Understanding EMDR with Caroline Burrows
In this episode of This Complex Life, I sit down with Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and EMDR Therapy Trainer Caroline Burrows.
Caroline and I discuss the use of EMDR therapy and how we use it to support folks with traumatic experiences and difficult memories
Understanding EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a type of psychological therapy that activates the brain’s natural healing capacity to overcome painful life experiences that keep impacting us.
The EMDR Process.
EMDR therapy can be broken down into eight phases, starting from building a strong therapeutic relationship to preparing the person for the processing of traumatic or negative memories and experiences. EMDR Therapy aims to help individuals gain control over distressing experiences, making them less vivid, reducing attached emotions, and changing the way they think about the events.
EMDR therapy isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
The number of sessions and techniques used varies from person to person based on their needs and the complexity of their experiences. It’s about finding the best fit for each individual.
Resource Building
Caroline highlights the importance of resource building. This phase involves equipping the person with coping skills and confidence both during and outside of EMDR sessions. These resources help them manage any emotional processing that continues after therapy.
Key Takeaways:
- EMDR therapy activates the brain’s natural healing to overcome painful experiences.
- The therapy is personalised, with no fixed number of sessions.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions and advocate for yourself during therapy sessions.
- Resource building is essential to support clients in their healing journey.
- EMDR Therapy can benefit individuals dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, and more.
We spend time in those early sessions. determining what experiences in that person’s life need to be addressed to work toward resolving the concerns that they have in the present and ultimately to achieve their therapy goals. That’s considered phase one in EMDR therapy.
About your guest Caroline Burrows
Caroline Burrows is an Accredited EMDR Trainer and Consultant with a background in Clinical Social Work and Psychotherapy. She has over 15 years of experience providing therapeutic services across community, hospital, medical and university settings.
She is the Owner and Director of Mindful Living, a group private practice in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. As the EMDR Coordinator at The Melbourne Clinic, Caroline developed the first inpatient hospital EMDR program in Victoria. She has an infectious enthusiasm for EMDR Therapy and provides innovative EMDR training and consultation and clinical supervision to mental health professionals across Australia and abroad. Caroline loves encouraging, motivating and mentoring therapists as they embrace the opportunities that EMDR Therapy brings.
Connect with Caroline
For more details, visit http://www.carolineburrows.com.au
Further reading or resources
- EMDRAA website: www.emdraa.org
- Mindful Living website: www.mindfulliving.com.au
- Free resources for the public: www.mindfulliving.com.au/resources/
The book discussed: www.everymemorydeservesrespect.com/
