Center Pensées – French Psychotherapy Center in Berlin
EMDR therapies
What is EMDR therapy?
There EMDR therapy in Berlin (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a scientifically recognized therapeutic approach for the treatment of psychological trauma and difficult life experiences.
Visit Center Pensées - French Center for Psychotherapy in Berlin, we offer EMDR therapies in French, for French-speaking adults and expatriates wishing to benefit from specialized support in their mother tongue.
EMDR is based on bilateral stimulation (eye movements, alternating sounds or tactile stimuli) that allows the brain to reprocessing traumatic memories blocked. This method helps to sustainably reduce the emotional charge associated with difficult events, while promoting a calmer integration of the experience.
There EMDR therapy is based on the adaptive information processing model. When a traumatic event occurs, the brain can become overwhelmed and fail to integrate the experience properly. The memory then remains «frozen», generating persistent symptoms: anxiety, hypervigilance, nightmares, avoidance or intense emotional reactions.
Thanks to alternating bilateral stimulation, EMDR boosts the brain's natural healing capacities. Memories gradually become less intrusive and lose their emotional charge, enabling the person to regain a sense of inner security.
Consult for a EMDR therapy in Berlin in French allows you to work in depth on trauma, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and expatriation-related difficulties.
How does EMDR therapy work?
Step 1 of EMDR therapy
A EMDR therapy in Berlin takes place in several structured phases, adapted to the pace and needs of each individual.
In order to move forward safely, two or three preliminary interviews are necessary before moving on to the “desensitization” phase (bilateral stimulations). During these first meetings with your psychologist you will get to know yourself and you will explore in detail the problem that brings you to consult.
Then, you will establish a “Cilage Plan”, in order to determine together the situation that you will reprocess with EMDR.
Stabilization techniques will also be put in place. For example, you will be asked to establish an exercise in imagination called the “safe place”.
Step 2 of EMDR therapy
Once step 1 is complete, the desensitization phase can begin. It is then up to the brain to work, you have nothing to control.
Your psychologist will ask you to follow the movement of their fingers with your eyes (or use another form of bilateral simulation, such as one with hearing headphones or hand-held buzzers depending on what is most comfortable for you) while remembering a part of the event that is difficult to process.
All difficult situations and triggers listed in step 1 will be reprocessed until you no longer feel any disturbance.
Desensitization sessions can be trying and we are committed to moving forward in complete safety and above all at your own pace.
If you feel the need to take a break from desensitization sessions, do not hesitate to tell your psychologist.
Step 3 of EMDR therapy
Once all the difficult situations and triggers have been addressed, it is finally a matter of reassessing whether the reprocessing has worked well and whether the desensitization is complete. If necessary, targeted reprocessing of a situation will be proposed.
Future scenarios will be put in place, depending on your problem.
The purpose of EMDR therapy
The goal of EMDR is to reduce the emotional burden associated with a traumatic memory or a difficult life event. It is not only used to treat and relieve trauma-related symptoms, but also to treat anxiety, stress and depression.
For nearly 30 years, EMDR therapy has proven its efficiency through very numerous scientific studies controlled studies implemented by researchers and clinical psychologists from around the world. It is mainly validated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is the scientific name for what is also more commonly called psychotrauma. As such, EMDR therapy is recommended by numerous national and international public authorities (HAS in a 2007 report, WHO since 2013, INSERM report in 2015)
EMDR is particularly indicated for :
- simple or complex trauma
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- anxiety and panic attacks
- complicated bereavements
- phobias
- significant life experiences (accidents, assaults, separations)
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of EMDR therapy, which is now recommended by international institutions such as the WHO and HAS.
At Centre Pensées, the EMDR therapy in Berlin in French is integrated into a comprehensive, caring approach that respects each individual's experience and rhythm.
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