EMDR Therapy

How Can EMDR Help You or Your Child/Teen?
At Cool Creek Counseling, both Haley Swayne and Julie Simmons are EMDRIA trained EMDR therapists and receive ongoing consultation/supervision/training in using EMDR particularly with children, adolescents, and young adults. By combining this evidence-based approach with a compassionate and child-friendly environment, we empower young individuals to heal from past traumas, reduce distressing symptoms, and build resilience.

What is EMDR?
EMDR is a psychotherapy technique that has proven particularly effective in treating trauma-related disorders in children, adolescents, and adults. It was developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has since gained recognition as a powerful tool for addressing various psychological challenges.

EMDR therapy involves a series of phases to facilitate healing in the individual. It begins with history taking and preparation, where the therapist gathers relevant information, establishes rapport, and teaches coping skills. The assessment phase follows, during which specific traumatic memories are identified for reprocessing. Reprocessing and desensitization occur in subsequent phases, where bilateral stimulation is used to help the client process the distressing memories and reduce associated emotional intensity. The installation phase focuses on strengthening positive beliefs and emotions, replacing negative perceptions. A body scan phase addresses any remaining physical sensations related to the trauma. Closure ensures the client is in a stable state before concluding each session. Reevaluation assesses progress and addresses any residual distress or related issues. These phases provide a structured framework for healing, allowing the individual to gradually integrate traumatic memories, alleviate symptoms, and achieve lasting recovery.

EMDR utilizes the brain's inherent processing capacity to integrate traumatic memories. Through bilateral stimulation, it activates the brain's information processing system, facilitating the transformation of maladaptively stored memories into more adaptive forms. EMDR is believed to work by promoting neurobiological changes that enable the brain to heal from the effects of trauma, leading to symptom reduction and improved psychological well-being.

"While EMDR is effective for people of all ages, it is particularly impactful in helping children and teens heal from trauma. The power of EMDR lies in its ability to engage the natural resilience and adaptive capacities of young minds, allowing them to process and integrate difficult experiences, and ultimately find healing and growth." - Dr. Ricky Greenwald, EMDR therapist and founder of the Child Trauma Institute.