EMDR Treatment for PTSD - Gold Coast
★★★★★ Google Review 2024: PTSD Treatment for Veteran - EMDR and NLP
'I saw Ghita for EMDR and NLP over 6 sessions and I was amazed at the impact it left. Her welcoming nature and expertise allowed me to get the most out of the experience and surfaced underlying issues that I didn’t realise were there. I would definitely recommend Ghita for EMDR or NLP and I’ll return if I ever need it again.' - Charlie Hawken (Labrador)
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychological treatment that enables people to heal from the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, depression and severe anxiety.
Who Invented it?
In 1987, psychologist Francine Shapiro took a walk in the park. While walking, she happened to notice something interesting: While moving her eyes rapidly, from side to side, while remembering past traumatic events, it seemed to make them less upsetting.
Shapiro began experimenting with this. She found that others had a similar experience. Somehow by moving their eyes while thinking about a past trauma made it a little easier. Consequently, Shapiro eventually developed her discoveries into eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
In a study, 77% of Armed Forces veterans (who had been in combat) were free of PTSD within twelve sessions of EMDR.
World Health Recommended
EMDR is one of only two therapeutic interventions recommended by the World Health Organisation for the treatment of PTSD, alongside Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). EMDR therapy is increasingly also used for the treatment of other anxiety-based disorders.
EMDR is Approved By:
What Kind of Problems Can EMDR Treat?
If you are one of those people who has experienced repeated (compunded) traumas, particularly in childhood, leading to a struggle with anxiety, depression, poor sleep or panic attacks in adult life, then it may be that you cannot understand why you’re reacting in this way now, when it’s all over and in the past, especially when you’ve been so capable or resourceful in your adult life.
What is Trauma?
Trauma can be thought of as a negative event or happening in our lives which is outside of our normal experience in everyday living. It can be a big 'T' trauma, like a car accident or a small 'T' trauma, like a bad experience at public speaking perhaps. Note: For trauma which is related to one event only, please chat to Ghita about whether NLP or EMDR is the best method for you.
What we do know is that often when something traumatic happens, it seems to get locked in the nervous system (Amygdula) with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and so on. Since the experience is locked there, it continues to be triggered (Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn reponse) whenever a reminder comes up. It can then become the basis for a lot of discomfort and sometimes a lot of negative emotions, such as fear and helplessness that we can't seem to control. These are really the emotions connected with the old experience that are being triggered.
EMDR has been successfully used in the treatment of personality disorders, panic attacks, complicated grief, dissociative disorders, disturbing memories, phobias, pain disorders, eating disorders, performance anxiety, stress reduction, addictions and sexual or physical abuse.
Moreover, it has been shown that unresolved past experiences can be triggered by a current stressful life event. Once the flood gates are opened, emotional overload ensues and suddenly you can’t cope so effectively anymore. You may not even realise what the old events were until an EMDR trained therapist - such as Ghita Andersen, helps you to find them.
Gold Coast EMDR Specialist Ghita Andersen trained in Eye Movement Desensitization with US life coach Gary de Rodriguez as far back as 2009. Ghita uses the original finger movement method of eye desensitization, which is the most effective. Ghita often combines EMDR with NLP for severe cases of trauma.
Success Stories:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychological treatment that enables people to heal from the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, depression and severe anxiety.
Who Invented it?
In 1987, psychologist Francine Shapiro took a walk in the park. While walking, she happened to notice something interesting: While moving her eyes rapidly, from side to side, while remembering past traumatic events, it seemed to make them less upsetting.
Shapiro began experimenting with this. She found that others had a similar experience. Somehow by moving their eyes while thinking about a past trauma made it a little easier. Consequently, Shapiro eventually developed her discoveries into eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
In a study, 77% of Armed Forces veterans (who had been in combat) were free of PTSD within twelve sessions of EMDR.
World Health Recommended
EMDR is one of only two therapeutic interventions recommended by the World Health Organisation for the treatment of PTSD, alongside Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). EMDR therapy is increasingly also used for the treatment of other anxiety-based disorders.
EMDR is Approved By:
- EMDR has been endorsed by the American Psychological Association
- The Australian Psychological Society
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has formally approved EMDR therapy for use with adults, adolescents and children for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
What Kind of Problems Can EMDR Treat?
