Looking for an EMDR Therapist
in Phoenix or Scottsdale?
An Alternative
EMDR Therapy
Clinic in Arizona
What is EMDR (Eye Movement
Desensitization Therapy)?
How Neuregen uses a well-studied, evidence-based therapy (EMDR), in conjunction with other brain-boosting therapies, to promote rapid relief from Trauma & Emotional Distress.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of psychotherapy primarily used to treat trauma and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). It focuses on helping individuals process and reduce the emotional distress linked to traumatic memories.
During a typical EMDR therapy session, a therapist asks the patient to recall distressing experiences while simultaneously applying a form of “brain exercise”, such as rapid eye movements, finger activities, or sounds. This combination of activities appears to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories.
Over time, the distressing memory becomes less emotionally charged, allowing the individual to recall the event without being overwhelmed by negative emotions.
This is believed to help the brain to reprocess stored memories in a way that reduces their emotional intensity, promoting healing and reducing symptoms related to trauma.
At Neuregen, our brain-focused approach to mental health is highly compatible with the EMDR approach. In fact, it might be said that “where EMDR ends, Neuregen’s approach begins”. In other words, Neuregen’s approach to the application of psychotherapies, like EMDR, is to deliver them in conjunction with personalized, brain-rehabilitation-based, therapies with the intention of accelerating positive brain changes. The intention is that in doing this, the brain is stimulated to make rapid and symptom-relieving symptoms.
To learn more about our approach to EMDR and mental health, feel free to contact us.
EMDR Therapy
at a Glance
EMDR has been shown to be effective in reducing trauma-related symptoms. Numerous high-level scientific studies have not only confirmed EMDR comparative effectiveness but some have also suggested that it can produce faster results (1), leading it to be recommended as a first-line treatment for PTSD by the American Psychological Association (APA) (2).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research has indicated that EMDR can be beneficial in treating major depression, especially in trauma-related depression (3). In such instances, it has been suggested that EMDR’s process and system of dealing with troubling, past adverse life events contributes to its effectiveness (4).
Depression
EMDR has demonstrated positive results in treating various anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. EMDR can helps to reduce anxiety symptoms by targeting distressing memories or fears (5), which can bring about significant reductions in panic and anxiety symptoms (6).
Anxiety
Phobias linked to specific traumatic events, have also been shown to respond well to EMDR, including dental phobia, driving phobia, and other specific fears, especially when these are rooted in traumatic memories (7,8).
Phobias
EMDR has been used in the treatment of chronic pain, affecting brain centers associated emotional suffering from pain (10). Studies indicate that EMDR can help reduce pain intensity and coping in conditions like fibromyalgia and phantom limb pain (9).
Chronic Pain
EMDR has been studied in addiction treatment, suggesting that it can be used to reduce cravings and relapse, and improve emotional regulation (11,12).
Addiction &
Substance Use
Neuregen clinic offers a range of
therapy services, methods, and approaches for emotional and mental health challenges and brain health optimization.
EMDR Therapy is just one of the range of psychotherapy methods offered at Neuregen, Arizona's alternative brain- and mental health clinic.
Feel free to schedule a FREE 15-minute telephone or telehealth consult to determine if EMDR therapy may be right for you.
EMDR
in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona
EMDR at Neuregen
Neuregen, is a destination brain- and mental health optimization clinic offering EMDR therapy near Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, and Mesa AZ. EMDR therapy is offered as a valuable part of a comprehensive, range of services for people seeking an alternative, optimization-based approach to mental, emotional, and challenges in the experience of living.
What to Expect: The EMDR Process
The process of EMDR therapy occurs in specific, organized phases:
1. Preparation Phase:
Before processing begins, EMDR therapists work with clients to establish a sense of safety and control.
2. Desensitization Phase:
During this phase, in a therapy session, the client focuses on a target, traumatic memory while simultaneously engaging in a selected brain stimulation (e.g., eye or body stimulation), which is believed to engage a process called cognitive interference to reduce the vividness and emotional intensity of the traumatic memories.
