Understanding EMDR Therapy and How it Can Help with Anxiety

Anxiety is a common problem that can have a debilitating effect on people’s lives. Fortunately, there are treatments available to help people manage their anxiety symptoms. One such treatment is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, which has been shown to be an effective way to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Let’s take a closer look at what EMDR therapy is and how it can help you or someone you know who is struggling with anxiety.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy was developed in the 1980s by Dr. Francine Shapiro as a way to treat trauma-related disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The premise behind the therapy is that when traumatic memories become blocked, they can cause emotional distress. By utilising eye movements, auditory tones, or tapping while focusing on the traumatic memory, the patient can process these memories in a more constructive way, leading to fewer symptoms of distress. Over time, this form of desensitisation helps reduce the power of the traumatic memory, leading to fewer symptoms of anxiety and other associated disorders.

How Does EMDR Work?

When engaging in EMDR therapy sessions, clients will use techniques such as eye movements while focusing on their traumatic memories in order to process them in a more constructive way. During each session, clients may also be asked to recall certain aspects of their trauma that may have been forgotten or overlooked during earlier sessions. This helps to bring out any underlying emotions related to the trauma that may not have been addressed yet. Through this process, clients are able to gain greater insight into their own experiences and learn how best to move forward with their lives. What are the Benefits of EMDR Therapy?  One major benefit of EMDR therapy is that it has been shown to be much more effective than traditional talk therapies for treating PTSD and other trauma-related conditions. In addition, research has found that it can be used effectively for treating other mental health issues like depression and anxiety as well as physical conditions like chronic pain or fibromyalgia. It also allows clients to gain insight into themselves and learn how best to manage their emotions so they can live healthier lives going forward.

To discover more about EMDR therapy, call the Fareham Counselling Centre or its sister site the Hampshire Hypnotherapy & Counselling Centre today.