Our body has an amazing ability to heal itself.  A simple cut will likely be healed within one to two weeks if not sooner.  Our mind/psyche also naturally moves toward recovery.    When it does not, we see all kinds of symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, feeling overwhelmed, depression, and sleep disturbances (to name a few).  These symptoms can fall into three categories:  little “t” trauma, simple trauma, and/or complex trauma.

Little “t” traumas are relatively easy to treat.  They include, but not limited to a death of a person or a pet, loss of a relationship, and a stressful situation.  These situations usually take a few EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) sessions.

A simple trauma is also known as a single episode trauma and is also easy to treat.  It occurs as a one-time event such as a car accident, dog attack, rape, etc.  These typically are accompanied by intense fears, concerns, worries, and maybe even sleep problems.  This type of trauma is best treated within 90 days.  EMDR can take less than a handful of sessions to resolve a simple trauma.  However, if the single episode trauma moves beyond 90 days, it typically becomes PTSD which will take more time to resolve.

However, complex trauma is more complicated.  It is caused by a series of childhood traumas typically in four categories:  molestation/sexual abuse, physical abuse, verbal/mental abuse, and emotional neglect.  The duration and extent of the trauma decides the length of treatment.

EMDR is a method by which the healing process is activated by the therapist.  The goal is to reprocess and desensitize little “t” trauma, simple trauma, and complex trauma.  In the process depression, anxiety, panic attacks, a sense of being overwhelmed, and other PTSD related symptoms dissipate.  Because the brain is guiding  the work, EMDR takes much less time than traditional talk therapies.