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What is EMDR Therapy in Westchester, NY?

EMDR Therapy (Eye-Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is one of the best researched, most effective psychotherapy treatments for a wide range of issues, including: 

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  • PTSD

  • Complex Trauma (CPTSD)

  • Panic attacks

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Phobias

  • Dissociation

  • Grief & Loss

  • Childhood trauma   

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With national success rates up to 90%, studies show that EMDR can achieve the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. 

 

EMDR works very well for individuals who have tried therapy before but continue to feel stuck and unable to move forward. 

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EMDR can be done virtually for individuals who cannot make it to the office through our secure telehealth system for all residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida. 

What does EMDR Therapy in Westchester help with?

  • Panic attacks

  • Intrusive Thoughts

  • Chronic Depression

  • Anger Management

  • Eating Disorders

  • Chronic Physical Pain

  • Athletic Performance

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Anxiety

  • Phobias

  • Childhood Trauma

  • Complex Trauma (CPTSD)

  • Sexual Abuse & Sexual Assaut / Rape Trauma

  • History of Physical Abuse

  • History of Emotional Abuse and Neglect

  • Exposure to Domestic Violence

  • First Responders struggling to overcome what you've seen in the line of duty

How do I know EMDR Therapy in Scarsdale is working?

  • Increased relaxation

  • No longer getting triggered when reminded of the trauma(s)

  • Feeling more in control

  • Improved sleep

  • Improved quality of relationships

  • Ability to confidently set boundaries

  • Improved athletic performance

  • Increased meditative state

  • Improved focus

  • Improved creativity

  • Ability to live in the moment

  • Being able to regulate your emotions

  • Improved physical health

What is an EMDR Therapy session in Scarsdale like?

The client calls to mind the disturbing issue or event, what was seen, felt, heard, thought, etc., and what thoughts and beliefs are currently held about that event.  The therapist facilitates the directional movement of the eyes, while the client focuses on the disturbing material, and the client just notices whatever comes to mind without making any effort to control what information comes up.

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Each person will process information uniquely, based on personal experiences and values.  Sets of eye movements are continued until the memory becomes less disturbing and is associated with positive thoughts and beliefs  about one's self; for example, "I did the best I could."  

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During EMDR therapy, the client may experience intense emotions or sensations, but by the end of the session, most people report a great reduction in the level of disturbance.

How does EMDR work?

Traumatic incidents are stored differently in the brain than non-traumatic experiences.  The emotions, thoughts and sensory perceptions, which were appropriate at the time of the trauma, can be triggered throughout the person’s life at times when trauma is not present.  This results in symptoms such as anxiety, chronic pain, and difficulty sleeping.  Many clients with a history of trauma report feeling "stuck".

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EMDR assists clients in reprocessing (revisiting and relearning) earlier life incidents that have contributed to their present day symptoms.  Doing so allows those older memories to be stored correctly in the brain so that emotions, thoughts and sensory perceptions are no longer triggered.  EMDR also assists clients in uncovering the beliefs that developed as a result of earlier life experiences, and helps them to remove these negative beliefs.  The EMDR therapist assists the client in replacing the negative beliefs with positive, adaptive beliefs about themselves.

 

How does EMDR Therapy in Scarsdale work?

Traumatic incidents are stored differently in the brain than non-traumatic experiences.  The emotions, thoughts and sensory perceptions, which were appropriate at the time of the trauma, can be triggered throughout the person’s life at times when trauma is not present.  This results in symptoms such as anxiety, chronic pain, and difficulty sleeping.  Many clients with a history of trauma report feeling "stuck".

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EMDR assists clients in reprocessing (revisiting and relearning) earlier life incidents that have contributed to their present day symptoms.  Doing so allows those older memories to be stored correctly in the brain so that emotions, thoughts and sensory perceptions are no longer triggered.  EMDR also assists clients in uncovering the beliefs that developed as a result of earlier life experiences, and helps them to remove these negative beliefs.  The EMDR therapist assists the client in replacing the negative beliefs with positive, adaptive beliefs about themselves.

 

How long does EMDR therapy in Scarsdale take?

One or more sessions are required for the therapist to understand the nature of the problem and to decide if EMDR therapy is an appropriate treatment.  The therapist will also discuss EMDR therapy more fully and provide an opportunity to answer questions about the method.  Once the therapist and client have agreed that EMDR therapy is appropriate, the actual EMDR therapy may begin.

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Double sessions of 90 minutes are recommended for EMDR therapy.  

 

The type of problem, life circumstance, and the amount of previous trauma will determine how many treatment sessions are necessary.  EMDR therapy may be used within a standard "talking therapy", as an adjunctive therapy with a separate therapist, or as a treatment all by itself. (Read here for more info about length of treatment)

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Other therapies for trauma/PTSD that we offer include Cognitive Processing Therapy.

Can EMDR Therapy in NY be done virtually through telehealth?

Yes! EMDR is able to be done virtually through online counseling sessions (telehealth).  We are able to provide Virtual EMDR for residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida.

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We use a secure, HIPAA compliant platform to ensure confidentiality.  

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We then use a variety of methods, depending on your preference & comfort level, to administer the bilateral stimulation (BLS), which is the basis of EMDR therapy.

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Read our post on virtual EMDR here.

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