3. Reprocessing Phase:
In this phase, the client begins to form new, constructive associations with the traumatic memory. As the brain likely reprocesses the memory it is believed to be recontextualized and re-evaluated, which leads to the client experiencing less distress.
4. Installation Phase:
After desensitization, positive thoughts are strengthened, supporting the brain’s ability to integrate positive beliefs about the self into the new memory network.
5. Consolidation Phase:
Post-EMDR therapy, the brain is believed to engage in a period of ‘memory consolidation’, where the new, adaptive memories and belief patterns become integrated into long-term “storage”, making it less likely for trauma-related cues to trigger an emotional response.
EMDR is not for everyone
While EMDR has a great track record over an impressive number of clinical, research studies, simply put: It doesn’t work for everyone. It is important to appreciate that no psychotherapy approach is perfect, and results will vary among individuals. When dealing with trauma, it is important to work with an experienced therapist who can offer multiple approaches, monitor results in real time, and adapt by switching approaches if one approach isn’t delivering desired results.
Neuregen’s Approach to EMDR
Trauma as a psychological condition refers to the emotional and psychological response to an intensely distressing or disturbing event, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or natural disasters. Trauma can lead to long-lasting mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, flashbacks, emotional numbness, and hypervigilance. When trauma overwhelms a person's ability to cope, it can result in conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Addressing trauma with a trauma therapist is important because it can impact overall well-being, relationships, and functioning.
EMDR is only one of the trauma therapies offered at Neuregen. In instances that it doesn’t work, we can adapt to such obstacles, by switching to one of our other therapeutic techniques for trauma-related issues (e.g., PTSD).
Additionally, all our trauma therapies are applied within the Neuregen model of mental health, which emphasizes brain- and mental health optimization rather than symptom management alone.
References
1. Bisson JI, Roberts NP, Andrew M, Cooper R, Lewis C. Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;12. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003388.pub4.
2. American Psychological Association. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Available at: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline. Accessed September 10, 2023.
3. Carletto S, Borghi M, Bertino G, et al. Treating post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with severe mental illness: A randomized controlled trial comparing eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Front Psychol. 2019;10:130. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00130.
4. Ho MS, Lee CW. Cognitive changes and post-traumatic growth following EMDR therapy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2012;3:8453. doi:10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.8453.
5. Faretta E. EMDR and cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of panic disorder: A comparison. J EMDR Pract Res. 2013;7(3):121-133. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.7.3.121.
6. Fernandez I, Faretta E. EMDR and panic disorder: A clinical study. J EMDR Pract Res. 2007;1(1):34-45. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.1.1.34.
7. Doering S, Ohlmeier MC, de Jongh A, Hofmann A, Bisping V. Efficacy of a trauma-focused treatment approach for dental phobia: A randomized clinical trial. Eur J Oral Sci. 2013;121(6):584-593. doi:10.1111/eos.12126.
8. de Jongh A, Ten Broeke E, Renssen MR. Treatment of specific phobias with EMDR: Conceptualization and strategies for treatment. J EMDR Pract Res. 1999;3(2):129-138. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.3.2.129.
9. de Roos C, Veenstra AC, de Jongh A, et al. Treatment of chronic phantom limb pain using a trauma-focused psychological approach. Pain Res Manag. 2010;15(2):65-71. doi:10.1155/2010/967215.
10. Schneider J, Hofmann A, Rost C, Shapiro F. EMDR in the treatment of chronic phantom limb pain. Pain Med. 2008;9(1):76-82. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4637.2007.00299.x.1
11. Perez-Dandieu B, Tapia G. EMDR therapy in the treatment of substance use disorders: A review of clinical applications. J EMDR Pract Res. 2014;8(1):1-12. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.8.1.1.
12. Hase M, Schallmayer S, Sack M. EMDR reprocessing of the addiction memory: Pretreatment, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up. J EMDR Pract Res. 2008;2(3):170-179. doi:10.1891/1933-3196.2.3.170