Does talk therapy work?

Many people ask... "Is counseling and psychotherapy an effective form of treating mental and emotional disorders"?  If you would like to know more about this topic?  Read a WEBmd article on:

"Drug vs. Talk Therapy for Treatment of Depression"

Of course an Accurate diagnosis is essential to receiving the right treatment!  According to a recent study published online in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry "BiPolar Disorder Might be Over Diagnosed" - Availability of meds and pharmaceutical marketing might be swaying clinicians.

What kinds of treatments are there? Here a description of one type of effective therapy for various traumas.

EMDR - What is it?
    written by Diana Bray, MS, LPC, NCC, CH

E.M.D.R. (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a very efficient treatment that was developed by Francine Shapiro to relieve symptoms of trauma.  EMDR makes use of the fact that our brains process emotionally-charged issues much better when the more “emotional right” side of the brain and the more “logical left” side of the brain work together.  Initially, clients were led in certain kinds of eye movements during therapy; (thus, the name) and now sound or other techniques are also used, depending upon best fit for the client.

Eventually it was discovered that EMDR is very effective for performance enhancement, anxiety reduction, for relief from phobias, and for other purposes, in addition to treatment of  PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder.)  Not all neglect or abuse would be diagnosed as PTSD, and many issues that bring people to counseling are emotionally upsetting; all respond well to treatment with EMDR, whether isolated incidents or multiple events that have taken place over a period of time.

EMDR is effective as treatment for survivors of motor vehicle accidents, tornados, abandonment, sexual and physical abuse, the emotional traumas of battle, and other causes of PTSD.  Before an EMDR-trained therapist begins working with someone on the actual traumatic events, the client is taught and is able to use strategies to better cope with the most upsetting emotions.  Treatment proceeds at the pace needed by the client. 

A rating scale of  0 to 10 is used from the beginning, to establish the degree to which each event is upsetting.  This allows both client and therapist to observe the change, which is surprisingly fast.  Events that were first rated as 10, the highest disturbance level, will be brought down to 0.  Usually, when EMDR has been used on about three events of a type (earliest/worst) the effects extend to any other similar events.

An additional benefit of EMDR is that the client is not required to describe aloud  the traumatizing events, although she or he may choose to do so.  Therefore, embarrassing situations may remain private, and still be resolved quite effectively.

If you are wondering if EMDR is right for you, please contact me for a free consultation.  I will be happy to meet with you and to answer your questions.
                                                                                               - Diana

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Regardless of how desperate, unforgiving, or painful life may seem, it's okay to ask for help.  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain, make the call: