EMDR Therapy

 WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a powerful type of psychotherapy that resolves traumatic memories.

Unlike traditional “talk therapy” that requires the client to tell the story of what happened to them, or exposure therapy which involves long periods of high anxiety, EMDR produces rapid reductions in subjective levels of distress in each session.

*EMDR is offered only in the context of Warrior Camp® – we do not offer it independently of the program.

EMDR for PTSD: A Proven Path to Recovery for Veterans

For many veterans, war trauma does not stay in the past. It can show up as hypervigilance, anger, isolation, shutdown, sleep problems, guilt, family conflict, or the feeling that your nervous system never really stands down.

EMDR is one of the most widely recognized trauma treatments for PTSD. 

EMDR has been approved by DOD and VA since 2004.

EMDR for Military Moral Injury Repair

Moral Injury is a wound to the heart and soul. EMDR helps to resolve the haunted-ness many Veterans experience because of what they had to do during combat operations. Having a benevolent witness to guide them and share the pain, is profoundly healing.

EMDR AT WARRIOR CAMP®

At TRR, we integrate this powerful modality into our intensive EMDR retreat model, providing a free residential experience, specifically designed for the unique needs of combat veterans. This immersion allows for deep, focused healing that goes beyond the capacity of weekly hour-long sessions.

• Helpful for trauma-related distress and symptoms
• Delivered by trained, licensed clinicians
• Offered within a veteran-focused setting
• Integrated into a broader process that addresses all aspects of trauma and moral injury.

• EMDR reduces or resolves traumatic memories and enhances resilience.

• EMDR is not hypnosis and does not require homework.

WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY GOOD FOR?

While traditional talk therapy focuses on managing symptoms, EMDR targets the root cause of combat trauma by reprocessing the memories that keep the nervous system stuck in a state of high alert. This allows veterans to move past the ‘frozen’ emotions of the past and reclaim a sense of present-day safety.

It can be used to address:

• Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
• Chronic Illness and medical issues
• Depression and bipolar disorders
• Dissociative disorders
• Eating disorders
• Grief and loss
• Chronic Pain
• Performance anxiety
• Personality disorders
• PTSD and other trauma and stress-related issues
• Sexual assault
• Sleep disturbance
• Substance abuse and addiction
• Violence and abuse

WHO RECOGNIZES EMDR THERAPY?

EMDR therapy is listed as a treatment for PTSD and other trauma and stress disorders by the following organizations. Treatment guidelines are based on reviews that evaluate the research of established evidence-based mental health treatments.

• The American Psychiatric Association (2004)
• The American Psychological Association (2017)
• The Department of Defense (2004, 2010, 2017)
• The Veterans Administration (2004, 2010, 2017)
• The World Health Organization (2013)
• U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2014)
• The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2018)
• U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2018)
• Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health (2020)
• Clinical Resource Efficiency Support Team (CREST) of the Northern Ireland Department of Health
• Dutch National Steering Committee for Health Care
• French Haute Autorite de Sante (French National Authority for Health)
  INSERM (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research)
• Israeli National Council for Mental HealthUnited Kingdom Department of Health
• United States National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Many other international health and governmental agencies

For a description of the 8-step treatment model, please click here and for more detailed information on EMDR use the followings links: https://www.emdria.org or https://www.emdr.com

VA DOD Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder, 2023.  https://www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/mh/ptsd/