problematic memories (the past), the situations that are disturbing (the present), and the skills necessary for the future. It is an eight-phase process that begins with a collaborative treatment plan established between the EMDR therapist and client.
Why is EMDR an Effective Therapy?
1. Rapid Resolution: EMDR therapy facilitates rapid healing by targeting the root causes of trauma and is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. Patients are not required to talk in detail about the traumatic issue,allowing patients to experience significant relief in a shorter time frame compared to traditional talk therapies. EMDR allows the brain to resume its natural healing process.
2. Neurobiological Approach: EMDR therapy taps into the brain's natural healing mechanisms, facilitating communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion) (EMDRIA website). The goal of EMDR therapy is to process completely the traumatic experiences that are causing problems and recognize and include resources in the present that are needed for full health.
3. Evidenced-Based Practice: The efficacy of EMDR has been studied extensively and has been recognized as an evidence-based treatment by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, among others.
4. Comprehensive Healing: EMDR is a holistic therapy that addresses not only the symptoms of trauma but also the underlying emotional, cognitive, and physiological imprints, leading to more sustainable and comprehensive healing outcomes.
5. Versatility and Adaptability: EMDR therapy can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, making it suitable for a wide range of trauma-related conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other trauma-related symptoms.
Several of Sovegna’s clinicians practice EMDR with their clients, helping to restore balance and resilience. Sovegna supports therapists in their EMDR journey, as well, so if you are a therapist beginning EMDR training and would like therapy of your own, you are welcome here. And if you are a therapist seeking to further your basic EMDR training, Sovegna’s Clinical Director, Katie Quinlan, is now a certified EMDR Approved Consultant.
Therapists: Could you benefit from an EMDR Approved Consultant?
Are you struggling to apply EMDR therapy with your clients who have complex developmental trauma?
Are you finding yourself spending more time on resourcing when you could be reprocessing?
Do you want to become an EMDR Psychotherapist?
Consultation can be just what you need to start implementing EMDR therapy easily and effectively. Katie has worked with children, adolescents, and adults for over 15 years, specializing in individuals who have experienced trauma. She believes strongly in the possibility of healing from incongruent or disturbing life events. She works with clients to resolve past and current experiences while supporting clients in understanding their resources and the capacities that support their healing process. She has practiced in multiple treatment environments including residential, in-home, school-based, and outpatient milieus. She has received intensive supervision and training in structural family therapy.
Why Consult with Katie?
Katie was trained in EMDR four years ago and is an EMDR Approved Consultant with Deany Laliotis, a renowned expert and leader in EMDR therapy worldwide. As a Consultant, Katie works with other therapists to develop necessary skills and build confidence as an EMDR psychotherapist.
Katie has a deep understanding of trauma and the impact it has on individuals and is able to create a safe and supportive environment for clients to process and heal from their traumatic experiences. She is committed to teaching you to work collaboratively with clients, using your expertise to guide and support them throughout their EMDR therapy journey, fostering a sense of trust and healing.
If you would like to help your clients achieve a permanent change and find relief from a variety of life’s challenges, reach out to Katie at (385) 429-9808 now. She is available to show you how EMDR therapy complements and strengthens the effectiveness of other therapy methods you use. Katie will help you learn to navigate complex cases and adapt the therapy to meet the unique needs of each client, resulting in greater satisfaction and increased quality of life.
Sources:
EMDRIA. “How does EMDR therapy affect the brain?” https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy. “Discover the Many Benefits of EMDR Training.” https://emdrtherapy.com