If you are one of those people who has experienced repeated (compunded) traumas, particularly in childhood, leading to a struggle with anxiety, depression, poor sleep or panic attacks in adult life, then it may be that you cannot understand why you’re reacting in this way now, when it’s all over and in the past, especially when you’ve been so capable or resourceful in your adult life.
What is Trauma?
Trauma can be thought of as a negative event or happening in our lives which is outside of our normal experience in everyday living. It can be a big 'T' trauma, like a car accident or a small 'T' trauma, like a bad experience at public speaking perhaps. Note: For trauma which is related to one event only, please chat to Ghita about whether NLP or EMDR is the best method for you.
What we do know is that often when something traumatic happens, it seems to get locked in the nervous system (Amygdula) with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and so on. Since the experience is locked there, it continues to be triggered (Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn reponse) whenever a reminder comes up. It can then become the basis for a lot of discomfort and sometimes a lot of negative emotions, such as fear and helplessness that we can't seem to control. These are really the emotions connected with the old experience that are being triggered.
EMDR has been successfully used in the treatment of personality disorders, panic attacks, complicated grief, dissociative disorders, disturbing memories, phobias, pain disorders, eating disorders, performance anxiety, stress reduction, addictions and sexual or physical abuse.
Moreover, it has been shown that unresolved past experiences can be triggered by a current stressful life event. Once the flood gates are opened, emotional overload ensues and suddenly you can’t cope so effectively anymore. You may not even realise what the old events were until an EMDR trained therapist - such as Ghita Andersen, helps you to find them.
Gold Coast EMDR Specialist Ghita Andersen trained in Eye Movement Desensitization with US life coach Gary de Rodriguez as far back as 2009. Ghita uses the original finger movement method of eye desensitization, which is the most effective. Ghita often combines EMDR with NLP for severe cases of trauma.
Success Stories:
Testimonial via text 2024: PTSD Treatment with EDMR: Hi Ghita, I reflected on that memory that we worked on and it has definitely changed. It feels brighter and I don't get that feeling in my chest. I get the memory of my 4th birthday every time I think of that night in Afghanistan. Charlie (Veteran) - Labrador
★★★★★ Google Review 2020: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment
'This lady is absolutely amazing, I've had two sessions now with Ghita, and I felt so comfortable as soon as I had met her; she is very professional and understands the torment I went through as a child. We have started therapy and already I'm starting to feel much better. Thank you Ghita, looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommended.' - Sonya Radzevicius (Coomera)
Testimonial via text 2024: EDMR and NLP: 'I don't want to get too excited and think that all my trauma is gone, and that when I feel down again, I'll get really down on myself because I've created this expectation that I'm like fully healed… But these last few days I felt absolutely free, I feel like I'm able to give more attention to other people and care for more people rather than just worried about myself and in my own head… Life is just feeling so much better at the moment. So thank you so much. - Jackson - Currumbin
How Does it Work?
One of the main hallmarks of EMDR is its use of bilateral stimulation. That means that the brain is activated on alternating left - right - left sides by various means via the body. This can be by moving the eyes from right to left (finger exercise), by playing a simple sound in alternating ears or by tapping gently on different sides of the body, such as on alternative knees, shoulders, ear lobes or the hands.
Dialling Down Anxiety
This Bilateral Stimulation (combined with the eye movements) used in EMDR seems to unlock the nervous system and allow your brain to process the experience. It is thought that this may also be what is happening in REM sleep, or dream sleep. Though the use of similar eye movement the brain seems to unlock the negatively stored memories and process the event to a better resolution.
After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated and the fight or flight response is reduced.
Common Methods of Bilateral Stimulation During a Session:
Binaural Beats and EMDR Visual Stimulation (Easy to do at home) or Butterfly (cross arm) tapping shoulders, knees or ears.
Journaling: Keeping a diary of the level of discomfort and any thoughts.
RECOMMENDED: EMDR Six Breakthrough Package (See below)
Millions of people have been treated successfully for trauma over the past 33 years with EMDR and Somatic Exercises. Did your know that Prince Harry was undergoing a form of therapy known as EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) when he was 12, to treat unresolved anxiety about the paparazzi - stemming from the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales? Source: Guardian Newspaper - May 22, 2021
It is important to remember that there is a no obligation, free 10 minute phone consultation available. Have a chat with Ghita today on 0439888070, or alternatively, check availability and book online anytime on the booking tab below.
