EMDR Therapy in Liverpool and the North West

EMDR psychological therapy in Liverpool: EMDR is a type of trauma-focused psychotherapy which aims to alleviate mental health, emotional distress and psychological trauma by activating the brain’s natural capacity to heal itself.

It is based upon a concept called “Adaptive information processing” or AIP for short.

Our body always aims to arrive at a state of balance, or homeostasis. For instance, if we have been exercising and we get out of breath, then eventually our body will take steps to correct this back to the normal balanced state. Likewise, if our balance is upset through us becoming unwell, then the body will seek to restore balance by releasing antibodies to kill the infection. Our body is working hard to maintain balance all of the time.

This is what our brain does too. Adaptive information processing means that our brain seeks to process new information in a way that it can be accommodated, with minimal distress, into our already existing beliefs, ideas and self concept. This is how our memories are created.

We experience something new. The brain processes it in relation to existing memories. Balance is restored.

This is even happening to you now. All day. Everyday. Even while you sleep.

That is, until we experience an event which is significant enough to require a lot more resource to achieve balance.

A traumatic event is like this. We experience an event which is so out of the ordinary that it carries with it aspects of intense emotion, graphic visual imagery, vivid, pained sounds and overwhelming sensations. To process such a traumatic event requires the brain to spend more resources on processing the memory, to achieve balance.

However, because the memory of the event is so emotionally intense, trauma sufferers will often try not to think of the event, they will avoid reminders of it and experience nightmares which means that it is difficult to process the event in their sleep. The Adaptive Information Process is disrupted, meaning that the brain cannot return to the balanced state.

EMDR is a type of trauma focused psychotherapy which aims to alleviate emotional distress through activating the brain’s natural capacity to heal itself.

EMDR aims to help the brain achieve balance again. One of the distinctive ways in which it does this is through “Bilateral Stimulation”.

Bilateral stimulation refers to a set of techniques that the therapist will use to stimulate the left and right sides of the brain and will be applied whilst you focus upon aspects of the memory of the traumatic event.

Thi stimulation can be done in the following ways:

Eye movements – The therapist will ask you to follow a stimulus with your eyes. This stimulus could be their hands, a light or a stick.

Sounds – Using clicks or tones alternately at either ear.

Sensations – The therapist may tap the backs of your hands or ask you to hold a pair of buzzers to stimulate sensations alternately.

There are a few theories as to why this type of stimulation is a beneficial aspect of trauma processing.

One of which suggests that EMDR stimulates the processes that occur whilst we are asleep. REM sleep is the stage of sleeping in which we dream. Dreaming is believed to be the process in which our minds make sense of the experiences of the day and process them into long term memory stores. When we experience a traumatic event, because of the additional emotional content of trauma, rather than just having dreams, we have nightmares. These wake us up and as such, the brain is unable to do its job during sleep time hours.

REM stands for “Rapid Eye Movement”. If you have ever watched someone while they sleep during the REM stage, you will have seen that their eyes are moving rapidly from side to side – Just like what we do within EMDR. EMDR helps us to process trauma by simulating “REM sleep in the daytime” using stimulation.

For more information and help with EMDR therapy in Liverpool, please get in touch.

I am a registered clinical psychologist that offers in-person counselling sessions and services across Liverpool and North West. We also offer online zoom sessions and CBT, and EDMR resources to prove positive changes to clients and other clinical psychologists and practices.

We have extensive experience dealing with trauma therapy counselling.

We are on the accredited register and understand how to deal with clients who are suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD and other mental health struggles.

We offer a range of therapy and treatment options that suit your specific circumstance.

EMDR therapy counselling Liverpool can be used to treat a range of issues, including:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) & treating trauma
• Health Anxiety disorders
• Depression, low self-esteem, low mood & mental health
• Panic attacks
• Phobias
• Eating disorders
• Addictions
• Relationship problems & relationship counselling
• ego state therapy
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Bereavement and loss
• brain and nervous system disorders
• adverse childhood experiences & distressing memory (anxiety)

According to NICE, eight to 12 sessions of EMDR (eye movement desensitisation reprocessing) are enough for a single traumatic experience. Therapy, on the other hand, might take longer if there are several or complex problems.

We generally schedule 90-minute EMDR sessions. These longer sessions are used to complete the therapy session and address any concerns that may arise. Diffrent therapies may have short or longer time slots

Yes both EMDR & cognitive behavioural therapy are recognised as being safe for young people. In fact, EMDR is often recommended for young people who have experienced trauma or mental health related issues such as obsessive compulsive disorder, depression anxiety or PTSD. The therapist will work with the young person to help them understand and deal with their feelings and experiences.

EMDR is a relatively new powerful therapy which has been found to be successful in the treatment of mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR is a short-term, goal-focused therapy that works by helping you deal with s traumatic events and aims to bring positive changes to your mental health. EMDR is a non-invasive therapy that has been recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). EMDR is a safe procedure with rapid results for most individuals.

Ongoing research demonstrates that by utilizing EMDR, patients may experience the benefits of psychotherapy without having to wait years for them to bring a positive change.

We are not only dealing with the memory; we are also trying to repair the physical imprint the trauma has made on your brain and body.

Yes, we also offer traditional talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is a short-term, evidence-based approach that can help you to manage your symptoms by changing the way that you think and behave.

If you are struggling with mental health issues such as low mood, trauma, or anxiety, you may find that traditional talking therapy is not providing the relief you need. In this case, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy may be a better solution for you. EMDR is a powerful form of therapy that can help you address and resolve the trauma that is at the root of your mental health problems.

If you are interested in improving your mental health and exploring Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) or other therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) AccessCBT are here to help you on your healing journey

The first EMDR session is usually an assessment session. This is a time for the therapist to learn about your history and the issues that you are seeking help with. The therapist will also ask about your current symptoms and how they are affecting your life.

EMDR is short for eye movement desensitisation reprocessing. It’s a form of counsellingtherapy that’s differs from traditional talk therapy. It best used for areas of depression and anxiety if truma is the root cause.

There is evidence that EMDR may be helpful for people with depression and health anxiety. EMDR trauma therapy can help you to resolve past traumas that are contributing to your current problems. It can also help you to develop a more positive outlook on life.

It is possible to self-administer EMDR on yourself without EMDR training; however, it is not always advised. If you decide to use a self-administered EMDR technique, only perform it for minor traumas like something “little” that has occurred recently.

The effectiveness of EMDR for PTSD can be a highly contentious issue among academics, as the available evidence may be analyzed in several ways. On the one hand, studies have shown that compared to control groups who received no therapy, EMDR therapies resulted in a greater reduction of PTSD symptoms and trauma effects such as depression and nervous system issues.

EMDR therapies work by using the brain’s natural healing process to re-process painful past memories that were stored incorrectly at the time of the traumatic event. Trauma, anxiety, depression, panic disorder symptoms, and relationship difficulties may be reduced through EMDR treatment with a certified therapist (clinical psychologist).

Although EMDR has been used for decades, it is now being utilized more and more in psychotherapy therapy. It is primarily a technique in which there is little or no contact between the client and therapist. We take into account all areas of the client, including those that are responsible for establishing a trusting relationship with the therapist, when considering IFS work.

The dissociative structure – also known as a dissociated ego state (DES) – is a fracturing of executive functioning, resulting in a restricted aspect of self that is not under cognitive control or subject to cognitive inhibition by the self of daily experience.