Wheaton Office
1737 S. Naperville Road
Suite 206
Wheaton IL 60187
P:630-653-9700
F:630-653-9710
Chicago Offices
112 E. Chestnut Ave.
Chicago IL 60611
233 E. Erie St. Chicago, IL
P:312-280-6857
Milwaukee Office
P:262-784-8553
Eye
Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a powerful technique
that is used by specially trained therapists to help their
clients overcome the emotional difficulties that
are caused by disturbing life experiences. These experiences
include traumatic events such as combat stress, assaults
and natural disasters, or upsetting childhood events. Scientific
research has established EMDR as effective for treating posttraumatic
stress. It helps with problems like improperly stored images,
thoughts, and feelings that reoccur and are distressing; memories
which are relived as opposed to just remembered; and upsetting
thoughts which get triggered easily and result in disruption
of the clients’ ability to function. It
has also been used effectively to help with complicated grief,
stress reduction, performance anxiety, and some types of anxiety
disorders. EMDR
uses bilateral stimulation of the brain with sound, sight,
or touch to get both sides of the brain involved in processing
the memory. The
process helps the brain store the distressing information
properly to help it feel like it is in the
past. EMDR relies
on the brain’s self healing capacity and helps the client
use their own beliefs, experiences, and resources to handle
the disturbing material better.