Most experiences in life affect more than our brain, they affect our entire bodies. The blazing orange and muted purple of a sunset on the perfect summer night might leave you feeling relaxed and light. By contrast, realizing you have locked your keys in your car before an important interview might make your heart rate increase and your stomach lurch.
Talking about experiences, thinking of them in a new light, and making meaning out of them is helpful, but it sometimes is not enough.
When someone experiences trauma, one in which they were (or they believed they were) in grave danger, it is a whole body experience. Before the conscious mind knows what is happening, the body reacts in an attempt to keep us safe. When people experience trauma, their bodies have a way of “remembering” what happened.
Elevate therapists offer a type of therapy known as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, or more commonly referred to as EMDR. This method of therapy is considered evidence-based and has been rigorously researched and shown to be effective for the treatment of psychological trauma.