The Wednesday Report: EMDR Therapy

This week, we bring you good news for anyone experiencing
flashbacks from trauma. This includes trauma from domestic violence or abuse.
It even works with children!
Some domestic violence counselors and shelters now offer
this therapy: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The Mary
Kay Foundation℠ supports one of those shelters in Dallas, Genesis Women’s Shelter.
What kinds of
conditions can EMDR treat?
Scientific research first confirmed EMDR as effective for
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, since then, EMDR has been found
successful for many other conditions including panic attacks, phobias, pain
disorders, anxiety, abuse, assault and even addictions.
So how does it work?
A very simplified explanation is this: The client focuses on
disturbing image(s) while the therapist guides the client in rapid eye
movements, which makes the memories less disturbing. You can read much more about EMDR at www.emdria.org.
However, if you want the two-minute version, I
highly recommend this two-minute
animated video.

Emily enjoys life
again
Kelly
Slaven, Director of Clinical Services, for Dallas Children’s
Advocacy Center, uses EMDR in her work with children. She explains that EMDR therapy
can be less distressing and work more quickly than exposure or cognitive
behavioral therapies.
She
recently worked with a 9-year-old girl having flashbacks from a very specific
part of abuse. Emily, not the girl’s real name, felt overwhelmed when these
images and feelings took over at school, a playdate or even during a soccer
game. Kelly used EMDR to help target these images and refocus them. In just two
sessions in two weeks, Emily’s disturbance level dropped from a 10 (most
traumatic) to a one.
“Although
EMDR does not erase memories, it lessens the sting,” Kelly says. “Emily’s brain
wanted to heal, and EMDR gave her the mechanism to do so.”
She can hug her kids again
A Genesis
Shelter client also found success with EMDR. Her husband attempted to strangle
her on multiple occasions — including in her closet. She found everyday
activities triggered the memories of these strangulations. She couldn’t walk
into her closet, wear necklaces or scarves, or tolerate her children hugging
her around the neck.
After EMDR
sessions, the client could play with her children again. She no longer relived
the strangling. Her daughter could hug her from behind. She could give both her
young boys piggyback rides while they giggled. She could laugh and love again
without the trauma trigger.
Ruth feels strong and empowered
Another
woman we’ll call Ruth had flashbacks of her abusive partner driving more than
100 miles per hour while verbally abusing her. Anytime she saw a vehicle that
resembled his, she went back to that situation in her mind. After several weeks
of EMDR work, Ruth found relief. She recognized that his reckless driving was
not her fault. She began to feel empowered and strong.
Before
EMDR, Ruth felt depressed, suicidal and irritable. Today, she is taking care of
herself, learning to trust people, and building deeper relationships with her
children and others.
You can find healing too
EMDR has
proven successful in many situations. These resources can help you learn more
about EMDR or find a certified therapist. If you can’t find one in your area,
try calling local counselors or shelters. Some may be certified but not listed
on these websites.
EMDR International Association offers resources
for clinicians and clients.
EMDR therapist
network also
offers a search option.
EMDR Institute provides resources and therapist information.
If you’ve tried EMDR
therapy, we’d love to hear your experience. Comment here or on The Mary Kay Foundation℠ Facebook page.
Stacy Graves is a contributing editor of The Mary Kay Foundation℠ blog and website. She’s married with two teen boys. She’s worked in some type of communication role for Mary Kay Inc. or The Mary Kay Foundation℠ since 1994 — loving every minute. She’s passionate about everything Mary Kay. You can connect with her by her website or LinkedIn.