EMDR & Trauma Therapy
Helping you process and integrate difficult memories so you can reclaim your sense of safety & empowerment
EMDR Therapy at Nightingale Wellness
Trauma can leave deep emotional scars that impact every aspect of your life, but there is a way to re-process those experiences and reduce the effect they have on you, your sense of self and your relationships.
EMDR therapy is a powerful and evidence-based approach to trauma that helps you process and integrate distressing memories that feel stuck, reduce symptoms (like anxiety or negative self talk) and get your body out of chronic stress responses.
There are 8 stages to EMDR therapy. They include:
Talking about the past and the impact it’s having on your life today
Learn coping skills and relaxation techniques
Choose a memory and talk about images, beliefs and sensations related to it
Use a technique called “bilateral stimulation” as you think about the memory in order to help you access it without it feeling like a flashback to rewire and reduce the distress level
When the distress of the memory is reduced, we increase the strength of positive beliefs like, “I did the best I could” or “I have value regardless”
A body scan to ensure that any residual physical tension has been fully processed and release
The Benefits of EMDR
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A rapid way to process trauma
EMDR is one of the fastest ways to process traumatic events by rewiring the way your brain and body have stored the memory or experiences.
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Reduces stress & negative thoughts about yourself
EMDR helps you reduce the symptoms you have as a result of your trauma like panic, anxiety, self-loathing or reactivity.
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Improve relationships
Processing your trauma with EMDR helps you change the patterns in your relationships like fawning, people pleasing or avoidance of vulnerability.
What to Expect
What to Expect
A safe and supportive environment to explore your past experiences and process difficult emotions at your own pace
Targeted trauma reprocessing - we’ll access and reprocess these memories, allowing you to release their emotional charge and create new pathways
Coping skills and resources to help you manage distressing emotions and symptoms outside of therapy sessions
Holistic healing that addresses body and mind
Increase positive beliefs about yourself and increase your confidence
“Freedom is what you do with what has been done to you”
You may be wondering if EMDR is right for you
What is EMDR therapy like?
EMDR is an evidence based therapy that has a 90% success rate. Together we explore current triggers and past traumas that are impacting your anxiety, confidence or relationships. Then with bilateral stimulation we do what is called “re-processing” the memory - meaning we are rewiring the way your brain & body have stored those experiences so that you are no longer going into old survival responses when you are reminded of those memories.
What if I’m nervous/scared to talk about my past because its overwhelming?
That’s completely normal and we will go at your pace. We will only use EMDR on memories or experiences that feel tolerable to think about. There are also ways we can build up positive resources to build your confidence in processing before we begin.
How do I know if what I experienced is considered trauma?
Trauma is anything that overwhelms your ability to cope. It can be a large event that happened to you, or a series of events that over time impacted you negatively. In our sessions, I will gently highlight if there are things that may be beneficial for us to unpack and process and you can let me know if that’s a direction you’d like to go in.
If other people had it “worse than me”, is it worth it to process my trauma?
Trauma is subjective and most people experience some form of trauma throughout their lives. Allowing yourself to heal wounds without judgement gets you away from feeling stuck in old patterns.
Can processing past trauma actually bring relief?
It can bring an enormous amount of relief from symptoms of trauma like shame, anxiety, depression and panic. After re-processing memories, your self-talk will change, your inner critic will quiet and your body will be able to relax with more ease.
