WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT EMDR?

• EMDR’s focus is on the brain’s ability to constantly learn, modify, and adapt.

  • This adaptive emotional learning is referred to as “Adaptive Information Processing” (AIP).

  • Adaptive learning is constantly updating memory network systems, keeping what is important from past experiences and letting go of no longer necessary information.

• Disturbing events are often emotionally charged in a way that prevents adaptive learning. These past emotionally charged events become isolated from more positive, adaptive experiences. When activated in the present, these negatively charged feelings and emotions distort our current perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors.   When our partner criticizes us, while we may know we are worthwhile, these negative emotions and sensations cause us to feel worthless.

• EMDR treatment identifies these negative and positive networks and then uses bilateral stimulation, i.e., eye movements, alternative tapping, etc. as the catalyst to activate our adaptive learning system. The result is a consolidated memory network that keeps what is healthy, and lets go of past, no longer useful emotions, sensations, and beliefs. As a result, we not only know with are worthwhile, we feel it, too! (EMDR Consulting)