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Bringing EMDR To Light
Written By: Linda Kirkman, The Counseling Center | Issue: October 2024
A new psychotherapeutic treatment offers help to those suffering from the effects of trauma. For information, contact the Counseling Center at [email protected] or call (864) 481-0598.
Michael Greene
The Counseling Center is pleased to announce that Michael Greene, clinical social worker and therapist, has completed training for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy.
EMDR is a psychotherapy treatment designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on the brain’s ability to process and integrate traumatic experiences.
EMDR is based on the idea that traumatic events can overwhelm the brain’s natural coping mechanisms, leaving these experiences “stuck” in the mind. When this happens, the memory of the event, along with the associated emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations, can continue to cause distress long after the event has passed.
“Though EMDR is often cited in relation to PTSD, it can be quite effective in a variety of therapeutic contexts including such anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, addictions, grief and loss. Since psychological trauma manifests as symptoms, you could really define it as any life event that continues to have an adverse impact on a person’s sense of wellbeing” says Greene. “EMDR is a comprehensive approach to therapy that incorporates elements from various psychological orientations, and reprocessing is only one component of the entire protocol.”
Like many modalities of psychotherapy, the principal aim of EMDR is to be a learning process: clients learn from negative past experiences, desensitize present triggers that are overly distressing, and incorporate more adaptive approaches to future action.
New, positive beliefs often need to be held emotionally –intellectual understanding of them is sometimes not enough– before they become really useful in a person’s life, and this is where the work involving eye movement comes into play. EMDR sessions are generally 60 to 90 minutes long.
“As therapists, it’s important to have a variety of tools at our disposal when working with clients,” says Greene. “In my experience, the most effective therapists are integrative: ready and willing to tailor their approach to
each individual.”
If you’re struggling with the aftermath of trauma or other emotional challenges and feel EMDR may be worth exploring as part of your healing journey please contact the Counseling Center at [email protected] or call (864) 481-0598.
The Counseling Center strives to strengthen families and individuals by providing access to quality mental health services regardless of financial ability.
