Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy

EMDR is a structured, unique type of psychotherapy that assists your brain to process distressing memories and events and can change the way you think about these things.

It does this through having you focus on the memory while taxing your working memory through bilateral stimulation (either eye movements, tapping, or sounds, or even all three). This leads to a reduction in the intensity and disturbance of the target you are working on. 

One of the unique aspects of EMDR is that you don't have to go into detail about your traumatic memories. However, you do need to be able to regulate your nervous system fairly well in order to use it.  EMDR has also been shown to be helpful for anxiety, depression, phobias, substance use and even chronic pain. 

Dr. Holowaty uses EMDR as the backbone of her psychotherapy practice, but is very much informed from a polyvagal lens (as developed by S. Porges and D. Dana). 

Dr. Holowaty's psychotherapy practice is fully covered by your Saskatchewan Health Insurance, as she is a medical doctor.  

A great website that explains EMDR and trauma in detail is the US Department of Veterans Affairs. They also have a good overview of all trauma therapies.

Read more and see videos on their site -  https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/emdr.asp