Are you struggling with painful memories that won’t seem to fade? Have you experienced a recent trauma, like a car accident or natural disaster, that you can’t seem to get over? Maybe your life has been affected by childhood trauma or domestic violence. If you’ve tried traditional talk therapy, but it isn’t working, you might find relief through EMDR therapy. I’m Rachele Epp, an EMDR Certified Therapist™ here in Fort Myers, and I’m here to help.
Reflections from Clients After EMDR Therapy
“It totally transformed my life.”
“Miraculous!”
“I feel so much lighter.”
“It feels like a dark cloud lifted.”
“It’s as if a heavy weight has been lifted off me.”
“The memory feels distant and hard to grasp now.”
“It made me aware of old patterns, and helped me break free of them.”
“It’s freeing. I finally realize that I did the best I could in the moment.”
“I’ve realized I don’t need to carry everyone else’s burdens.”
“Those traumatic memories don’t feel as painful, and I can talk about them without getting upset.”
“I saw Rachele because she specializes in EMDR and I can't sing her praises enough. I saw SO much change and progress in areas I didn't think were even possible. I never felt like Rachele was trying to hurry me along, nor was she trying to drag it out and keep me in counseling. I felt seen and heard and can honestly say I will never be the same in the best way.”
Former Client
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy designed to help people heal from distressing life experiences. It uses guided eye movements, sounds, or tapping to help the brain process and reframe distressing memories. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR helps the brain process and resolve painful memories more quickly, often leading to faster relief from trauma, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.
How Our Brains Handle Stressful Events
When we face a stressful situation, our brain often responds with a “fight, flight, or freeze” reaction. This is a natural response designed to protect us from danger. Usually, once the threat has passed, our brain processes the experience and allows us to move forward. However, sometimes the brain gets stuck in this heightened state, and the stress or trauma can resurface long after the event has passed.
Triggers—such as a specific smell, a sound, or even a familiar place—can unexpectedly bring back these intense feelings. When this happens, your brain may react as if the original threat is happening again, putting you back into that fight, flight, or freeze mode. These responses can be overwhelming and confusing, especially when you’re unsure what caused them.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR therapy uses eye movements, sounds, or tapping to activate both sides of the brain. This is called bilateral stimulation. It helps the brain process stuck memories. The benefit of EMDR is that you don’t need to relive every detail of the trauma. Instead, it helps your brain reframe and resolve the distressing memory, often achieving faster results than traditional talk therapy.
What Issues Can Be Treated with EMDR?
EMDR is effective for a wide range of issues, including:
- Trauma and PTSD: Relief from distressing memories and symptoms related to past traumatic experiences.
- Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Reducing intense fear and anxiety that may stem from past events or specific triggers.
- Accidents: Such as car crashes, workplace accidents, or any sudden, traumatic incidents that lead to emotional distress.
- Natural Disasters: Events like hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, or fires that cause significant fear and trauma.
- Phobias: Helping to process and reframe fears that affect daily life.
- Grief and Loss: Assisting in the healing process after the loss of a loved one or significant life change.
- Sexual Assault: Providing support and relief from the emotional aftermath of sexual violence.
- Relationship Issues: Severe conflicts, breakups, or betrayals in personal relationships that lead to significant emotional pain.
- Sleep Disturbances: Improving sleep by addressing trauma or stress-related issues that interfere with restful sleep.
- Abuse and Violence: Healing from experiences of physical, emotional, or psychological abuse.
EMDR helps by processing these issues at their root, allowing individuals to experience relief and healing.
How Can EMDR Help You?
Do you often find yourself reacting to situations in ways that seem out of your control—like feeling anxious, jumpy, or defensive? For example, you might find that current relationship stressors trigger feelings of abandonment and insecurity that stem from childhood experiences of neglect. You might react with intense fear or defensiveness when your partner is late or when there’s a small conflict, as if you’re reliving the emotional pain of being abandoned by a parent as a child.
EMDR helps your brain connect these reactions to the past experiences causing them, allowing you to process and heal from those old wounds. This can lead to significant relief from anxiety, depression, stress, and many other challenges.
What to Expect During EMDR Therapy
This video explains the eight phases of EMDR Therapy: Treatment Planning, Preparation, Assessment, Desensitation, Installation, Body Scan, Closure, and Reevaluation. Video Courtesy of EMDR International Association
Is EMDR Backed by Science?
Yes! EMDR has been extensively researched and proven effective in treating trauma and various other issues. EMDR Certified Therapists™, like myself, undergo rigorous training and supervision to ensure the highest quality care.
Please watch the video below which talks about the effectiveness of EMDR with a variety of client issues.
Courtesy of EMDR International Association
Rachele is an EMDR Certified Therapist™
I have sought training and supervision to become the best possible EMDR therapist I can be. I am an EMDR Certified Therapist™ and a member of EMDRIA, the EMDR International Association.
Certification requirements include completion of an EMDRIA approved training program in EMDR therapy, a minimum of 50 clinical sessions in which EMDR was utilized, and an additional 20 hours of consultation in EMDR by an Approved Consultant. To maintain the credential, EMDR Certified Therapists must complete 12 hours of continuing education in EMDR every two years.
“Rachele Epp has proven herself time and again to be a competent and ethical counselor. She is highly regarded by her clients and colleagues alike. Ms. Epp demonstrates proficiency in practicing EMDR, and consistently works to improve her skills. She is an effective clinician for her clients.”
Bethaney Hoffacker, LMHC-QS
Schedule Your EMDR Session Today!
If you’re ready to break free from the grip of distressing memories and experience the transformative power of EMDR, let’s talk. Reach out today, and together, we’ll begin your journey toward relief and renewal.
