Bessel van der Kolk defines trauma as an event that overwhelms the central nervous system and leaves an imprint of pain and fear. Bessel van der Kolk is a psychiatrist, author and leads the path in understanding the impact of trauma. He also says that, “trauma is not a story about the past, but rather the current experience of those emotions.” The emotional responses to trauma or adverse life events can include anxiety, sadness, fear, shame or guilt and the physical symptoms can include headaches, digestive issues, fatigue, or racing heart. The experience of trauma is highly subjective; what might be traumatic for one person may not be for another. 

 

The goal of EMDR Therapy is to reprocess these traumatic or adverse life events decreasing their influence, build resiliency and the development of more adaptive coping mechanisms. EMDR Therapy helps us by allowing the brain to resume its natural healing processes. Clients often report feeling less impacted by images and emotions connected to their past and more empowered.