EMDR

Cynthia Chizewick, LISW-S, LICDC, LICSW, GAMBp

I am an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) clinician, completing my training through the EMDR Institute, established by EMDR founder, Dr. Francine Shapiro. My background includes working with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, trauma, and personality disorders.

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What is EMDR therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. EMDR does not require you leave your current therapist.(www.emdria.org)

How is EMDR therapy different from other therapies?

EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. EMDR therapy, rather than focusing on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the distressing issue, allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies. (www.emdria.org)

How does EMDR therapy affect the brain?

Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves 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). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved. (www.emdria.org)