Shifting out of trauma, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) isn’t just a matter of waiting for healing with the passage of time; it’s about the thoughtful, science-based practices of professionals, along with the human touch of compassionate support. Among the various psychological treatments, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a game changer. Choosing to engage with a licensed EMDR therapist in San Diego will help you reclaim your confidence and help you find emotional healing, balance, and recovery in everyday life.
Therapists who practice EMDR don’t waste time on a sequential, and, potentially, ineffective approach to symptoms. Instead, EMDR therapists help disordered clients reprocess painful memories in a safe space and in a structured, therapeutic way. EMDR avoids emotional suffering with the active help of the therapist. Using guided movements of the eyes or other controlled displaced tactile stimulation, the therapy enables the brain to perform its natural, self-healing functions.
Role of an EMDR Therapist in Mental Health
To help clients who are going through the psychological trauma recovery, the EMDR therapist must understand the role of helping a client integrate a traumatic life event. Disparate, painful life events can overwhelm the psyche or emotional shock leads to the trauma being “stuck” in the brain. EMDR therapists help resolve “stuck” events, paving the way to full emotional recovery.
EMDR therapy is different from regular talk therapy. Clients don’t have to describe trauma in detail. With EMDR therapy, the therapist helps the client activate the brain’s natural healing functions. This helps overcome emotional pain associated with the experiences. This is especially helpful for trauma survivors who find it challenging or exhausting to talk about their trauma.
An EMDR therapist in San Diego practices this therapeutic technique. She also helps the client emotionally during all the parts of the therapy. This emotional support extends beyond the therapy session. Many of them help clients combine coping strategies and mindfulness into their daily routines. This helps clients regulate their emotions better to avoid therapy burnout.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD
The therapy also helps trauma, PTSD and emotional disorder patients in other ways. EMDR therapy is more constructive and leaves the patient less emotionally exhausted. Here are the other benefits of EMDR therapy:
- Decrease emotional pain: With EMDR therapy, a client can have a desensitized trauma memory and therefore, emotional pain and memory associated with the memory is significantly lessened.
- Increased self esteem: Clients’ self perception and worth are greatly improved after therapy because trauma and emotional pain negative self beliefs are replaced with empowering and positive thoughts.
- Increased emotional control: Clients are able to control their emotional responses better after reprocessing a trauma.
- Works For Multiple Issues: Besides PTSD, EMDR helps with anxiety, depression, grief, panic attacks, and phobias.
- Lasting Effects: Numerous clients report that the results from their EMDR sessions seem to last even after the therapy is completed and stopped, thanks to the brain still healing and recovering after the session.
- Release and Peace: For those who feel healing is unattainable and therapy has done very little to help, EMDR therapy can help unlock the unattainable and help heal the mind, providing long-lasting clarity and peace.
How EMDR Therapy Works: An Overview
EMDR therapy works under the assumption that the mind, like the body, can heal from trauma over time. Most of the time, the brain can fully heal after a trauma. If it is not fully healed, it can leave the traumatized person with flashbacks, negative self-view, and unprocessed trauma.
Choosing the Right EMDR Therapist in San Diego
Choosing the right EMDR therapist in San Diego may be one of the most vital steps in your healing journey. San Diego has many qualified professionals, but selecting the right one for you is important.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Credentials and Certification: A therapist should be certified and recognized from EMDRIA or a well recognized, similar professional body.
- Experience with Your Issues: Different therapists work with trauma, anxiety, grief, and addiction. Choose one that matches your specific needs.
- Comfort and Trust: Therapy is personal. Great therapy requires the right combination of feeling safe and being understood by your therapist.
- Therapeutic Environment: Many clients heal better in the calm, supportive spaces of professional practices, the way the La Jolla and the rest of San Diego area professionally practices offer.
Choosing an EMDR therapist in San Diego who is emotionally supportive and skilled in San Diego is assured. You will receive the needed care that considers your personal life situations and emotional needs.
Common Misconceptions About EMDR Therapy
- EMDR is Hypnosis: EMDR is not hypnosis in any way. Clients are awake and alert, and in control all the time during the sessions.
- It is Only for Severe Trauma: EMDR was developed for PTSD, BUT… it works for other things too: anxiety, panic attacks, grief, and even performance anxiety.
- EMDR Works Instantly: EMDR is a structured therapy, and it will take time and several sessions to get to the last results, even if many people sense improvement quite soon.
- It Erases Memories: EMDR does not erase or suppress memories, it helps the brain with the painful memories so they do not inflict emotional pain.
Knowledge brings confidence and helps appreciate EMDR Therapy’s benefits and realistic expectations related to its application.
Client Success Stories and Testimonials
Countless clients have said EMDR therapy is the primary reason for their positive transformation after many years of living with the effects of trauma and anxiety. They explain how the positive transformations go beyond the therapy and affect their interpersonal relations and their jobs.
Case Example:
Before coming for EMDR therapy, Sarah, aged 32 worked as a teacher in San Diego, and was diagnosed as having panic disorder after a car accident. Although she was able to talk to a therapist long enough to have an understanding of her fear, the bothersome flashbacks remained. After just 6 EMDR sessions, she was able to become calm and drive with confidence.
Case Example:
Mark is a veteran, and for close to a decade, he was diagnosed with PTSD. After receiving EMDR therapy, he was able to reprocess the difficult memories of the combat and was able to go for periods of time with significantly less nightmares.
These two examples show the benefits of EMDR therapy and the difference it makes in the lives of people living with trauma.
Integrating EMDR Therapy with Other Therapeutic Approaches
EMDR therapy’s adaptability is one of its greatest strengths. It can be integrated with other evidence-based methodologies and adapted to suit a more holistic healing approach.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): While EMDR works with a client to address the trauma’s emotional center, CBT helps the client to reshape and reframe the more negative thought patterns.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Grounding and emotional regulation before and after EMDR sessions can also be helped by mindfulness and meditation.
- Somatic Therapy: Somatic therapy focuses on the physical sensations and body awareness aspects that also meshes nicely with EMDR’s reprocessing trauma techniques.
- Medication Management: EMDR can also be effective for some people with anxiety and depression for those on a prescribed medication regimen.
Careful, integrated approaches maximize the therapy’s holistic benefits.
Final Thought!!
Recovering from trauma or emotional distress is a personal experience, and in the case of EMDR therapy, for those patients in San Diego, EMDR therapy can be integrated with other innovative techniques to harness the client’s healing potential, claim their strength and clarity, and move forward. People with PTSD, anxiety, or problems with their past experiences can find emotional freedom using EMDR therapy.
Visit La Jolla Mental Health to learn about how EMDR therapy can change your life and take the first step toward your healing today.
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