What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.  Repeated studies show that EMDR therapy provides symptom relief at a more rapid rate than standard psychotherapy. 

How does EMDR work?

When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound.  If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain.  Once the irritant is removed, healing resumes.  EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes.  The brain’s information processing system naturally moves towards mental health.  If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause suffering.  Once the block is removed, natural healing resumes. EMDR was developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph. D. For more information: www.emdr.com.

What is Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)?

“Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally. It’s about knowing what is on your mind.” Jon Kabat Zinn

Mindfulness means cultivating awareness of thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and surrounding environment, moment by moment. Through the practice of mindfulness, our thoughts tune into what we’re experiencing in the present moment- without judgment, rather than rehashing the past or attempting to predict the future. Among the many benefits of mindfulness are the reduction of emotional reactivity and a greater sense of calm and well-being.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979, is a healing approach that combines basic meditation and yoga.

Multiple studies, including a 2012 study from Harvard Medical School, concluded that mindfulness meditation “may result in enduring, beneficial changes in brain function, especially in the area of emotional processing.” (Harvard Gazette, 11/13/2012) For more information: http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/mindfulness-based-programs/

What is Accelerated Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)?

Accelerated Experiential-Dynamic Psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy, developed by Dr. Diana Fosha that focuses on healing-oriented techniques and aims to achieve a transformation in behavior by exploring the in-depth processing of difficult emotional and relational experiences.

Coping skills are developed in order to deal directly with painful emotional traumas. The result is a higher level of functioning and a renewed sense of courage and confidence.