Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist in Draper, UT

At Gold Counseling, our commitment is to offer complete, all-encompassing care that takes into account emotional and physical wellness. This is the reason we think it’s critical to comprehend treatments like Dr. Francine Shapiro’s Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a psychotherapy that was created in the 1980s. Although EMDR is not part of our suite of services, we recognize it as an important tool in mental health treatment, notably for individuals grappling with traumatic memories and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

EMDR operates on the premise that the mind, like the body, can often heal itself naturally. It focuses on neural pathways that link traumatic experiences to negative emotions and intrusive thoughts. The process involves an eight-phase treatment that includes history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. This comprehensive approach helps the individual process traumatic memories, reduce distress, and foster cognitive flexibility.

One of the core aspects of EMDR treatment is desensitization – a phase in which the client recalls the traumatic memory while undergoing bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, taps, or tones. This process is believed to stimulate the biological mechanisms involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, helping to resume normal information processing and integration.

Following phases like installation and body scan involves the therapist introducing positive beliefs into the client’s awareness during bilateral stimulation, reinforcing these new associations, and scanning their body for any remaining physical sensations or emotions connected to the traumatic memory.

At Gold Counseling, we understand that mental wellness is an integral part of overall health and well-being. That is why we provide a variety of therapies, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a treatment approach to reducing the distress associated with traumatic experiences.

EMDR can be particularly effective for conditions such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that could arise from experiencing traumatic events. If you have specific phobias, like fear of flying or spiders, EMDR can desensitize you to the fear response, thus decreasing your phobic response and avoidance behavior.

In addition to PTSD, EMDR can also help reduce symptoms of other anxiety disorders such as panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and social anxiety disorder. This is because EMDR focuses on reprocessing distressing memories and changing your response to them, which is integral to managing anxiety.

At Gold Counseling , we also use EMDR in the treatment of grief and loss. It can help you process the trauma associated with loss and work through the intense emotions that may be hindering your healing.

At Gold Counseling, we are pleased to offer Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a comprehensive approach to help our patients process traumatic memories and negative feelings. This therapy is conducted by our certified EMDR therapists who use a structured and collaborative process to guide you through your healing journey.

Phase 1 – History and Treatment Planning:

Our EMDR therapists will begin by discussing your history and any traumatic events you may have experienced. They will work with you to identify specific targets for EMDR, such as traumatic memories or beliefs that may be contributing to your current struggles.

Phase 2 – Preparation:

Before undergoing an EMDR session, our therapists will teach you various techniques, including eye movements, tapping, or other bilateral stimulation methods used during the therapy. 

Phase 3 – Processing:

The EMDR session usually begins with our therapist guiding you to recall a distressing memory or event. You will be asked to select an image that represents this memory, a negative belief about yourself associated with it, and a positive belief that you would like to have instead. You will engage in EMDR sessions, focusing on the targeted memory or belief while using the bilateral stimulation technique to process these emotions.

Phase 4 – Closure:

As the session progresses, your distressing memory should start to feel less upsetting. The goal is to reach a point where you can think about the event without experiencing distress. At the end of each session, our therapist will assist you in grounding and calming techniques to help you conclude the processing.

Phase 5 – Integration:

Post-session, it’s normal to continue processing the memory or related material. Between sessions you will continue to process and integrate the work done in EMDR. Our therapists will provide support and guidance as needed.

EMDR therapy be emotionally intense, given the nature of the memories being processed. However, many of our patients find it to be a highly effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions. 

At Gold Counseling, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive and integrative care to our patients. We take a holistic approach to health and wellbeing, which includes mental and emotional as well as physical well-being. To this purpose, we acknowledge the value of psychological treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

The therapy typically begins with one or two initial sessions where the therapist builds rapport, assesses the patient’s history and symptoms, and prepares them for the EMDR process. After these initial sessions, the actual EMDR treatment phase begins and typically includes 6 to 12 sessions. However, the number can vary depending on the patient’s progress and the specific issues being addressed.

It’s important to note that EMDR can be an intense and emotionally challenging therapy. Therefore, patients must pace themselves and work closely with their therapist. The therapist will discuss the estimated number of sessions based on the patient’s specific situation and treatment goals. The flexibility of EMDR therapy allows it to be tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances, and the number of sessions can be adjusted as required throughout treatment.

At Gold Counseling, we strongly believe that everyone’s healing process is unique. We are committed to assisting our patients at every stage of their recovery and wellness journey, providing them with the tools and therapies they require. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Riverdale UT, Washington Terrace UT, Clinton UT, Kaysville UT, Clearfield UT, Farmington UT, Draper UT, Riverton UT, Sandy UT, St. George UT, Bloomington UT, Santa Clara, UT, and surrounding areas.