• Fostering open communication is paramount.
• Creating an environment where children and adolescents feel comfortable discussing their feelings and experiences is crucial for building trust and understanding.
• Parents, caregivers, and educators should strive to stay informed about LGBTQ+ issues, including the correct terminology and available resources. This knowledge empowers them to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ youth under their care.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Together, we can create a nurturing environment that celebrates diversity and promotes the mental health of LGBTQ+ children and adolescents.

If you would like to find out more about Bartlett LGBTQ+ counseling for kids and adoloscents, contact us today at Braden Counseling Center.

• Fostering open communication is paramount.
• Creating an environment where children and adolescents feel comfortable discussing their feelings and experiences is crucial for building trust and understanding.
• Parents, caregivers, and educators should strive to stay informed about LGBTQ+ issues, including the correct terminology and available resources. This knowledge empowers them to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ youth under their care.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Together, we can create a nurturing environment that celebrates diversity and promotes the mental health of LGBTQ+ children and adolescents.

If you would like to find out more about LGBTQ+ counseling for kids and adoloscents, contact us today at Braden Counseling Center.

After suffering a traumatic event, the after-effects can be profound. The person who was involved has a chance to relive their traumatic experience through vivid recollection and imagery, making them feel like they are going through the event over and over again in great detail. The result of this trauma is classified as PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a new way that many people are looking to fight the symptoms associated with PTSD. At Braden Counseling Center’s North Aurora, IL location, EMDR therapy is available to those who are in need.

There are several ways that we can treat trauma at Braden Counseling Center. However, we are proud to provide EMDRtherapy for anxiety and PTSD at our North Aurora, IL branch, as well as at our other locations.

What is EMDR Therapy Exactly?

Rapid eye movement therapy is a very structured process. The first thing we will do is to get the individual to focus briefly on their traumatic memories. While they are focusing on those memories, they also experience rapid eye movements known as “bilateral stimulation.” This technique gradually reduces the traumatic memory, and its vividness, until the recollection begins to diminish. The problematic symptoms associated with the memory should also fade.

Let’s Chat

How EMDR Therapy Can Help PTSD

1. In addition to trauma and PTSD, EMDR therapy is also effective against anxiety, nightmares, depression, grief, and the effects of bullying and abuse.
2. EMDR is a particularly good option for those who have trouble talking about their trauma.
3. Compared to talk therapy, it is a quick form of treatment.
4. It helps people cope with trauma and stress before it grows out of control and becomes unmanageable.
5. It will also transform negative or self-limiting beliefs, causing the person to feel more positive about themselves.

EMDR Therapy Broken Down in Phases

EMDR therapy requires a certain amount of preparation to determine the best course of action. You will need to attend multiple sessions and meetings, as the process involves several different phases.

Phases 1 & 2 – History and Treatment Planning

To begin with, your therapist will learn their client’s full history as it relates to the trauma. From this information, the therapist can then begin to develop a treatment plan that identifies specific targets such as past memories, triggers, and treatment goals. After this initial phase, the next step is to explain the treatment to the client. This includes teaching different imagery, stress reduction techniques, and other ways to both cope with stress, and to reduce it, between sessions.

Phase 3 – Memory Targeting

Components of targeted memory include things such as images, cognition, effects, and body sensation, which are all identified and assessed when the targeted memory is activated. Evaluation of the changes that come with your emotions and cognition are measured with units called Validity of Cognition (VOC) and Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD).

Phase 4 – Identifying and Focus

After memory targeting is complete, the client is then asked to identify four things:

1. The visual image related to the memory in specific detail.
2. Negative beliefs they have about themselves.
3. Related emotions and body sensations they are feeling.
4. A positive feeling the client has about their life.

After these four are visualized by the client, they will be asked to focus on the memory so that desensitization of the memory can occur. After this, during the “installation phase,” the client is asked to hold their concentration on their positive belief, so we can mute the negative thoughts, and introduce positive thinking.

