Our Integrative Therapist & Healer, Olivia Maxwell is now offering EMDR Therapy as one of her modalities, so what is it?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is designed to help people process and heal from traumatic memories and distressing experiences. It is widely used to treat PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, depression, and other emotional difficulties.

How does EMDR Work?

EMDR therapy is based on the idea that traumatic memories can become “stuck” in the brain in an unprocessed form, leading to emotional distress and triggering symptoms. EMDR helps reprocess these memories so they are no longer distressing.

1. Rewiring the Brain’s Response to Trauma

• When someone experiences trauma, the brain may store the memory in a dysfunctional way, leading to ongoing distress.
• EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories so they become less distressing and feel like “just another memory” rather than an emotional trigger.

2. Reducing Anxiety & PTSD Symptoms

• EMDR helps individuals feel less reactive to past trauma.
• It desensitizes distressing thoughts, making them feel less overwhelming.
• People often report feeling more in control of their emotions after therapy.

3. Addressing Pain & Somatic Symptoms

• Emotional trauma is often stored in the body, leading to chronic pain, tension, or other physical symptoms.
• EMDR can help people release stored trauma, reducing symptoms like neck pain, back pain, headaches, or digestive issues.
• It’s sometimes used alongside chiropractic care, massage therapy, or acupuncture to treat mind-body connections.

4. Changing Negative Self-Beliefs

• Trauma often leads to negative beliefs like “I’m not safe” or “I’m not good enough.”
• EMDR replaces these with positive, adaptive beliefs, like “I am strong” or “I am in control.”

5. Helping with Phobias & Performance Anxiety

• EMDR can help people overcome fears, social anxiety, or performance blocks (e.g., fear of public speaking, test anxiety, or sports performance).

How is it Unique to other Trauma-informed Therapies?

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require reliving traumatic events in detail. Instead, it focuses on processing the emotions and reactions tied to them in a safe, structured way.

If you would like to give EMDR a try, please call us here at Beyond Self where we can book you an appointment with Olivia.