Is EMDR for me? 

 

EMDR can help with memories or events from your past that are still affecting you, consciously or unconsciously. It can also be the go to therapy when experiencing fears about the future or patterns or emotions that you would like to let go of. We are all shaped by our experiences, and sometimes these experiences continue to influence us in a negative way—whether we are aware of it or not. These are experiences that may cause feelings or patterns you want to change, but that keep returning. 

 

EMDR may be a good choice if you notice that you

  • Doubt yourself or your abilities
    You experience performance anxiety or postpone tasks, goals, or dreams. Or notice that you constantly compare yourself to others.
  • Avoid certain people, places, or situations
    You no longer dare to drive after an accident, or you avoid certain places. This also includes fears about future situations, such as thinking: “What if I run into that person again?”
  • Experience strong emotions linked to memories
    Feelings such as fear, sadness, guilt, or physical tension (heart palpitations, stomach pain, tension, sweating, nightmares) linked to past experiences.. 
  • Experience ongoing symptoms after a distressing event
    Emotional symptoms (low mood, anxiety, or other complaints) or physical symptoms that do not fade after a significant or distressing event.
  • Experience a pattern you want to change
    For example, repeatedly not keeping your own commitments, getting angry quickly, or experiencing recurring anxiety.
  • Fear for the future 
    An emotional respons on the future, or a specific event that might occur. 

 

Notice that your difficulties probably do not fully fit into one of the above descriptions. EMDR can be applied to a wide range of emotional difficulties and life experiences. If you are unsure whether EMDR is suitable for your situation, this can be explored together. Together with an EMDR therapist, you can find out which event(s) form the core of the behavior you want to change or the feelings you want to let go of. EMDR helps process these memories, as well as any fear of future situations. As a result, they affect you less, or no longer at all, and you may feel calmer, freer, and stronger. EMDR can help you move toward a lighter horizon.

If you are unsure whether your concern can be treated with EMDR, feel free get in touch via the Contact page, without obligation.

 

Case examples

Doubting yourself or your abilities

Client Anonymous (Male, 28 years old). A client had struggled with a negative self-image for many years. Through EMDR, two childhood experiences were addressed that proved to be at the core of this negative self-image. After the first session, he was able to say with conviction: “I am a valuable person.” After the second session, he experienced lasting changes: he walked upright, smiled more often, had a relaxed posture, and found it easier to connect with other people.

Avoid certain people, places, or situations

Client Anonymous (female, 48 years old). She experienced anxiety when leaving her home. A combination of six EMDR sessions, targeting the events that caused the anxiety, and exposure therapy gradually enabled her to leave the house again and take back control of her life.

Experience strong emotions linked to memories

Client Anonymous (female, 31 years old). She experienced strong emotional reactions in her body whenever she recalled an accident. After one EMDR session, she noticed that she could think about the memory without intense emotional reactions.

Experience ongoing symptoms after a distressing event

Client Anonymous (female, 62 ears old). She experienced persistent sadness after the loss of her partner. After three EMDR sessions, her grieving process was able to begin, and she could let go of the recurring images. 

Experience a pattern you want to change

Client Anonymous (male, 55 years old). He would become quickly aggressive whenever he felt he might be abandoned. Upon exploration, the root of this pattern was found in his childhood. After two EMDR sessions, the client noticed a sense of calm within himself and was better able to control his reactions. Behavioral patterns became easier to change.

Fear for the future 

Client Anonymous (female, 19 year old). She had many worries about her future, which caused stagnation and self-destructive behavior in her daily life. Three EMDR sessions, targeting both past and future, combined with CBT interventions, gave her a sense of calmness and the ability to continue her daily life with greatly reduced self-destructive behavior.