Phase 5 – Body Scan

The client will be asked to think about the positive belief they had, as well as the physical signs that they see in themselves while going over the traumatic event. The purpose is to observe and identify stress, so we can offer additional procedures in order to process it effectively.

Phase 6 and Beyond – Closing and Re-Evaluating

The session ends once our therapist has assessed their client on whether or not the targeted memory has been sufficiently processed. The therapist will give their client instructions and techniques they can use at home in order to cope with what they have just relived. They will be able to use these techniques until the next EMDR session takes place.

For the next session, the therapist will need to evaluate their client’s state-of-mind as it stands at that moment. This is to determine whether progress has been maintained, or if any new memories or triggers have surfaced since the last session. If they have, the new target memories will be used for the new session.

This whole process is repeated until the traumatic event is no longer vivid, and no longer creates any stress within the client.

Will EMDR Hurt Me?

Contact our North Aurora, IL office today if you still have doubts on whether there are dangers associated with rapid eye movement therapy. It is considered a safe form of treatment with far fewer side effects than medication.

That being said, there are still some side effects that could be experienced from EMDR therapy:

• Once the session is done, there can be a lingering heightened sense of awareness. This can cause temporary light-headedness and/or vivid and realistic dreams.
• As the treatment takes several sessions, it can initially be very triggering and emotionally stressful for clients. This will lessen as the treatment continues and starts to take effect.

Are There Facts to Back up EMDR?

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), EMDR therapy has been shown to be very effective for trauma symptoms and symptoms of PTSD, both acute and chronic. It is particularly effective for individuals that have difficulty vocalizing their trauma, since the treatment involves visualization rather than talking. However, more studies need to be done in order to fully understand how EMDR therapy can affect us over a lengthy period of time.

More information is available at our North Aurora, IL office, but as you will see, there are a lot of benefits to be gained by going with EMDR for PTSD. Braden Counseling Center is always available for anyone that shows symptoms of suffering from PTSD.

How Can I Contact Braden Counseling Center?

If you would like to learn more about EMDR therapy, or any of the other therapies and counseling services that we offer at the Braden Counseling Center, then please contact us today.

At the Braden Counseling Center, our experienced staff is looking forward to working with you. We hope to help you move past the traumas that you have faced in your life and start you on a path toward happiness and fulfillment.

Rapid eye movement therapy is now available for our Creston, IL clients of Braden Center for individuals that are suffering from mental trauma. EMDR therapy, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a psychotherapy approach that has been highly researched, and is proven effective for treating trauma.

EMDR therapy has been found to be particularly effective for those that are suffering from PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In addition to treating people using EMDR for PTSD, our Creston, IL clinicians have also reported success with EMDR therapy for anxiety.

Treatment is used for the following conditions:

• Panic Attacks
• Complicated Grief
• Sexual and/or Physical Abuse
• Phobias
• Performance Anxiety
• Personality Disorders
• Body Dysmorphic Disorders
• Addictions
• Stress Reduction

What Can I Expect From EMDR?

Psychotherapy can work in a variety of different ways in our brain, so there is no one way to reach recovery. What is known is that when an individual is very upset over an event, the brain cannot always process that information correctly. That particular moment becomes “frozen,” so to speak. Recalling the event, again and again, can often be as painful as the event itself. All of the images, sounds, feelings, and smells feel like they are right in front of you again, only they are not. Memories like these have a lasting effect on you, and often cause problems regarding the way the afflicted person sees the world.

EMDR therapy is an enormous help in this area. The approach has a direct effect on how the brain processes information. Once a person has been through an EMDR therapy session, they will no longer recall these traumatic events in the ways they once were. The sights, sounds, smells, and feelings will become dull and start to fade away. You will still remember what happened, only the event will not be as upsetting to you. EMDR therapy has similarities to what happens during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle sleep or dreaming.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD for Creston Clients

There are multiple stages that need to be completed for EMDR Therapy because it is a multi-layered treatment plan.

The first two are history and treatment planning. This phase takes 1 or 2 sessions in which a thorough history of the client is taken, and a treatment plan is developed. The therapist will start to identify target areas. These include what the stressful situations are, and the skills needed to bring the client into a future of well-being.

