EMDR Treatment for PTSD - Gold Coast
Prince Harry was undergoing a form of therapy known as EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing), when he was 12, to treat unresolved anxiety stemming from the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Source: Guardian Newspaper - May 22, 2021
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 Best
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.
Ghita Andersen trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation with US life coach Gary de Rodriguez in 2009.
Ghita often combines EMDR with Somatic Exercises, Bi-Lateral Stimulation and NLP for severe cases of trauma.
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.
So, 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.
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 Best
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.
Ghita Andersen trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation with US life coach Gary de Rodriguez in 2009.
Ghita often combines EMDR with Somatic Exercises, Bi-Lateral Stimulation and NLP for severe cases of trauma.
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.
So, 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.
YOUTUBE VIDEO: Prince Harry talks about EMDR on a show and demonstrates his method.
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.
Millions of people have been treated successfully for trauma over the past 33 years with EMDR and Somatic Exercises.
Intrigued?
It is important to remember that there is a no obligation, free 10 minute phone consultation available. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions about EMDR to see if it is the best method for your situation. Call 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:
- Eye following finger in square three line pattern 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.
Millions of people have been treated successfully for trauma over the past 33 years with EMDR and Somatic Exercises.
Intrigued?
It is important to remember that there is a no obligation, free 10 minute phone consultation available. Don't be afraid to reach out and ask questions about EMDR to see if it is the best method for your situation. Call Ghita today on 0439888070, or alternatively, check availability and book online anytime on the booking tab below.
- Fees: $120 (60 mins). It is recommended that clients have at least six one hour sessions of EMDR therapy.
- EMDR INTENSIVE PACKAGE: 6 Steps: $650 – Save $70
EMDR INTENSIVE: 6 Step Treatment Package:
Why Six Steps?
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 sessions blends both Bilateral Stimulation and Eye Desensitisation. Ghita may recommend Somatic Stretching exercises as homework inbetween 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 (1 hour): 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 Five (1 hour each): Eye movement desensitisation 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 or somatic stretching exercises.
Session Six (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 hour and Ghita books the following consecutive weekly appointments.
Why Six Steps?
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 sessions blends both Bilateral Stimulation and Eye Desensitisation. Ghita may recommend Somatic Stretching exercises as homework inbetween 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 (1 hour): 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 Five (1 hour each): Eye movement desensitisation 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 or somatic stretching exercises.
Session Six (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 hour and Ghita books the following consecutive weekly appointments.
Terms and Conditions for EMDR Intensive Package:
- 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
- No refunds on unused hours once begun: Eg: Late Cancellations, Postponements beyond the three month period of validity
- The consecutive order of the package is vital to it's success
- 24 Hours notice of cancellations and postponements: 24 Hour Cancellation Policy
- Clients select initial 1 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
★★★★★ Text Testimonial 2021: Stuck in Anger: Easily Triggered
Ghita identified that I had issues with authority after a relaxed chat. Returned for a session to experience a monumental shift. Feels like a sack of spuds has been lifted from my shoulders. I feel lighter in my joints and have continued to benefit by applying my new found calm when dealing with everybody, especially when guide my colleagues at work. I shall return for another session soon, to peel off the next layer. Ghita has a gift, enjoy! - Michael (Brisbane)
★★★★★ Google Review 2020: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Therapy
'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)
Copyright 2023 Ghita Andersen. All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of Science-Photo-Library
<EMDR-Gold-Coast>, <EMDR-therapist-gold-coast>, <EMDR-Counsellor>, <somatic-exercises-gold-coast>, <EMDR-counsellor-gold-coast>
<EMDR-Gold-Coast>, <EMDR-therapist-gold-coast>, <EMDR-Counsellor>, <somatic-exercises-gold-coast>, <EMDR-counsellor-gold-coast>