Trauma comes in all different shapes and sizes. What causes trauma in one person may not in another. Some traumas are massive and life-changing for a person, while others may be ‘smaller’ but still have an impact on daily life.
At Inside Wellness in beautiful Utah County, many of the individuals who choose EMDR therapy have experienced trauma of some kind. In our experience, EMDR is one of the best treatment options for healing from one or multiple traumas.
So-called ‘big’ traumas, such as sexual assault, abuse, divorce, death of a loved one, can be treated just as effectively with EMDR therapy as ‘smaller’ traumas, such as a car accident or ending a relationship.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a powerful form of therapy that focuses on helping people recover and heal from all kinds of trauma, depression, anxiety, panic disorders, to name a few.
When a person experiences an event that it experiences as traumatic this can become ‘locked’ in the brain and body. The thoughts, feelings, sounds, body sensations, and other sensory elements that formed part of the original experience can start to repeat over and over, forcing the person to relive the trauma every time it is triggered.
It’s like part of the brain gets frozen in time, stuck reliving the traumatic event. Every time something happens that reminds the person of that event, it starts the whole chain over again.
Needless to say, this can be exhausting for the sufferer, and can lead to its own problems as the person starts to dread being triggered and having to relive the event again. This can lead to isolation, anxiety, compulsive behavior, and chronic fear.
The more conscious and analytical part of the brain can sometimes recognize that the reaction is out of proportion to the current reality. But when emotional and physiological cascade is triggered, the more rational side of the brain has no chance of stemming the tide. This tug of war between the rational and emotional sides of the brain show that they are not communicating properly.
This is where EMDR therapy comes in. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, audible tones, and tapping to helps the two sides of the brain begin to communicate with each other, while simultaneously processing the triggering traumatic life event. This has a calming effect on the nervous system, as it is decreasingly stimulated to respond with the same heightened response it needed during the original event.
There are eight distinct phases to EMDR therapy. Phases One, Two, Six, Seven, and Eight appear similar to traditional talk therapy. Phases Four and Five involve the majority of the eye movements. Learn even more about EMDR therapy here.
What does EMDR accomplish?
Many people who work through EMDR therapy to process their traumatic experiences are so happy with the results that they begin recommending it to everyone they know.
When asked to describe their emotional and mental state after completing EMDR therapy, common words people use are: content, calm, peaceful, happy, relief.
Is EMDR as effective when treated virtually?
Virtual therapy sessions have become increasingly common in the past few years. Concern about infection, lack of available time, or other circumstances prompt many more people to seek treatment via telehealth or virtual video sessions.
Some people feel hesitant to try virtual therapy because they’re afraid they won’t be able to connect fully with their therapist or that there is some ‘magic’ to be found in a physical treatment room.
In our substantial experience working with EMDR and trauma, we have not seen either concern to be true. Working with an EMDR therapist virtually can be just as effective as working with the same therapist in person. EMDR works just as well when used virtually as it does in-person.
How can I find EMDR?
If you live in Salt Lake City, Park City, Draper, Lehi or Provo, or the surrounding area, or if you are going to school at the University of Utah or BYU, Inside Wellness has specialists trained in EMDR who want to help you.
If you have questions or want to schedule your first session ASAP, the first step is to schedule a time to chat with our Care Coordinator. She will help you find and schedule with the therapist who is best-suited to your individual needs.
Trauma can be life-changing, but so can EMDR therapy. If you’re suffering from a relived trauma, help is available! At Inside Wellness, you can find the support you need to heal and recover.
Begin Online EMDR Therapy in Utah
Are you looking for EMDR online counseling in Utah? We are happy to say that you've come to the right place. Here at Inside Wellness, we provide online EMDR therapy as well as body image, self-esteem, eating disorders, and anxiety therapy. Our counselors are highly-skilled and experienced professionals who can help you get the treatment you need from the comfort of your own home. Plus, our online counseling is convenient and quick to fit into even the busiest of schedules.
If you're ready to get started, you can follow these simple steps:
Reach out to us about scheduling a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Learn more about our counseling services and the members of our team.
Get set up with a counselor who is right for you!