Social Work Support
With Tricia Porter, MSW, RSW.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
EMDR therapy is recognized as a highly effective therapy for the permanent elimination of the symptoms of stress and trauma. This innovative and powerful psychotherapy model was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987 primarily to address the impact of trauma and PTSD. EMDR has been rigorously been studied and results have been published substantiating EMDR’s efficacy. Numerous International organizations have endorsed EMDR:
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
US Department of Defense/Veterans Affairs
The American Psychological Association
The American Psychiatric Association
The World Health Organization
EMDR is a regulated psychotherapy model, involving certification and ongoing consultation. Tricia is a member of EMDR Canada working towards certification. As a trained EMDR Therapist, Tricia offers this therapy to adults, children and youth.
What is EMDR Used For?
EMDR is used effectively for all traumatic experiences such as assault, motor vehicle accidents, war and torture, natural disasters, victims of crime, sexual abuse and childhood neglect. It is also increasingly used to treat complicated life adversities such as anxiety and panic, performance issues, addictions, phobias, stress, eating disorders, depression, anger, bullying, conflict, grief/loss, and chronic pain. To date, EMDR has helped an estimated half a million people of all ages relieve many types of psychological distress. EMDR is rapid, safe, and effective.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR essentially mobilizes the brain's own healing abilities. When bad things happen, they happen first to the body, then the emotions kick in, and then the brain starts to process the experience. You 'sleep on it', you think about it, you get support from friends & family, and after some time has passed, while you still remember the negative experience, you no longer feel upset about it. This is an example of the brain working the way it should. However, sometimes the processing gets stuck, and you don't have peace and experience distress. This is where EMDR comes in; it desensitizes and reprocesses negative memories and experiences. EMDR is an excellent way of releasing the pain from the past, to free up your resources for the present and future.
In EMDR therapy, you think about something that is upsetting to you – like a traumatic memory – and the EMDR therapist delivers Dual Awareness Stimulation (eye movement, tapping, or alternative auditory tones). This 'back-and-forth' or bilateral sensory stimulation reactivates the information processing system of the brain. An individual’s normal healing abilities are activated and the body/mind balance is restored through the alleviation of emotional, behavioural and psychological symptoms.
To learn more about EMDR Therapy visit:
