If you are struggling with your mental health, you are not alone. According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), “more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness.”[1]
Therapy is the main form of treatment for mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. The type of therapy you engage in will depend on your needs, what symptoms you are dealing with, and what treatment you’ve tried.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy designed to address emotional distress and ongoing symptoms that stem from a traumatic event. During EMDR, you’ll recall a traumatic memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, like following a light with your eyes.[2] This helps desensitize you to the trauma and process the information in a way that promotes healing from distressing thoughts and feelings.
EMDR can be used to address a wide variety of conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, depression, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, and even substance use disorder.
If you are interested in participating in EMDR therapy, you’ve come to the right place. Agape Behavioral Healthcare offers EMDR to its patients who have mental health issues stemming from a history of traumatic experiences.
In this article, you will learn:
- What is EMDR?
- How does EMDR work?
- Where can you find EMDR treatment in Florida?
What is Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy encourages you to briefly focus on a traumatic experience while experiencing bilateral stimulation. The bilateral stimulation is usually completed using lights, requiring you to follow the lights with your eyes. Doing this reduces the emotional intensity of recalling a traumatic memory.
EMDR was created to address trauma. That said, it can help treat a wide variety of conditions, including:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Dissociative disorders
- Eating disorders
- Substance use disorders
All of these conditions can begin causing symptoms after you experience a traumatic event. Addressing the underlying trauma will lessen the symptoms of your mental health condition and make it easier to manage on a daily basis.
Agape Behavioral Accepts Private Insurance Plans 
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR is a bit different from talk therapy. While you will discuss a traumatic event with your therapist, you will also be engaging in bilateral stimulation at the same time. Using this tool lessens the severity or intensity of negative thoughts and emotions related to the trauma you are discussing.
EMDR therapy sessions involve several steps, including:
- Identifying the Target Trauma- Your therapist will help you identify the specific traumatic events that you want to work on recovering from. You’ll also identify negative beliefs associated with the event.
- Bilateral Stimulation- While recalling or talking about the event, you will engage in bilateral stimulation. This could involve following a light with your eyes, tapping, or listening to auditory tones.
- Reprocessing and Desensitization- Bilateral stimulation helps your brain process the memory and reduce the intensity of the emotions you have surrounding it.
- Installing Positive Beliefs- Once the negative beliefs have been identified, your therapist will help you replace them with a positive belief. Bilateral stimulation makes it possible for your brain to reframe your thinking.
- Ongoing Support- EMDR will continue until you recover from the traumatic memory and your symptoms are reduced to an appropriate level. You might have to revisit the memory and engage in bilateral stimulation several times.
Where Can You Find EMDR Therapy in Florida?
If you are looking for treatment for PTSD or a mental health condition that stems from trauma, EMDR might be right for you. While it can be difficult to find a mental health treatment center that offers EMDR, Agape Behavioral Healthcare is here to assist you.
We offer our clients who have undergone a traumatic experience access to EMDR treatment. Our trauma-focused treatment center only hires the most qualified mental health professionals. In other words, if you are coming to us for EMDR therapy, you can rest assured that your therapist will be experienced and qualified to manage trauma and related mental health conditions.
In addition to EMDR therapy, we provide our clients with a variety of other services. At the start of our program, you’ll participate in an in-depth assessment that allows us to determine your needs for recovery. After this assessment, we will create an individualized treatment plan that may include specialized services like substance use disorder care, medication management, and more.
Find an EMDR Therapist in Florida Today
EMDR is an evidence-based and effective treatment for PTSD, trauma, and a variety of mental health conditions. If you are interested in receiving this type of therapy, Agape Behavioral Healthcare will offer it to you.
At Agape Behavioral Healthcare, we understand the complexity of mental health issues and provide compassionate care for those struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) and mental illness. Our mental health clinicians are ready to support individuals who may be experiencing changes in mood, thought, or behavior that make daily activities more challenging.
Contact us today for more information on how we incorporate EMDR therapy in our mental health treatment program in Florida.
References:
- The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH): Mental Illness
- American Psychological Association (APA): Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
