Frequently Asked Questions
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is defined by the EMDR International Association as “an evidence-based psychotherapy for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In addition, successful outcomes are well-documented in the literature for EMDR treatment of other psychiatric disorders, mental health problems, and somatic symptoms. The model on which EMDR is based, Adaptive Information Processing (AIP), posits that much of psychopathology is due to the maladaptive encoding of and/or incomplete processing of traumatic or disturbing adverse life experiences.” To read more about EMDR, please visit www.emdria.org.
What role does personal history play in psychological problems?
My work as a psychotherapist is grounded in the knowledge that all children need caregivers who cherish them, protect them and encourage them to become confident, reliable and ethical adults. To some degree or another, none of us lived in perfect homes. To some degree or another, we all endured shame, fear and grief, and we do our best to avoid experiencing such painful feelings again. We developed ways of coping that became embedded in our memory networks. In time these patterns became second nature to us, so much so, that we hardly know those patterns are there, even as they continue to shape our responses to the world. Some of our coping strategies continue to serve us well, but others don’t.
How long will I be in therapy?
The amount of time you may need to benefit from therapy varies widely. Some current life stresses or single incident traumas can be resolved in one or two months. For issues that have their origin in childhood abuse or neglect, much more time may be necessary. When we meet for an initial consultation, the question of time the therapy may take is one we will discuss.
I recently went through a terrible experience. I am still pretty upset about it. Should I have psychotherapy to prevent long term problems?
Not everybody who goes through a bad experience develops Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But about 15 to 25 percent of survivors of severe psychological stress do. The important thing to know, however, is that specialized approaches to treating psychological trauma such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) are highly effective in preventing and healing the aftereffects effects of trauma. If you are someone you know has been through an experience that was terrifying, humiliating or both, it is good self-care to consult a trauma specialist to see if trauma focused treatment might be helpful.