You’re driving down the road or doing the dishes and a thought pops into your head. You wonder, “Gee, that’s odd! I haven’t thought about that in a long time” or “Why can’t I let this thought go?”
Have you ever wondered what is happening? It’s your brain remembering the past. It’s beneficial when we are remembering things like how to tie our shoes, drive a car, or even write our name. But what if the thoughts are unpleasant? What if the thoughts from your past are of someone who hurt you, an unexpected death, or a recollection of war, and you don’t want to think about them? Your brain doesn’t seem to get the message and the thoughts continue to come back at any given time.
When this happens, your brain is trying to heal. It’s letting you know that something is “stuck”. If we can recognize that this is happening, then we can consider a way to heal. God created our brains to heal, and this happens when we sleep. Our brains sort out the day by communicating back and forth from the left side to the right side as we sleep.
Several years ago, a technique was discovered which imitates our brain-sleep pattern. Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a counseling method where the client engages both sides of their brain as they consider a particular distressing thought.
It may sound a little complicated, but EMDR is a way to focus on the troubling thought and give the brain a safe place to heal.
EMDR is a safe method. It is approved by the American Psychological Association and the Department of Defense recommends it for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress disorder. This method has been used for many years and is helpful in relieving distressing thoughts.
At The Fountains Counseling Center, we are very gentle with clients. During EMDR, you’re awake and in complete control. You can stop, start, cry, or have any emotion without judgement. You’re not alone, the counselor is right there with you as you go through the process together.
If you are needing assistance processing a thought or if you feel stuck and would like to explore some options to heal from past hurts, please consider contacting us. We are here to walk alongside you during this time.
Author
Barbara Stanley, MA, LPC Associate
Supervised by Brenda Turner, LPC-S