The next few sessions will deal with EMDR therapy for anxiety or PTSD. Here is where the client will learn specific techniques for those times when anxiety levels rise, so they can deal with them quickly. A bond of trust needs to be created between the therapist and the client, which is the main component of this phase.

Once that has been completed, the next phase in the process is memory targeting. This goes beyond merely talking about the event. The client will be asked to recall a specific scene from their memory. Then, they choose a statement that expresses a negative self-belief that connects with the event. The client then picks a positive statement that they would prefer more. This phase looks at all of the negative emotions and positive re-affirmations that will replace the negative. During reprocessing, the groundwork will be laid for the rapid eye movement therapy that is about to commence.

The client’s responses to the targeted events will be analyzed by the therapist as this stage moves forward. This gives the client an opportunity to address similar events, and to resolve elements of each. The therapist will lead the client in sets of eye movements, with changes of focus, that gradually reduce the event in the mind of the client. The client rates the disturbance levels based on the SUD scale (Subjective Units of Disturbance), from 0 (no disturbance) to 10 (the worst feeling ever).

Once that phase has been completed, we will look at the positive beliefs that the client has identified to replace their negative feelings and emotions. We are trying to help our client accept that the positive self-statement they created earlier is actually the truth during this phase. The client understands they must learn new ways of dealing with their anxieties for treatment to be successful. New skills have been introduced, and it is crucial the client learn them going forward. This is ongoing, so the eye movement therapy treatment can reach its goal.

The next step is known as body scan. Once recognition of positive skills has been reinforced, the client is asked to picture the traumatic event, in order to evaluate residual feelings and thoughts still lingering in their mind. When a person has been negatively affected by trauma, that information is stored in the motoric (or body systems) memory and not in narrative memory. You will have to accept these positive beliefs as reality on more than an intellectual level.

Finally comes closure and re-evaluation. Each session ends with closure. Our goal is for the client to feel better leaving than when they did when they entered. The client is always in control in every session, and it is ok for the participant to raise his or her hand and say “stop” at any time. Clients are encouraged to journal their experiences between sessions. When the client comes back for another session, the therapist checks that positive results are still in place and that EMDR therapy is still working. Often, clients feel relief from the early sessions, but it is important to continue through all the phases of treatment.

Call Braden Counseling Center Today With Any Concerns 

Please get in touch with us today if you are looking to learn more about eye movement therapy for our Creston clients.

The friendly and knowledgeable counselors at Braden Counseling Center want nothing more than to help you achieve happiness. Learning how to cope with the traumatic events of your life is difficult, but once you do, you will be able to live your life in a way that you never thought was possible again.

Rapid eye movement therapy is now available for our Carpentersville, IL clients of Braden Center for individuals that are suffering from mental trauma. EMDR therapy, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a psychotherapy approach that has been highly researched, and is proven effective for treating trauma.

EMDR therapy has been found to be particularly effective for those that are suffering from PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In addition to treating people using EMDR for PTSD, our Carpentersville, IL clinicians have also reported success with EMDR therapy for anxiety.

Treatment is used for the following conditions:

• Panic Attacks
• Complicated Grief
• Sexual and/or Physical Abuse
• Phobias
• Performance Anxiety
• Personality Disorders
• Body Dysmorphic Disorders
• Addictions
• Stress Reduction

What Can I Expect From EMDR?

Psychotherapy can work in a variety of different ways in our brain, so there is no one way to reach recovery. What is known is that when an individual is very upset over an event, the brain cannot always process that information correctly. That particular moment becomes “frozen,” so to speak. Recalling the event, again and again, can often be as painful as the event itself. All of the images, sounds, feelings, and smells feel like they are right in front of you again, only they are not. Memories like these have a lasting effect on you, and often cause problems regarding the way the afflicted person sees the world.

