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Online EMDR therapy brings the powerful benefits of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing directly to you, wherever you are. At Online Therapies, we offer virtual EMDR sessions, providing a flexible and accessible way to heal from trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and other emotional challenges.
How Online EMDR Works: In online EMDR sessions, the same structured therapeutic process is used as in-person therapy, but it’s conducted through secure video platforms. You’ll work with a psychologist who guides you through focusing on distressing memories while using bilateral stimulation, such as following the therapist’s hand movements on the screen or using a specific app for auditory tones or visual cues. This stimulation helps reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact.
Benefits of Online EMDR:
If you’re ready to take the next step toward healing, contact Online Therapies to schedule your online EMDR session and experience the benefits of this powerful, evidence-based treatment from the comfort of your own home.
The science behind EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy lies in its ability to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity and allowing individuals to heal. Here’s a breakdown of how EMDR works scientifically:
Memory Processing and Trauma**
When a person experiences trauma, the brain can struggle to process the memory correctly. Instead of storing the memory like a typical experience, it remains “frozen” or “stuck” in the brain, often accompanied by intense emotions and physical sensations. This can lead to symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, and distress as the brain continues to react to the unprocessed trauma as though it is happening in the present.
Bilateral Stimulation
The core mechanism of EMDR involves bilateral stimulation, which refers to the activation of both brain hemispheres through eye movements, tapping, or auditory cues. The person undergoing EMDR focuses on the traumatic memory while following these stimuli. This dual-attention task seems to help the brain reprocess the memory and integrate it more naturally.
How EMDR Affects the Brain
Research shows that during EMDR, bilateral stimulation may help:
1. Desensitisation: EMDR reduces the emotional charge associated with the traumatic memory. Bilateral stimulation, combined with revisiting the memory in a controlled way, reduces the brain’s emotional reaction to the memory.
2. Reprocessing: EMDR helps the brain “unfreeze” traumatic memories, moving them from short-term memory (where they remain vivid and emotionally charged) to long-term memory (where they can be stored more neutrally). This reprocessing allows the brain to integrate the memory properly, making it less distressing over time.
3. Mimicking REM Sleep: Some researchers believe that EMDR’s eye movements mimic the brain’s natural processes during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when we process and consolidate memories. This could be why EMDR helps the brain naturally reprocess traumatic memories in a similar way.
4. Reduction in Limbic Activation: Trauma activates the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for fear and emotional responses. EMDR has been shown to calm down this overactive area, reducing the fear and anxiety associated with trauma.
Scientific Evidence and Studies
Numerous clinical studies have supported the effectiveness of EMDR, particularly for treating PTSD and trauma. The therapy is endorsed by major mental health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Research consistently shows that many individuals experience significant symptom reduction in fewer sessions compared to traditional talk therapy.
In summary, EMDR works by helping the brain naturally process and store traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation, which reduces the emotional intensity of these memories, ultimately fostering healing and resilience.