EMDR Therapy in Newport Beach, California

Traumatic experiences affect humans on one of the most basic levels. In a place that undergirds our every moment. There are so many examples of where this can come from, but once trauma occurs, our brains become wired for protection. Self-preservation. Constantly on mental guard, hypervigilant, and aware of the possible dangers.

What can come with it may be sleepless nights, flashbacks, sobbing sessions, thoughts that invade and hijack your day, tightness in your chest, adrenaline.

Anxiety, certain you are going to die, filled with fear and belief that danger is always nearby. Always there to take you back into the realm of danger.

If you can relate, there is a pretty good chance you have experienced trauma. And it is possible you are looking for any kind of relief.

One possible answer is our EMDR therapy center in Newport Beach.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a psychotherapy technique initially developed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The basic principle is that after trauma, our brains are not always able to process the event that brought the trauma on. It’s almost as if your brain needs to flow, but there is a blockage. It is the event, and your brain can’t get around it and doesn’t have the means to unblock it either.

This of course, causes problems. Emotionally and even physically.

And in order to help, an EMDR therapist needs to help you process your past while helping you not get overwhelmed.

But is EMDR invasive?

Straight answer: EMDR can be achieved a trained professional simply waving a finger back and forth.

That’s all that is necessary. Of course, there is more.

First used clinically in 1989, EMDR alters the way your brain stores emotionally distressing memories by leading the patient through a series of side-to-side eye movements while the patient recalls portions of a traumatic experience.

Because the purpose of EDMR is to alter the way that the brain stores memories, patients may experience overly realistic dreams, problems concentrating, and heightened emotions or sensitivity to certain stimuli. Some patients may still experience symptoms during sessions, so it is important to work with your therapist in Orange County to avoid undue stress.

Therapy is broken into several stages of six or more sessions. You will begin with a general overview of your health and symptoms so your therapist can diagnose the problematic memories that the therapy will look to single out.

Once the disturbing memories are pinpointed, your therapist will go into detail about your treatment and prepare you for the six stages of treatment.

1. Assessment. Your therapist will navigate you through targeting traumatic memories and triggers for the next stages of treatment.
2. Desensitization. While targeting these specific memories, your therapist will put you through a set of regimented eye movements (bilateral stimulation).
3. Installation. Your therapist will instill a positive replacement for the negative memory or trigger.
4. Body Scan. Your therapist will go over how you feel to assess your progress.
5. Closure. Your therapist will go over what you may experience outside of therapy and how to address any symptoms you may experience.
6. Re-evaluation. Your therapist will once again assess your progress to determine if you need any additional treatment or if you have successfully overcome your condition or disorder.

A Complement to Counseling in Orange County

EMDR can be an effective complement to traditional therapy to treat your disorder. Some evidence suggests that EMDR can also be effective in treating other mental conditions and disorders, including anxiety, depression, and psychosis.

If you want to know more about this approach, or how Lido Wellness specifically uses EMDR therapy, please call us today. We offer mental health PHP, an intensive outpatient for counseling, and transitional care.  We are happy to let you know what your options are and get clarity on what may be the best approach for you.

Life is full of ups and downs. How you or your loved one handles the tough times can have a drastic effect on your mental health. Lido Wellness Center is here to help when you feel that your life has become overwhelming and unmanageable. We are a partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient mental health facility that is located in beautiful Newport Beach, California.

We will provide you or your loved one with an individualized treatment plan that will be focused on treating the whole person. Our holistic and comprehensive mental health approach will allow you to regain a healthy outlook on life. How we think, how we feel, and how we behave are all linked to our emotional and physical health.