Unlocking Trauma: How EMDR Therapy Helps You Heal

Nov 20

Candi Crawford, MS, MA, P-LPC, NCC uses EMDR to successfully help her clients find freedom and healing from trauma. To help you understand how EMDR works and how it can be an essential tool to help you find peace and perspective, Candi answers questions about the modality.

What Is EMDR?

Everyone experiences trauma differently, and some find knowing what to do to get better to be quite challenging. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, research-backed therapy that, due to its successful treatment of trauma, has increased in popularity over the past few years. First introduced in the 1980s by Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR helps people process traumatic memories in a manner that results in deep emotional healing. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not involve extensive discussion or analysis. Instead, the technique utilizes bilateral stimulation which includes eye movements or other side-to-side sensory input that allow the brain to process and reframe memories. In other words, EMDR “unsticks” the brain from painful memories that cause anxiety, flashbacks, or self-limiting beliefs.

What does it treat, and will it work for me?

While it’s widely recognized for its success with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EMDR has proven to effectively treat a range of issues, including anxiety, phobias, trauma, and depression. EMDR provides a unique and structured means of healing, regardless if someone has had a single traumatic event or multiple. During a session, I take clients through a progression of phases that begins with preparation and desensitization and ends with the installation of healthier beliefs. Each phase allows the client to reprocess negative thoughts and emotions so that they feel more in control and less affected by past, negative experiences.

Is EMDR safe, and is it scientifically supported?

The answer is a resounding YES! Major organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization endorse EMDR as an effective treatment for trauma-related disorders. The beautiful thing about EMDR is that it can work relatively quickly; some clients experience progress within a few sessions. Clients with more complicated trauma may need longer to achieve peace and emotional freedom. EMDR is considered to be a brief intervention, so if you want sustainable change without a lengthy commitment to therapy, this is encouraging news!

What Doesn’t It Do?

EMDR doesn't erase memories or make you forget traumatic events. It is not a "quick fix" for complex issues, and it doesn’t replace the need for other therapeutic approaches in cases where additional support is needed. EMDR doesn’t require extensive talking or detailed verbal recounting of traumatic events. Lastly, EMDR isn’t one-size-fits-all; it may not work for everyone, especially without the help of a trained and qualified therapist.

EMDR does not confirm or uncover repressed memories. Instead, it aids clients in processing and reducing the emotional impact of distressing memories. It isn’t intended to confirm the accuracy of memories, but rather to reduce symptoms. EMDR is not advised for people who may be involved in legal cases, since it can alter the way memories are emotionally processed, which could change the way a person recalls events. This change in emotional perspective can make it challenging to provide testimony, as the reprocessing could shift the intensity or perception of specific memories.

I’m ready to try EMDR! Next steps

For many people, EMDR is a pathway to freedom, and I want to help you find that freedom. If trauma or anxiety has kept you from fully living, EMDR therapy might be a way to regain peace and perspective. As always, the first step is finding a qualified, trained therapist who can guide you through the process safely and effectively. When you’re ready, I’m here to walk alongside you. You don’t have to continue to suffer. Make an appointment with me so that you can get closer to a joy-filled life.

To schedule with Candi, call (601) 362-7020.

Candi Crawford

Candi is an unsuccessful dieter and an avid “exerciser.” She and her wonderful husband have been married for quite some time and have two amazing sons. When she isn’t engulfed in “guy things” for family time, you will find her passionately working with church planters, humbly serving in her local church, and working on research and certifications. And should she stumble upon free time, she loves to travel, read, “try to” paint, and sit quietly and reflectively beside any body of water.