Boulder Area EMDR Therapy
My mission as an EMDR therapist in the Boulder region is to guide people through a journey of personal transformation.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a modality of therapy that helps reduce the physical symptoms, emotional overwhelm, and cognitive distress of PTSD, through the use of bilateral stimulation of the brain. Bilateral stimulation is when both the left and right hemispheres of the brain are stimulated through eye movements, vibrations, or sounds oscillating from the left to right sides of the body.
Homeostasis is a biological system that enables us to self-regulate and maintain stability while adjusting to dynamic external conditions. When people experience trauma, homeostasis is disrupted. EMDR therapy helps people reestablish this critical biological system through a process of holding painful memories for short periods of time while receiving bilateral stimulation. This technique can remove emotional blocks that prevent the body and the mind from naturally healing from painful events.
EMDR was developed by Francine Shapiro in 1989, and it has been the subject of many empirical studies that prove its effectiveness in reducing the symptoms of PTSD.
I have found EMDR to be very effective with clients who are suffering from symptoms of PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder.
I take a unique approach to EMDR by incorporating some of my experiential therapy tools to better build therapeutic rapport and create a clear image of what we want to work on and what it would mean to achieve it. I also provide my clients with tools they can use outside of our sessions to continue supporting the gains made in therapy in everyday life.
Why EMDR Therapy
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from emotional pain, especially when it’s linked to stressful or traumatic events. It takes a three-pronged approach to healing by helping people:
Integrate the past
Process the present
Identify skills for difficult future events
It’s an efficient and effective method of therapy that helps participants make sense of their thoughts, feelings, and sensations connected to painful memories. While it's commonly thought emotional recovery requires years of work, EMDR can expedite the therapy for treating trauma, depression, and anxiety.
Just like your body knows how to heal a cut, your mind has the ability to move toward homeostasis. Sometimes the healing process gets stuck, much like when a splinter gets stuck in your finger. When you remove the splinter, healing can begin. In a similar fashion, EMDR helps to remove mental blocks so your mind can move towards emotional balance. I use specific, tried-and-true methods as an EMDR therapist in the Boulder area to help you remove any blocks that are standing in the way of your healing.
The 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy
EMDR has 8 phases of treatment and is designed to explore past, present, and future aspects of your life.
Phase 1 - History taking and treatment planning
In the first phase, we'll sit down and get a full history of what you want to work on, which is often a timeline of traumatic events you’ve experienced. Then we will define target experiences you want to focus on in the EMDR process. Some of these targets might be painful memories, others could be current situations that are causing you stress, or some could be fears linked to a future event. I use a variety of methods to help you identify what is most important to you to work on first.
Phase 2 - Preparation through resourcing
The second phase is all about strengthening you through resource building, which is learning how to take care of yourself once your nervous system gets triggered and you become activated. I like to say, “Trauma work can only go as far as resourcing.” This phase is critical to the success of trauma work.
There are a number of methods for resourcing that I’ll teach you in our sessions and a number of interventions I ask you to develop outside of our sessions to maximize our work together. The techniques that you learn can be used to manage emotional distress both in and out of session.
Phases 3-6 - Reprocessing through Assessment, Desensitization, Installation and Body Scan
Phases three through six involve identifying and processing a target–a painful past memory, a current issue, or a future event—that we've decided to focus on for the therapy work. You'll be asked to think about three things related to this target: the image that comes to mind, any negative beliefs you hold about yourself, and the emotions and physical sensations you experience while receiving the bilateral stimulation.
Phase 7 - Finding Closure
The seventh phase, called closure, allows you to wind down from and integrate the emotional work you've done. I'll ask you to keep a journal during the week, jotting down anything that comes to mind related to our work.
Phase 8 - Creating a Template for the Future
Phase eight provides a template for future experiences. In this phase, we strengthen the improvements you’ve made throughout the process by applying your learnings to a likely future scenario using bilateral stimulation. Once you have confirmed to yourself that you can use your new insights to advocate for your well-being in a healthy way the protocol is complete.
Results My Clients have seen with EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy has helped many of my clients struggling with trauma, depression, and anxiety. Below are some of the life-improving outcomes my clients have experienced who have undergone EMDR treatment in my office in Boulder:
Trauma Resolution: EMDR therapy has helped my clients process and resolve traumatic memories, reducing the impact of past traumas. They often report a reduction in symptoms related to PTSD and related disorders.
Reduced Depression: For my clients, depression and diminished self-care go hand in hand with unresolved trauma. EMDR therapy can address the root causes of depression, leading to improved mood, self-esteem, and self-care.
Anxiety Relief: Like depression, it’s common for people who’ve experienced trauma to struggle with anxiety. I’ve seen EMDR therapy help my clients develop effective coping mechanisms, reduce anxiety levels, and regain a sense of agency over their lives.
Enhanced Self-Esteem: In the course of EMDR therapy, positive beliefs start to replace negative ones, and people often experience a boost in self-esteem and self-worth. This newfound belief in self can have a profound impact on their ability to connect with others and themselves and build community, both personal and professional.
Improved and Sustainable Relationships: EMDR therapy can also help individuals address relationship issues stemming from unresolved trauma. By healing themselves, clients often find their interactions with loved ones become healthier and more fulfilling.
EMDR Therapy in Boulder, personalized for you
At the end of this process you can experience a new sense of empowerment, awareness, and self-confidence. Emotional exploration is more reparative with someone by your side. I would welcome the opportunity to guide you through the EMDR process. If you are looking for therapy for trauma, depression, or anxiety in the Boulder area, EMDR therapy can facilitate a transformative healing experience. I’ve seen it transform the lives of many of my clients, whether done in person in my office in Boulder, or online. Reach out to schedule your free consultation and learn more about how we can weave EMDR into your personalized treatment program today.
“As a therapist, I am a companion. I try to help people tune into their own wisdom.”