Ross Cohen, Licensed Professional Counselor
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Ross Cohen
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Counseling Techniques

Trauma Healing

EMDR

EMDR, which is short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a remarkably effective therapy approach used to overcome the emotionally painful effects of trauma and a wide range of other emotional conditions.

"EMDR is the most revolutionary, important method to emerge in psychotherapy in decades."
- Herbert Fensterheim, Ph.D., Cornell University

When emotionally disturbing events have occurred in your life, the brain is often unable to process the experience as it normally would. Instead, the negative thoughts and feelings of the traumatic event can get "trapped" in the nervous system, with all of the accompanying sights, sounds, thoughts, and feelings. EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation - either through eye movements or other forms of gentle, rhythmic stimulation - which activates both sides of the brain, allowing for a release of painful emotional experiences from your nervous system.

"EMDR is proving to be the silicon chip of psychotherapy; it allows people to process incredible amounts of material in a shockingly short time."
- Michael Elkin,Ph.D.
Director, Center for Collaborative Solutions

EMDR has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. In fact, scientific research has established EMDR as effective for PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder).

Clinicians have also reported success using EMDR in the treatment of the following conditions: panic attacks, complicated grief, dissociative disorders, disturbing memories, phobias, pain disorders, performance anxiety, stress reduction, addictions, sexual and/or physical abuse, body dysmorphic disorders, and personality disorders. EMDR has also been used to treat dental fear, anxiety, and phobia. To date, EMDR has helped an estimated two million people of all ages relieve many types of psychological stress.

"EMDR is a significant component of treatment in the Trauma Recovery Program at the Menninger Clinic."
- Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic

EMDR is very effective for enhancing skills and resources, such as confidence, relaxation, focus, and motivation (and combines very well with the Developmental Needs Meeting Strategy (DNMS) for strengthening internal resources). EMDR is also widely used to help people improve certain aspects of their life (known as "performance optimization"), such as public speaking; various types of competition; or academic, athletic, work, and stage performance.

"The speed at which change occurs during EMDR contradicts the traditional notion of time as essential for psychological healing."
- Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD
Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine

For more information about EMDR, please click the following links:

Feel free to call me today at (503) 887-3309 or email me to book a counseling session or to set up a FREE consultation.

Office located in Portland, Oregon. Serving the Portland metro area, including Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Tigard, West Linn, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Tualatin, Gresham, and Vancouver, WA.

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