Mighty Oaks Counseling, PLLC

EMDR Therapy Services in North Texas

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When Something Difficult Still Feels Present

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Sometimes you know something happened a long time ago, but your mind or body still reacts as though it is happening now.

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You may find yourself:

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• Feeling overwhelmed by memories of a difficult experience

• Avoiding certain places, situations, or conversations

• Having strong emotional reactions that seem bigger than the situation

• Feeling constantly on guard or unsafe

• Experiencing anxiety, fear, or panic

• Struggling with guilt or shame

• Feeling disconnected or emotionally numb

• Having difficulty trusting yourself or others

• Becoming easily triggered by situations that remind you of the past

• Knowing logically that something is over while still feeling affected by it

 

You don't have to have a formal diagnosis of PTSD to seek help for the effects of a difficult or overwhelming experience.

 

At Mighty Oaks Counseling, EMDR therapy can help clients process experiences that continue to affect their emotions, thoughts, relationships, and sense of safety.

 

What Is EMDR?

 

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

 

EMDR is a structured therapy approach that helps people process distressing experiences that may feel stuck or unresolved.

 

Rather than requiring you to repeatedly tell the entire story of what happened, EMDR uses a series of structured steps to help you safely explore and reprocess distressing memories, beliefs, emotions, and body sensations.

 

During EMDR, your therapist may use bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or other forms of alternating stimulation, while you focus on aspects of a difficult experience.

 

The goal isn't to erase what happened.

 

The goal is to help your brain and body process the experience differently so that the memory no longer carries the same level of emotional distress.

 

What Can EMDR Help With?

 

EMDR is commonly associated with trauma, but people seek EMDR for many different experiences that continue to affect their lives.

 

EMDR may be helpful for:

• Trauma and traumatic experiences

• Anxiety and fear

• Grief and loss

• Difficult childhood experiences

• Accidents or medical experiences

• Abuse or neglect

• Relationship experiences

• Divorce or major family changes

• Persistent feelings of shame or guilt

• Phobias and specific fears

• Distressing memories

• Experiences that continue to trigger strong emotional reactions

• Other overwhelming or disturbing life experiences

 

Sometimes the experience itself isn't the only issue.

 

You may also be struggling with what you came to believe about yourself because of what happened.

 

For example:

“I'm not safe.”

“It's my fault.”

“I should have done something differently.”

“I can't trust anyone.”

“Something is wrong with me.”

 

EMDR can help clients work toward developing more balanced and adaptive beliefs about themselves and their experiences.

 

Do I Have to Talk About Everything That Happened?

 

No.

 

You don't have to share every detail of a difficult experience in order to begin therapy.

 

Your therapist will work with you to determine what feels safe and appropriate to address. EMDR includes preparation and stabilization before moving into processing, and the pace of therapy is individualized.

 

You remain in control of what you share.

 

Therapy should not feel like being forced to relive something before you are ready.

 

What Does an EMDR Session Look Like?

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EMDR is more than simply following a therapist's hand with your eyes.

 

Before beginning processing, your therapist will spend time getting to know you, understanding what brings you to therapy, and helping you develop skills for managing difficult emotions.

 

Depending on your needs, therapy may include:

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• Identifying experiences you would like to work through

• Understanding how those experiences affect you today

• Developing grounding and emotional regulation skills

• Identifying thoughts or beliefs connected to difficult experiences

• Processing distressing memories

• Using bilateral stimulation as part of the EMDR process

• Developing more adaptive ways of understanding yourself and what happened

• Checking in regularly about your emotional safety and progress

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Some sessions may focus primarily on preparation and stabilization.

 

Others may involve processing specific experiences.

 

There is no expectation that you have to move through therapy at someone else's pace.

 

Is EMDR Only for PTSD?

 

No.

 

While EMDR is widely known as a treatment for trauma and PTSD, people may seek EMDR when a difficult experience continues to affect them even when they don't meet criteria for PTSD.

 

A person may think:

 

“I know this shouldn't bother me this much, but it does.”

 

Or:

 

“I don't understand why I react so strongly whenever this happens.”

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Therapy can help explore what may be underneath those reactions and whether EMDR is an appropriate approach.

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Can Children and Teens Use EMDR?

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Absolutely! EMDR can be adapted for children and adolescents when it is clinically appropriate.

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Children and teens may experience difficult events differently than adults and may not always have the words to explain what they are feeling.

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EMDR may be incorporated into a broader therapeutic approach that considers the teen's developmental level, emotional regulation skills, family environment, and individual needs.

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For younger children, trauma treatment may look different and may incorporate play therapy and other developmentally appropriate approaches.

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We will help determine what type of therapy makes the most sense for your child or teen.

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What If I Don't Know Exactly What Happened or Why I Feel This Way?

 

You don't have to have everything figured out before beginning therapy.

 

Sometimes people know exactly what experience they want to address.

 

Other times, they simply know:

 

“Something still affects me, and I want to understand why.”

 

We can begin there.

 

Your therapist can help you explore what is happening now and determine whether EMDR—or another therapeutic

approach—may be a good fit.

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Who Provides EMDR at Mighty Oaks?

 

Dr. Sarah Carlson, Jessica Gustafson, and Kacey Szabo are EMDR-trained clinicians at Mighty Oaks Counseling.

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EMDR is one of several therapeutic approaches available at the practice. Your clinician will consider your individual needs, goals, history, and current circumstances when determining whether EMDR is an appropriate part of your treatment.

 

You Don't Have to Keep Carrying the Same Response

 

You can't change what happened.

 

But you may be able to change how the experience continues to affect you.

 

Therapy can provide a place to slow down, understand what your mind and body are responding to, and begin working toward feeling more present and more in control.

 

You don't have to know exactly what kind of therapy you need before reaching out.

 

You can simply start with:

 

“Something happened, and I don't feel like I've been able to move past it.”

 

That's enough to begin the conversation.

 

Ready to Talk?

 

If you're wondering whether EMDR may be helpful for you or your family member, we're happy to talk with you about what you're experiencing and whether EMDR at Mighty Oaks may be a good fit.

 

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation.

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