EMDR therapy is an enormous help in this area. The approach has a direct effect on how the brain processes information. Once a person has been through an EMDR therapy session, they will no longer recall these traumatic events in the ways they once were. The sights, sounds, smells, and feelings will become dull and start to fade away. You will still remember what happened, only the event will not be as upsetting to you. EMDR therapy has similarities to what happens during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle sleep or dreaming.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD for Carpentersville Clients

There are multiple stages that need to be completed for EMDR Therapy because it is a multi-layered treatment plan.

The first two are history and treatment planning. This phase takes 1 or 2 sessions in which a thorough history of the client is taken, and a treatment plan is developed. The therapist will start to identify target areas. These include what the stressful situations are, and the skills needed to bring the client into a future of well-being.

The next few sessions will deal with EMDR therapy for anxiety or PTSD. Here is where the client will learn specific techniques for those times when anxiety levels rise, so they can deal with them quickly. A bond of trust needs to be created between the therapist and the client, which is the main component of this phase.

Once that has been completed, the next phase in the process is memory targeting. This goes beyond merely talking about the event. The client will be asked to recall a specific scene from their memory. Then, they choose a statement that expresses a negative self-belief that connects with the event. The client then picks a positive statement that they would prefer more. This phase looks at all of the negative emotions and positive re-affirmations that will replace the negative. During reprocessing, the groundwork will be laid for the rapid eye movement therapy that is about to commence.

The client’s responses to the targeted events will be analyzed by the therapist as this stage moves forward. This gives the client an opportunity to address similar events, and to resolve elements of each. The therapist will lead the client in sets of eye movements, with changes of focus, that gradually reduce the event in the mind of the client. The client rates the disturbance levels based on the SUD scale (Subjective Units of Disturbance), from 0 (no disturbance) to 10 (the worst feeling ever).

Once that phase has been completed, we will look at the positive beliefs that the client has identified to replace their negative feelings and emotions. We are trying to help our client accept that the positive self-statement they created earlier is actually the truth during this phase. The client understands they must learn new ways of dealing with their anxieties for treatment to be successful. New skills have been introduced, and it is crucial the client learn them going forward. This is ongoing, so the eye movement therapy treatment can reach its goal.

The next step is known as body scan. Once recognition of positive skills has been reinforced, the client is asked to picture the traumatic event, in order to evaluate residual feelings and thoughts still lingering in their mind. When a person has been negatively affected by trauma, that information is stored in the motoric (or body systems) memory and not in narrative memory. You will have to accept these positive beliefs as reality on more than an intellectual level.

Finally comes closure and re-evaluation. Each session ends with closure. Our goal is for the client to feel better leaving than when they did when they entered. The client is always in control in every session, and it is ok for the participant to raise his or her hand and say “stop” at any time. Clients are encouraged to journal their experiences between sessions. When the client comes back for another session, the therapist checks that positive results are still in place and that EMDR therapy is still working. Often, clients feel relief from the early sessions, but it is important to continue through all the phases of treatment.

Call Braden Counseling Center Today With Any Concerns 

Please get in touch with us today if you are looking to learn more about eye movement therapy for our Carpentersville, IL clients.

The friendly and knowledgeable counselors at Braden Counseling Center want nothing more than to help you achieve happiness. Learning how to cope with the traumatic events of your life is difficult, but once you do, you will be able to live your life in a way that you never thought was possible again.

Rapid eye movement therapy is now available at the Byron, IL location of Braden Center for individuals that are suffering from mental trauma. EMDR therapy, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a psychotherapy approach that has been highly researched, and is proven effective for treating trauma.

EMDR therapy has been found to be particularly effective for those that are suffering from PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In addition to treating people using EMDR for PTSD, our clinicians serving Byron, IL clients have also reported success with EMDR therapy for anxiety.

Treatment is used for the following conditions:

• Panic Attacks
• Complicated Grief
• Sexual and/or Physical Abuse
• Phobias
• Performance Anxiety
• Personality Disorders
• Body Dysmorphic Disorders
• Addictions
• Stress Reduction

What Can I Expect From EMDR?

