Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - EMDR
TRAUMA EMDR WORK
Dr. von Schirach is excited about using the EMDR technique due to the research backing the usefulness of this technique in the treatment of childhood induced traumas, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by combat, accident, abuse, phobias, pain and addiction.
EMDR is also a good tool to use when working with children and adolescents.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It goes on the premise that whenever a trauma happens it gets locked up in the nervous systems with its original pictures, sights, sounds and feelings. So, using EMDR as a treatment opens the block and allows the brain to process the memory of the trauma to an adaptive resolution. It is similar to what happens when you go through the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) cycle usually in the Delta phase of sleep where scientists have reported that we process our memories of the day's activities.
Dr. von Schirach is a Certified EMDR Practioner and will be happy to offer this technique as an intervention tool in your treatment.
How Does EMDR Work?
Using EMDR the client processes traumas using back and forth eye movements and three important ingredients: environment, response and meaning. 1) Environment is all sight, smells, sounds that the client experienced at the time of the trauma; 2) Reponse is the physical reaction and emotions that the client encountered at the time of the trauma, and 3) Meaning is what the client has become or thinks they have become due to the trauma.
EMDR work desensitizes the traumatic event and the memories with the result of changing the meaning of the traumatic event for the client.
EMDR and Pain Protocol
When we experience pain, there are changes to the nervous system, especially if the pain persist for a long period of time. These changes in the nervous system trap the pain and it is hard for the pain to move.
EMDR work helps stimulate the movement of the nervous sytem and thereby changing the response to pain.
EMDR Work is used in many populations such as:
- Victims of Sexual Abuse
- Victims of Sexual Assault
- Victims of Crime and Police Officers
- Victims of Accident, Surgery and Burn
- Victims of Sexual Dysfunction
- Persons with Phobias and Panic Disorder
- Persons suffering from PTSD
- Persons with Excessive Grief
- Combat Veterans
- Individuals with Dissociative Disorder
- Substance Abuse and Addiction