Eye Movement Integration Therapy
“I was having flashbacks and trouble sleeping after an accident leading to breaking my leg in two places. After a single session with Alex my sleeping is back to normal and I haven’t had any flashbacks. This is testament to her skill, kindness, calm healing energy and the effectiveness of EMI therapy. I can thoroughly recommend Alex to anyone dealing with similar issues.”
– Cal, Bath
Do you experience flashbacks from a troubling event in your life, where it is as if the experience is happening right now, or in the immediate past? If so, you may find some release from using this method of therapy. Perhaps you have heard of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). Eye Movement Integration (EMI) is a similar but more holistic treatment form for working with mild to severe trauma. I have personal experience with both treatment forms and prefer EMI as I find it more effective and comprehensive. See below or contact me for more information, or to schedule a session.
How does it work?
EMI works with eye movements which help the brain and the body to process “frozen” trauma. For me, it’s as if the memory is stored in the muscles. EMI is described as a Neuro-Therapy which helps you to process the effects of trauma that live in the short term memory and which still interfere with your life.
By processing different trauma-associated memories, these can then be integrated and stored in the long term memory and become passive instead of active memories and emotions. While you still remember your experiences, physical symptoms might disappear, or be notably lessened, and the emotional charge will be gone or greatly reduced.
What can be treated?
EMI helps with both “mild” Type 1 trauma (e.g. phobias, less serious accidents etc) and more severe Type 2 trauma which often causes PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) to develop. Type 2 trauma includes repeated neglect, warfare experiences, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Certain kinds of depression, anxiety and addiction are also connected to unprocessed trauma.
All these issues – and PTSD – can be treated with EMI.
Participants I have worked with report very impressive results with Type 1 trauma on the day. Many only needed 1 or 2 sessions to resolve their issue, while Type 2 trauma might need more work, typically up to 8 sessions.
I use EMI as part of ongoing therapy with some of my clients (see next section). I have noticed that clients with Type 2 trauma who were stuck became more able to move again and able to dis-identify from their traumatised inner parts, creating a “Unifying Centre”, a more objective inner part that helps them to realise that healing is possible and “only” parts of them were damaged, not their whole being. It also seems to help them to learn to care for the hurt parts instead of being identified with them.
Studies conclude that overall improvement in Type 1 and Type 2 trauma lies between approximately 50 to 85%.
Sessions & Fees
This neuro-therapy is supported either side with psychotherapy of approximately six sessions. Prior to the last psychotherapy session, the first – and possibly only – Eye Movement Integration session takes 1.5 – 2 hours and costs £120. Second and subsequent sessions are around 1 hour and costs £60. (In many cases only one session of EMI is required).
I offer lower cost therapy for those on reduced income.
See tiered fee structure in About Therapy Sessions.
Sessions are available Monday to Friday all day, or Saturday mornings. If you would like to book an initial session please contact me.
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Contact
07927 303711
alex@doorwayscounselling.co.uk
Practice Location
Alex Proudfoot
Doorways Counselling
The Clockworks
93 Princess Road
MANCHESTER
M14 4BR