EMDR Therapy
at Sky Therapies

EMDR is a comprehensive psychotherapy approach developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones, to help individuals process and heal from traumatic memories and adverse life experiences. This innovative approach allows you to reprocess difficult experiences in a safe, controlled environment, creating new, more adaptive associations with these memories.

Science Behind EMDR

EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which suggests that we don’t tend to process traumatic events fully within the brain, causing them to continue affecting us long after the trauma has ended. When we experience triggers, our bodies and brains react similarly to when the traumatic event occurred, making it difficult to distinguish between past and present. Research suggests that EMDR works by processing trauma with both hemispheres of the brain stimulated. The bilateral movements and stimulation help a memory become unstuck within the brain, allowing our natural neural networks to reconnect from one side of the brain to the other. This process is thought to mimic the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, where our memories are naturally processed and new memories are established.

EMDR Process

EMDR therapy follows a structured eight-phase protocol:

1. History-taking and treatment planning: Your therapist will assess your readiness for EMDR and develop a treatment plan.
2. Preparation: You’ll learn coping techniques to handle emotional distress.
3. Assessment: You’ll identify a specific memory to target and the associated negative beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations.
4. Desensitization: You’ll focus on the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones).
5. Installation: Positive beliefs are strengthened to replace negative ones.
6. Body scan: You’ll check for any remaining physical tension related to the memory.
7. Closure: The session is brought to a close, ensuring you feel stable.
8. Re-evaluation: Progress is assessed at the beginning of each new session.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR therapy can be beneficial for a wide range of issues, including:

• Trauma and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Phobias
• Chronic pain
• Addictions
• Relationship issues

If you’re struggling with the effects of trauma, anxiety, or other emotional challenges, EMDR therapy at Sky Therapies could be the key to unlocking your healing potential. Our experienced therapists can help you determine if EMDR is the right approach for your unique situation.

EMDR for Anxiety: Finding Calm in the Storm

At Sky Therapies, we’ve seen remarkable results using EMDR to treat various anxiety disorders:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Our EMDR approach helps reprocess anxious thoughts and beliefs, significantly reducing overall anxiety levels.
2. Panic Disorder: By targeting the root causes of panic attacks, our EMDR therapy can dramatically decrease their frequency and intensity.
3. Social Anxiety: We use EMDR to help reframe negative self-perceptions and past social experiences that fuel social anxiety.
4. Specific Phobias: Our EMDR techniques are particularly effective in treating specific phobias, helping you face your fears with confidence.

EMDR for Trauma: Reclaiming Your Life

Sky Therapies specializes in using EMDR to treat trauma-related disorders:

1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Our EMDR therapy is endorsed by leading organizations for treating PTSD, helping you find relief from intrusive thoughts and flashbacks.
2. Complex Trauma: For those with multiple traumatic experiences, our tailored EMDR approach helps process and integrate these memories, promoting healing on multiple levels.
3. Childhood Trauma: Our gentle yet effective EMDR techniques address the long-lasting effects of childhood trauma and abuse, helping you reclaim your sense of self.

EMDR for Depression

EMDR therapy has also shown promise in treating depression

. It can help relieve depressive symptoms by:

• Reframing negative beliefs
• Resolving unprocessed trauma and adverse experiences
• Improving energy and mood
• Creating a more positive understanding of the self and others

EMDR for Mind-Body Symptoms and Chronic Pain

At Sky Therapies, we recognize the intricate connection between mental and physical well-being. EMDR therapy has shown promising results in addressing mind-body symptoms and chronic pain conditions. By targeting the neurological roots of pain perception, EMDR can help reprocess traumatic memories and negative beliefs that may be contributing to physical discomfort.

How EMDR Helps with Chronic Pain

Our specialized EMDR approach for chronic pain focuses on:

• Desensitizing pain-related memories
• Reducing emotional distress associated with pain
• Installing positive coping resources

Clients often report:

• Significant reduction in pain intensity
• Improved pain management skills
• Enhanced overall quality of life

EMDR can be particularly effective for conditions such as:

• Fibromyalgia
• Phantom limb pain
• Chronic back pain
• Tension headaches
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders

This is especially true when these conditions are linked to past traumas or prolonged stress.

The Mind-Body Connection in EMDR

EMDR therapy at Sky Therapies addresses both the psychological and physiological aspects of pain:

1. Trauma Processing: We help you reprocess traumatic experiences that may be contributing to your physical symptoms.
2. Stress Reduction: EMDR techniques can lower overall stress levels, which often exacerbate chronic pain.
3. Body Awareness: Our therapy enhances your connection with your body, promoting better self-regulation.
4. Cognitive Restructuring: We work to change negative beliefs about pain and your ability to cope with it.

