Last month, I shared about Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). It’s such an interesting and powerful new option that I want to continue educating my community about it. EMDR is different from other modalities because it's more of a brain-based process as opposed to talk therapy. Talk therapy can be re-traumatizing for clients because a client can feel like they have to reveal (and risk reliving) every detail of their past traumatic experiences.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. It’s based on the Adaptive Information Processing Model (AIP) which basically states that trauma is stored in the neural networks of the brain. Traumatic memories are connected to negative emotions and cognitions (thoughts) so the aim of EMDR is to change those and take the sting out of traumatic memories through a process called bilateral stimulation (BLS) which creates new neural networks. This can be done through eye movements, tapping and even bilateral sound techniques.

As one does, I went to my regular doctor but all they had to offer in terms of support was, “lose weight or get weight loss surgery.” This wasn’t out of the ordinary for this office: I was previously fat shamed by the doctor twice in one year. I was yelled at for not dieting even though I actually had completed a keto diet that was even lower in carbs than she’d recommended.