The path to healing trauma can be long and complex. For years, conventional talk therapies have been a tried and tested method. However, there’s a wave of innovative techniques that offer an alternative and often more efficient approach. One such approach is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), a powerful, groundbreaking therapy. This method is gaining traction in communities around the world, including Saginaw, MI, ultimately changing the way we view and treat trauma.
To learn how EMDR could help you or a loved one, contact Maple Leaf Counseling today. Call 989.220.3060 or connect with us online for more information about our EMDR therapy treatment.
What Is EMDR Therapy and How Can It Help?
EMDR is a unique therapy approach designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Through a structured process, clients are guided to engage with parts of their trauma. At the same time, the therapist directs them through bilateral stimulation, typically in the form of side-to-side eye movements. This bilateral stimulation is believed to mimic the natural process of memory formation and reprocessing that occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
EMDR is not just for traditional PTSD symptoms; it’s a versatile therapy method that can address a multitude of conditions and experiences, from the typical symptoms of trauma to more specific issues like:
- Phobias and fears
- Panic attacks
- Performance anxiety
- Dissociative disorders
- Complicated grief
- Stress reduction
- Dissociative identity disorder
- Eating disorders
Each session focuses on the person’s individual targets for memory processing, including traumatic memories, current triggers, or challenging future scenarios. The goal is to bring these under control while providing new, positive beliefs to replace the old, negative ones they had about themselves.
Our EMDR Therapy Services in Saginaw, MI
According to a 2022 survey conducted for the Community Health Assessment Report for Saginaw County, the top reason noted by adults for not getting mental health support is that they thought they could handle the problem without treatment.1 Even so, 52% of respondents reported that their mental health was not good on six or more days out of the previous month.2 Maple Leaf Counseling aims to help fix that.
The structure of EMDR sessions at Maple Leaf Counseling is both strategic and gentle. New clients can expect an initial phase of therapy that focuses on history-taking and treatment planning. This ensures that the patient feels comfortable and the therapist is equipped to lead them through the unique eight-phase approach that EMDR offers.
Individuals will start by identifying the traumatic event to be targeted. Then, the therapist leads them through a series of guided lateral eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation. The individual’s subjective units of distress are measured before and after the session to tangibly track the progress.
Throughout this process, the therapist will assist the client in processing their trauma, helping them integrate the material to reduce the emotional charge attached to it. A more adaptive and positive belief about the event and oneself emerges in its place.
Contact Maple Leaf Counseling to Begin EMDR Therapy in Saginaw Today
If you or a loved one is ready to confront and conquer trauma in Saginaw, EMDR therapy at Maple Leaf Counseling may be the key to a brighter, more peaceful future. The first step is reaching out and scheduling a consultation where you can learn more about EMDR and how it can benefit you. Don’t wait any longer to start down the path of healing—call 989.220.3060 or contact Maple Leaf Counseling online today and take your first step toward transforming trauma into resilience.
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