I am a certified EMDR therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant, which allows me to utilize a treatment modality that has been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of various disorders including but not limited to: trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and chronic pain. EMDR is a type of therapy created by Francine Shapiro in 1987 that has evolved into a very effective form of treatment for many clients. In addition, I have extensive training in using EMDR with both complex PTSD and dissociative disorders, using a protocol developed by Dolores Mosquera. My status as an EMDRIA Approved Consultant allows me to provide consultation for other therapists working towards their certification in EMDR therapy.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

According to the EMDR Institute (www.emdr.com), extensive research supports the effectiveness of EMDR in the treatment of trauma. The American Psychiatric Association (2004), as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (2004) recognized the effectiveness of EMDR in the treatment of PTSD. Empirical and clinical evidence show that EMDR is highly effective in the treatment of both complex and single-incident traumas.

EMDR, when deemed as an appropriate intervention by a trained clinician, is a very powerful tool that can help clients process their trauma in a way that traditional talk-therapy cannot. Originally, the treatment involved primarily the implementation of sets of rapid eye movements (combined with a specific structure of treatment), similar to how the eyes move during REM sleep. However, as EMDR has evolved and more research has been conducted, it has been found that other types of bi-lateral stimulation, such as auditory and tactile stimulation, show similar results to eye movements. EMDR is highly effective in 80-90% of cases, and the results are fairly rapid, particularly when compared to alternate treatment modalities. In simple terms, EMDR allows the right and left side of the brain to connect and process trauma that is stuck in the limbic system, and can provide intense relief for clients. This information is only a small portion of all of the elements, research studies, and treatment outcomes that are associated with EMDR. For more information please visit: www.emdr.com or www.emdria.org.