Benefits of EMDR for Chronic Pain

• Reduced Medication Dependence: Many clients find they can reduce their reliance on pain medication.
• Improved Functionality: As pain decreases, daily activities often become easier and more enjoyable.
• Enhanced Emotional Well-being: Addressing underlying trauma can lead to improvements in mood and anxiety levels.
• Long-lasting Results: EMDR aims to create lasting changes in how the brain processes pain signals.

At Sky Therapies, our EMDR approach offers a holistic path to relief and recovery, empowering you to reclaim control over your body and mind. If you’re struggling with chronic pain or mind-body symptoms, our specialized EMDR therapy could be the key to unlocking a more comfortable, fulfilling life.

Why Choose Sky Therapies for EMDR?

At Sky Therapies, we offer:

• Expertise in Trauma-Informed Care
• Personalized Treatment Plans
• A Safe and Supportive Environment
• Evidence-Based EMDR Techniques

Our skilled therapists are committed to helping you unlock your healing potential and reclaim your life from the effects of trauma and emotional distress.

In an EMDR session, you will be guided through the process of using your body and mind to transform painful memories. In the sessions, a memory or event is targeted and processed using EMDR therapy procedures.

You will be asked to identify a visual image related to the memory, negative beliefs associated with the memory, and related emotions and body sensations.

While you focus on the difficult memory, your therapist will initiate sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps, while guiding you to notice what comes to mind after each set. You may experience new insights into the event or changes in how you think about the event (associated images, feelings, or beliefs).

When EMDR is successful, the meaning of painful events is transformed on a deep emotional level.

In most cases, treatment begins with a detailed history-taking. EMDR is complemented by learning coping mechanisms that you can access when memories resurface.

The memory of past trauma can be triggered by sounds, smells, or sights. A flashback is your brain accessing a difficult memory in a way that is uncontrolled. The surfacing of traumatic memories can create overwhelming feelings — including panic, fear, or anger.

In EMDR you access memories of a traumatic event and “reprocess” your memory of that negative event.

Reprocessing enables “repairing” the emotional damage from that memory. The goal is that when you remember the trauma, you will no longer feel like are reliving the event. The feelings associated with the memory will be more manageable.

The EMDR Experience at Sky Therapies

When you choose EMDR therapy at Sky Therapies, you’re embarking on a transformative journey towards healing and growth. Our compassionate therapists will work closely with you, tailoring the EMDR process to your unique needs and experiences.  We understand that discussing traumatic events can be challenging. That’s why we prioritize creating a safe, supportive environment where you can feel secure and cared for throughout your healing process. Our empathic therapists are here to support you every step of the way, helping you confront and address past traumas at your own pace.

Success Stories

While respecting client confidentiality, we’ve witnessed numerous success stories through EMDR therapy

• Individuals healing from profound grief and rediscovering joy
• People conquering long-held phobias and embracing new opportunities
• Clients rebuilding self-worth and recovering from childhood trauma
• Individuals breaking free from addiction and building healthier futures

These stories highlight the transformative power of EMDR therapy when used by skilled and compassionate therapists.

Benefits of EMDR Therapy

1. Trauma Resolution: EMDR helps you process and integrate traumatic or painful memories in a safe and guided environment.
2. Anxiety Reduction: EMDR is effective in reducing anxiety, especially when it stems from past experiences.
3. Enhanced Emotional Regulation: Through EMDR, you can develop healthier coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills.
4. Improved Self-Esteem and Confidence: EMDR can help improve your confidence and self-esteem by addressing and resolving past traumas that may have eroded your sense of self-worth.
5. Holistic Approach to Recovery: EMDR adopts an integrated, holistic approach to healing, addressing not only the psychological impact of trauma but also the emotional, spiritual, and physiological aspects.
6. Changes in Reaction Patterns: EMDR can help you shift from reactive behaviors to more rational responses when faced with triggers.
7. Enhanced Memory Access: Many EMDR clients report clearer memories of their childhood, including vivid details of sights, smells, and sensations that were previously inaccessible.
8. Rapid Results: Compared to some other forms of therapy, EMDR often produces quicker results, offering relief to those struggling with the effects of PTSD and other types of anxiety.

EMDR also has limitations. 

EMDR is not a Cure-all

Mavranezouli, I., Megnin-Viggars, O., Daly, C., Dias, S., Welton, N.J., Stockton, S., Bhutani, G., Grey, N., Leach, J., Greenberg, N., Katona, C., El-Leithy, S.M., & Pilling, S. (2020). Psychological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 50, 542 – 555.

Perlini, C., Donisi, V., Rossetti, M.G., Moltrasio, C., Bellani, M., & Brambilla, P. (2020). The potential role of EMDR on trauma in affective disorders: A narrative review. Journal of affective disorders, 269, 1-11.

Perri, R.L., Castelli, P., La Rosa, C., Zucchi, T., & Onofri, A. (2021). COVID-19, Isolation, Quarantine: On the Efficacy of Internet-Based Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Ongoing Trauma. Brain Sciences, 11.

Website of The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).