EMDR Therapy for Women in Austin & San Antonio, Texas
EMDR Therapy
Can you even call it trauma? Was it “that” bad? “But someone else had it way worse,” you tell yourself. But who gets to decide?
I hear women compare trauma all the time.
I’ve worked with active duty service members who compare trauma, too. After all, shouldn’t their trauma be the “worst?” Who really gets to decide this? No one is immune to comparing trauma. And, no one gets to decide. Trauma affects the body and the brain in the exact same way.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is an acronym for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. This is a brain-based therapy that allows you to work through a traumatic memory and decrease shame, guilt, sadness, anxiety, fear, negative thoughts, and low self-esteem attached to it.
This therapy is used to help individuals who are survivors of any type of trauma and can also help in many other areas you may be struggling with.
Whatever has tried to hurt you, has helped you survive. Trauma can seem like almost like a survival instinct because it's affected you in ways that have helped you get this far.
What happens after a trauma?
A trauma can overwhelm your nervous system which then affects how you respond to certain situations. You may be on high alert or feel like there's an “on” switch that's hard to turn off. You may also feel numb or detached from people in your life or life in general.
Here's the thing, you don't always realize a past memory or memories are affecting you today.
Trauma can change how your brain interprets information which can affect your feelings and thoughts about yourself. You might notice you respond in big ways to situations that others may not consider a "big deal." Thinking you're not good enough or that you should've done something differently is also common.
Trust can be difficult for you, even with loved ones, and you avoid thinking about the trauma at all costs because of how badly it makes you feel. There's also a lot of shame connected to trauma. You may notice shame in your daily life and wonder where it all started or why you feel so much of it. You might feel like you constantly have to appease and please others. It may very well be connected to trauma.
Trauma can go unnoticed for years.
And, it wouldn't be surprising to hear you're just now noticing how it's impacted you because trauma can affect you later in life. The brain has a way of helping you forget if it's too difficult or painful.
EMDR therapy can help your brain and body connect on a deeper level where you can process and unfreeze the emotional paralysis that often keeps you stuck.
EMDR Therapy allows you to revisit a memory with the guidance of a trained EMDR therapist, using bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation involves alternating from side-to-side through eye movements, tapping, or audio sounds. The process is thought to allow you to become "unstuck" from the trauma, experience less anxiety and difficult emotions about the trauma, and feel more positive about yourself.
While using bilateral stimulation, I'll guide you through reprocessing the memory. It's not necessary for you to talk about the experience during a session-only if you find it helpful to you in those moments.
How can EMDR help?
The procedure can help you feel less shame, sadness, and anxiety around painful memories, and change the negative perception you have about yourself, unhelpful patterns of in your daily life, and responses to situations that bother you.
It can help you release painful sadness and sorrow.
EMDR Therapy can reach different parts of your brain where talk therapy alone just can't reach or affect as much. This can help you leave the past in the past where it belongs.
This therapy isn't appropriate for everyone and you'll need to be willing to possibly experience strong feelings and upsetting thoughts that sometimes happen during sessions. I will guide you through this and we will go at a pace that's comfortable and best for you!
What does EMDR treat?
There has been decades of research that supports the use of EMDR to treat PTSD and trauma. Research shows it's also beneficial in treating the following:
PTSD and trauma-related concerns
Low self-esteem
Depression
Performance Anxiety
Social Anxiety
Pain
Chronic Illness/Medical Issues
Sleep Issues
Grief and Loss
Eating Disorders
Panic Disorder
Phobias
Substance Abuse and Addiction
My Specialties
Anxiety therapy can help you break free from the never-ending loop of constant stress and anxiety.
Birth trauma therapy can help you experience more joy and less anxiety when you recall that day.
Childhood trauma therapy can help you identify old feelings and old wounds and release them.
Heal from the devastating effects narcissistic abuse and trauma have on your mind, body, and brain.
Make and keep boundaries, and release the anxiety of feeling the urge to constantly please.
Remove the mask of perfectionism without giving up your strong work ethic or high, realistic standards.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER.
you never have to do this alone.
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule a 20-minute consultation to see if we might be a good fit for each other, and so I can find out what your unique needs are for therapy.