If you are feeling stuck in your life, whether it is in a relationship, a job, or simply a general ‘rut’, there is help! What kind of help you ask? In the 1980’s a type of psychotherapy treatment was developed for people who have been through traumas; major traumas (such as war or rape) or minor traumas (such as a fender bender with your car). What was found, by Francine Shapiro, PhD, founder of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is that when a trauma, of any size, occurs, it can get ‘locked’ in that part of your brain; making you feel stuck. This treatment helps your brain to move through the trauma, allowing you to feel like it is behind you. I have been trained in EMDR for over 15 years and have used this treatment with people of all ages, who have experienced all types of traumas. Similar to hypnosis, it is an accelerated form of therapy, different than traditional talk therapy. While there is never a guarantee that it will work, I have seen it help people who were struggling with a particular traumatic memory, move past it and get back to living their lives more fully.
So, where do you feel stuck? We all have defining moments in our lives that can leave us with persistent thoughts, which at times can be emotionally paralyzing. For instance, a woman I once knew often talked about having recurring thoughts about when her mom was sick before her mom had died. Every time this woman thought about her mom in the hospital bed, this woman felt terrible. She would even say she felt it was her fault that her mom got sick. (Her mom was elderly, 92 years old at the time she died.) I suggested we try EMDR to see what might happen for her. She was open to it. Even after one session, we both saw the results. Her thoughts had shifted from blaming herself to thinking about all the positive memories she had with her mother throughout her lifetime. While anyone can try to change their thoughts on their own, the power of working with a trained EMDR therapist, allows a person to go deeper within themselves so they can experience a true resolution. A trained EMDR therapist will create a safe therapeutic environment for you to feel comfortable enough to talk about the place you are ‘stuck’. This person will walk you through a specific protocol allowing you to truly feel and think differently about the particular incident with which you are struggling. For more information on EMDR, you can visit emdr.com or staceyrose.com. Feel free to reach out and find out how it may help you… You never know…It could just be the answer you are seeking…