One of the main hallmarks of EMDR is its use of bilateral stimulation. That means that the brain is activated on alternating left - right - left sides by various means via the body. This can be by moving the eyes from right to left (finger exercise), by playing a simple sound in alternating ears or by tapping gently on different sides of the body, such as on alternative knees, shoulders, ear lobes or the hands.
Dialling Down Anxiety
This Bilateral Stimulation (combined with the eye movements) used in EMDR seems to unlock the nervous system and allow your brain to process the experience. It is thought that this may also be what is happening in REM sleep, or dream sleep. Though the use of similar eye movement the brain seems to unlock the negatively stored memories and process the event to a better resolution.
After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated and the fight or flight response is reduced.
Common Methods of Bilateral Stimulation During a Session:
- The eye follows a finger moving in three line patterns to loosten memories (Therapist): (Visual Top layer. Auditory Middle layer and Kinesthetic Bottom layer)
- Healy Tens Electrodes (Ear Clips: Mental Acute setting: Swings back and forth)
- Alternating a hand tapping on both sides of body (Butterfly, Shoulders, Knees or Ears)
Binaural Beats and EMDR Visual Stimulation (Easy to do at home) or Butterfly (cross arm) tapping shoulders, knees or ears.
Journaling: Keeping a diary of the level of discomfort and any thoughts.
RECOMMENDED: EMDR Six Breakthrough Package (See below)
Millions of people have been treated successfully for trauma over the past 33 years with EMDR and Somatic Exercises. Did your know that Prince Harry was undergoing a form of therapy known as EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) when he was 12, to treat unresolved anxiety about the paparazzi - stemming from the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales? Source: Guardian Newspaper - May 22, 2021
It is important to remember that there is a no obligation, free 10 minute phone consultation available. Have a chat with Ghita today on 0439888070, or alternatively, check availability and book online anytime on the booking tab below.
EMDR BREAKTHROUGH PROGRAM - NEW 2025: 6 Hour Package: This package is for one introductory two hour session followed by 4 weekly sessions (5 sessions = 6 hours in total). The client books the first two hour session and the therapist selects the next 4 sessions manually: $699
A study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims were no longer diagnosed with PTSD after only six hour long sessions.
This highly recommended combination of six EMDR hours blends both Bilateral Stimulation and Eye Desensitisation. Ghita may recommend EMDR tapping exercises as homework in between sessions. This combination has the benefit of removing not only the emotion from the memory, but double checking that the trauma is no longer stuck in the Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic storage areas of the memory – in relation to the past, present and future (Time Line). This combination of methods has been found to be extraordinary for removing trauma.
Releasing Negative Emotions From Events
The old memory of an event is not always the problem, it is often the emotion attached to the event or the events may have compounded over a lifespan. Triggers that cause negative emotions get in the way of one's work, relationships, health and life etc. Taking away the negative anchors attached to past events changes a person's behaviour and perspective on life.
Session One (2 hours): The first session is an information gathering session. Ghita assesses the client’s readiness and develops a treatment plan. Working together, client and therapist identify distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress – in relation to the five senses. For example: Some memories are very vivid, may have sounds attached and create certain feelings.
The client is asked to identify three things:
1. The vivid visual image and sounds related to the memory: (Parents screaming at me.)
2. A negative belief about self: ('I am a bad person.')
3. Related emotions and body sensations. (Tightness in tummy, sadness, shame.)
Scale of discomfort out of ten.
The client is asked to keep a daily log.
Session Two (1 hour): Information gathering plus if there is time, an eye movement desensitisation exercise (Finger exercise discovering whether memory or feelings are based in VAK. The visual, auditory or kinesthetic parts of memory). This exercise designed to reduce the fight or flight programming, reduce the emotion attached to an event (or limiting belief) and to create a calmer or neutral feeling. It is like turning down the dial of a radio or tv set.
Session Three to Four (1 hour each): Eye movement desensitization exercises (finger exercises) plus bi-lateral tapping to unstick any memory in the Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic areas of memory. This is best done repeatedly to double check that this memory and trauma are deleted to the fullest extent possible. Reduce visual images, sounds, feelings. The EMDR exercises are combined with homework inbetween sessions - such as bi-lateral tapping and journalling.
