Why Alan Loves EMDR

The origin story of EMDR has always captivated me. The founder of EMDR, Francine Shapiro, describes her experience of feeling distressed, going for a walk and watching the trees sway, then noticing the intensity of her distress decreasing. There is something magical about this story; the soothing image of dappled light through swaying trees; the serendipitous nature of the discovery; the healing fusion of science and nature.

Growing up, a lot of the messages I received about mental health were very deficit-focused. What I love about counseling is that it focuses on human beings' innate capacity to grow and heal. More specifically, EMDR is founded on the belief that individuals have an innate capacity for healing. I feel fortunate to have found a modality that takes such an empowering stance that aligns with my values as a therapist.

In my career,  I have had the privilege of working with folks experiencing a range of challenging circumstances, from active crisis to debilitating anxiety to severe and enduring eating disorders. Every client’s story is unique, but my experience impressed upon me again and again how often issues like these emerge in response to trauma. One of the cruelest things about trauma, though, is its ability to dis-empower folks; it can convince a client that they are powerless, paralyzed, and doomed to repeat the same patterns. I love EMDR because it offers clients an opportunity to truly process their trauma and experience relief from the many ways trauma can affect their lives. Not only that but it does so using techniques that are evidence-based and rooted in centuries-old knowledge of the power of bilateral stimulation. Most importantly, it shows clients not only that healing is possible, but that this healing is a result of the client’s innate capacities.