EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences.
Watch an Introduction to EMDR Therapy
Learn about how EMDR therapy works, what it is like, and how widely it is recognized. EMDR therapists discuss how EMDR therapy works and discuss the feedback they receive from clients.
Find Your Behavioral Health Partner
We are a multi-disciplinary behavioral health service committed to helping people with personal, social, and professional growth. We’ve been proudly serving patients of all ages and walks of life for 25 years, and our team has extensive experience in providing quality services.
How EMDR Can Help You Heal
EMDR helps the person process a past event so that it is stored as a memory that no longer feels like it is being re-lived but feels like it is part of the past. The person won’t lose the memory, but its disturbance level will be greatly reduced.
EMDR is often used a mental health treatment method for trauma, but it can help with a wide range of conditions including:
- Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
- Chronic Illness and medical issues
- Depression and bipolar disorders
- Grief and loss
- Pain
- Performance anxiety
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma and stress-related issues
- Sexual assault
- Sleep disturbance
- Substance abuse and addiction
Meet Our EMDR Specialists in Massachusetts
Abby King
MSW, LICSW
EMDR Program Coordinator
Needham | Norwell | Telehealth
Nancy Funkhouser
LICSW
Needham | Telehealth
EMDR is very effective and often quicker than talk therapy alone. It is thrilling to see people experience such a big shift in the way they view their traumatic memories after undergoing EMDR. Not only does their disturbance about the past decrease but through processing their current triggers and creating a future template, how they approach their lives going forward also changes.