Helping you process trauma without letting the past control the present.
Traumatic and overwhelming experiences can continue to affect how you think, feel, and respond long after the experience itself has ended. Sometimes you know exactly where those feelings come from. Other times, you may simply notice anxiety, fear, distress, or reactions that feel difficult to control.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, commonly called EMDR therapy, is a structured approach to therapy that can help people process traumatic and distressing experiences in a healthier way.
At Calm Waters Counseling in Boise, EMDR may be used as part of an individualized treatment plan for clients experiencing trauma, PTSD, or other concerns connected to difficult past experiences.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
A different approach to working through difficult memories.
When something traumatic happens, it can continue to feel emotionally immediate long after the event. A memory, sound, place, relationship, or situation may trigger strong emotional or physical reactions in the present.
EMDR is designed to help the brain process distressing memories so they become less disruptive.
During EMDR, your therapist guides you through a structured process while you briefly focus on aspects of a difficult memory and engage in bilateral stimulation, such as guided side-to-side eye movements.
The goal is not to erase the memory, but to reduce the emotional intensity connected to it so you can remember what happened without feeling as though you are reliving it.
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR is most widely known as a treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It may be appropriate for people who have experienced:
- Childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect
- Domestic or sexual violence
- Accidents, injuries, or medical trauma
- Sudden or traumatic loss
- Violence or ongoing traumatic experiences
- Other experiences that continue to cause emotional distress
Support Can Start Wherever You Are
You do not need to be in crisis to seek counseling—wherever you are starting from, we can help you find the support that fits.
Common Questions About EMDR
Learn more about how EMDR works, what to expect, and whether it may be a good fit for you.
EMDR is a structured form of psychotherapy that takes place over several phases. Your therapist will first learn about your history and help you build strategies for managing difficult emotions.
When you’re ready to process a specific experience, you’ll briefly focus on parts of the memory while your therapist guides you through bilateral stimulation. Between sets, you’ll notice any thoughts, feelings, memories, or physical reactions that come up.
Your therapist stays with you throughout the process and helps determine when to continue, slow down, or stop.
EMDR typically begins with preparation rather than immediately revisiting difficult experiences. Your therapist will learn about your history and goals, identify memories or triggers to address, and help you develop coping and grounding skills.
When you’re ready, your therapist will guide you through reprocessing using bilateral stimulation and continue checking your progress along the way.
The length of treatment varies depending on your history, goals, and response to therapy.
EMDR typically begins with preparation rather than immediately revisiting difficult experiences. Your therapist will learn about your history and goals, identify memories or triggers to address, and help you develop coping and grounding skills.
When you’re ready, your therapist will guide you through reprocessing using bilateral stimulation and continue checking your progress along the way.
The length of treatment varies depending on your history, goals, and response to therapy.
EMDR can be effective, but it is not the right fit for everyone. Your therapist will consider your history, current symptoms, goals, and ability to manage difficult emotions before recommending treatment.
In some cases, more time may be needed to build stability and coping skills, or another form of therapy may be a better fit.
More Than Trauma Therapy
Calm Waters can provide additional support for qualifying clients.
For some people, trauma isn’t happening in isolation. You may also be dealing with housing instability, family problems, domestic violence, financial difficulties, limited transportation, difficulty working, or other circumstances that make recovery more complicated.
For qualifying Medicaid and Medicare clients, Calm Waters may be able to provide additional services alongside mental health counseling, including:
- Community Based Rehabilitation Services (CBRS)
- Case Management
- Peer Support
- Youth Support
Ready to Talk With Someone?
You don't have to know exactly what you need before reaching out. Tell us a little about what you're looking for, and our office can help you understand your options, verify insurance coverage, and determine the next step.
