Attachment-Focused
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(AF-EMDR)
Trauma and EMDR Development
Trauma is a word used a lot, and to me, the most important detail is that past events are informing our present physiology and experiences. EMDR has been in the field since 1989 when it was first pioneerd by Dr. Francine Shapiro (https://www.emdr.com/history-of-emdr/).
EMDR has become one of the leading forms of trauma treatment for folks who have experienced extensive trauma, and has emerged as one of the most useful models for when more tradtional forms of therapy weren't decreasing in PTSD symptoms.
As time progressed, EMDR had solidified itself as a proven model that can support folks with not just PTSD symptoms, but also depression, anxiety, grief, and addiction. Dr. Laurel Parnell pioneered a new form of EMDR called "Attachment Focused" EMDR that, "...strategically adapt protocols and procedures that can effectively flex with the culture, psychology, gender, and background of each client." (https://parnellemdr.com/dr-parnell/)
I was orginally trained in the traditional EMDRIA model of EMDR, but found it restrictive and difficult while working with folks who have different language backgrounds. I was encouraged to try AF-EMDR and was very impressed by it's encouragement to be flexible with client needs. Feel free to seek more information here at https://parnellemdr.com/our-approach/.
Who is AF-EMDR for?
AF-EMDR is very helpful for folks who have experienced or witnessed violence, experienced life-threatening situations, had sudden loss (job, family member, relationship), witnessed or experienced war, survivors of cancer, intimate partner violence survivors, immigration hardships, experiencing and witnessing racism, and much more. Often times EMDR also supports folks who struggle with severe anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Grief and Loss, and recent traumatic events (such as car accidents.) I believe that trauma comes in many forms and does not always need to have something life-threatening occurring have it be an event that remain with us. An example could be a friend no longer choosing to be friends, or feeling embarassed as a child in front of a classroom, or a breakup that we still have nightmares about.
If you have tried more "traditional talk therapy" and feel like you are repeating the same story of your experience and not feeling relief or progress, AF-EMDR may be a good option for you.
If you find yourself having any of the below experiences, AF-EMDR may be for you.
Recurring nightmares/Uncomfortable dreams.
Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep due to ruminating thoughts about a specific event
Panic attacks or anxiety attacks throughout the week or during specific situations..
Significant and frequent stomach, headache, and body pains that your medical provider has been unable to explain.
Frequent feelings of worthlessness or wishing you didn't exist.
Grief over the loss of a loved one that feels is interrupting life in ways that no longer feel helpful
Flashbacks or "out of body" experiences at random times or when something reminds you of a traumatic event.
Hypervigilance or struggling to calm down.
Trouble engaging in things that remind you of traumatic event (example: Driving again after a car accident.)
What AF-EMDR looks like in session.
Before beginning AF-EMDR, we start by engaging in a process called "Resource Tapping." This is a process that helps bring in internal resources that can be a calming tool used between sessions, and connect us to parts of ourselves that help us heal during AF-EMDR processing. Most of my client's find this beginning helpful and client's can utilize this skill on their own outside of session.
Before beginning AF-EMDR, we need to make sure that there are supports in place outside of session, as sessions can sometimes be emotionally a lot to process. Once we've established coping tools and Resource Tapping, AF-EMDR can begin.
During session, I will help you process different traumas or stressors related to specific traumas that are related to current moments of struggle. Sometimes we can know which memory we are impacted by, whether it be flashbacks or dissociation when confronted with things that remind you For example, if you're struggling with severe anxiety related to driving but have no memory of what that fear feels connected to, we can trace back to what might be contributing to this fear.
AF-EMDR in my experience works very rapidly, often making change very quickly. I have worked with client's who have experienced extreme and prolonged life-threatening trauma who report immediate relief even before the end of the session.