Session Five (1 hour): Check-in session to review the improvement level. There should be major improvement or complete removal of the original trauma response or limiting belief. When the client reports no distress related to the targeted memory, (s)he is asked to think of the preferred positive belief that was identified at the beginning of the session. We then make the new positive belief (Eg: 'I am a good person'), scaled up to 10/10.
Note: When booking this package the client books the first intensive and Ghita books the following consecutive weekly appointments.
A study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims were no longer diagnosed with PTSD after only six hour long sessions.
This highly recommended combination of six EMDR hours blends both Bilateral Stimulation and Eye Desensitisation. Ghita may recommend EMDR tapping exercises as homework in between sessions. This combination has the benefit of removing not only the emotion from the memory, but double checking that the trauma is no longer stuck in the Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic storage areas of the memory – in relation to the past, present and future (Time Line). This combination of methods has been found to be extraordinary for removing trauma.
Releasing Negative Emotions From Events
The old memory of an event is not always the problem, it is often the emotion attached to the event or the events may have compounded over a lifespan. Triggers that cause negative emotions get in the way of one's work, relationships, health and life etc. Taking away the negative anchors attached to past events changes a person's behaviour and perspective on life.
Session One (2 hours): The first session is an information gathering session. Ghita assesses the client’s readiness and develops a treatment plan. Working together, client and therapist identify distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress – in relation to the five senses. For example: Some memories are very vivid, may have sounds attached and create certain feelings.
The client is asked to identify three things:
1. The vivid visual image and sounds related to the memory: (Parents screaming at me.)
2. A negative belief about self: ('I am a bad person.')
3. Related emotions and body sensations. (Tightness in tummy, sadness, shame.)
Scale of discomfort out of ten.
The client is asked to keep a daily log.
Session Two (1 hour): Information gathering plus if there is time, an eye movement desensitisation exercise (Finger exercise discovering whether memory or feelings are based in VAK. The visual, auditory or kinesthetic parts of memory). This exercise designed to reduce the fight or flight programming, reduce the emotion attached to an event (or limiting belief) and to create a calmer or neutral feeling. It is like turning down the dial of a radio or tv set.
Session Three to Four (1 hour each): Eye movement desensitization exercises (finger exercises) plus bi-lateral tapping to unstick any memory in the Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic areas of memory. This is best done repeatedly to double check that this memory and trauma are deleted to the fullest extent possible. Reduce visual images, sounds, feelings. The EMDR exercises are combined with homework inbetween sessions - such as bi-lateral tapping and journalling.
Session Five (1 hour): Check-in session to review the improvement level. There should be major improvement or complete removal of the original trauma response or limiting belief. When the client reports no distress related to the targeted memory, (s)he is asked to think of the preferred positive belief that was identified at the beginning of the session. We then make the new positive belief (Eg: 'I am a good person'), scaled up to 10/10.
Note: When booking this package the client books the first intensive and Ghita books the following consecutive weekly appointments.
Terms and Conditions for EMDR Intensive Package 2025:
- Available Online Only: 100% Deposit Required Upon Booking Online.
- Please chat to Ghita Andersen before booking this package to be sure this package suits your circumstances
- 24 HOURS NOTICE OF CANCELLATIONS: We cannot fill sessions at short notice. Cancellation Policies
- No refunds on package with less than 24 hours notice.
- No refunds on unused hours once package has begun: Eg: Late Cancellations, Postponements beyond the three month period of validity. Late cancellations or no shows will forfeit the appointment.
- The consecutive order of the package is vital to it's success
- Clients select initial 2 hour session on the booking portal, after which the therapist has to book you in for consecutive appointments so that they can track the hours used
- Not available with any other offers
- Package expires within 3 months of purchase
More Success Stories:
★★★★★ Google Review: EMDR, Time Line Therapy and Individual Counselling: 2024
'I reached out to Ghita when I was needing support, and Ghita helped me by using NLP and Timeline therapy treatments, which they both had a dramatic effect on how I felt at the time, and helped to improve my optimism in the present and future. Ghita is a compassionate therapist who holds a safe and welcoming space. She is approachable, and a great support person to have. I would highly recommend to anyone who is feeling stuck to seek Ghita’s services.' - Jackson Margosis (Currumbin)
Copyright 2024 Ghita Andersen. All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of Science-Photo-Library
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