Psychotherapy can work in a variety of different ways in our brain, so there is no one way to reach recovery. What is known is that when an individual is very upset over an event, the brain cannot always process that information correctly. That particular moment becomes “frozen,” so to speak. Recalling the event, again and again, can often be as painful as the event itself. All of the images, sounds, feelings, and smells feel like they are right in front of you again, only they are not. Memories like these have a lasting effect on you, and often cause problems regarding the way the afflicted person sees the world.

EMDR therapy is an enormous help in this area. The approach has a direct effect on how the brain processes information. Once a person has been through an EMDR therapy session, they will no longer recall these traumatic events in the ways they once were. The sights, sounds, smells, and feelings will become dull and start to fade away. You will still remember what happened, only the event will not be as upsetting to you. EMDR therapy has similarities to what happens during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle sleep or dreaming.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD for Byron Clients

There are multiple stages that need to be completed for EMDR Therapy because it is a multi-layered treatment plan.

The first two are history and treatment planning. This phase takes 1 or 2 sessions in which a thorough history of the client is taken, and a treatment plan is developed. The therapist will start to identify target areas. These include what the stressful situations are, and the skills needed to bring the client into a future of well-being.

The next few sessions will deal with EMDR therapy for anxiety or PTSD. Here is where the client will learn specific techniques for those times when anxiety levels rise, so they can deal with them quickly. A bond of trust needs to be created between the therapist and the client, which is the main component of this phase.

Once that has been completed, the next phase in the process is memory targeting. This goes beyond merely talking about the event. The client will be asked to recall a specific scene from their memory. Then, they choose a statement that expresses a negative self-belief that connects with the event. The client then picks a positive statement that they would prefer more. This phase looks at all of the negative emotions and positive re-affirmations that will replace the negative. During reprocessing, the groundwork will be laid for the rapid eye movement therapy that is about to commence.

The client’s responses to the targeted events will be analyzed by the therapist as this stage moves forward. This gives the client an opportunity to address similar events, and to resolve elements of each. The therapist will lead the client in sets of eye movements, with changes of focus, that gradually reduce the event in the mind of the client. The client rates the disturbance levels based on the SUD scale (Subjective Units of Disturbance), from 0 (no disturbance) to 10 (the worst feeling ever).

Once that phase has been completed, we will look at the positive beliefs that the client has identified to replace their negative feelings and emotions. We are trying to help our client accept that the positive self-statement they created earlier is actually the truth during this phase. The client understands they must learn new ways of dealing with their anxieties for treatment to be successful. New skills have been introduced, and it is crucial the client learn them going forward. This is ongoing, so the eye movement therapy treatment can reach its goal.

The next step is known as body scan. Once recognition of positive skills has been reinforced, the client is asked to picture the traumatic event, in order to evaluate residual feelings and thoughts still lingering in their mind. When a person has been negatively affected by trauma, that information is stored in the motoric (or body systems) memory and not in narrative memory. You will have to accept these positive beliefs as reality on more than an intellectual level.

Finally comes closure and re-evaluation. Each session ends with closure. Our goal is for the client to feel better leaving than when they did when they entered. The client is always in control in every session, and it is ok for the participant to raise his or her hand and say “stop” at any time. Clients are encouraged to journal their experiences between sessions. When the client comes back for another session, the therapist checks that positive results are still in place and that EMDR therapy is still working. Often, clients feel relief from the early sessions, but it is important to continue through all the phases of treatment.

Call Braden Counseling Center Today With Any Concerns 

Please get in touch with us today if you are looking to learn more about eye movement therapy for our Byron, IL clients.

The friendly and knowledgeable counselors at Braden Counseling Center want nothing more than to help you achieve happiness. Learning how to cope with the traumatic events of your life is difficult, but once you do, you will be able to live your life in a way that you never thought was possible again.

Rapid eye movement therapy is now available for our Batavia, IL clients of Braden Center for individuals that are suffering from mental trauma. EMDR therapy, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a psychotherapy approach that has been highly researched, and is proven effective for treating trauma.

EMDR therapy has been found to be particularly effective for those that are suffering from PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In addition to treating people using EMDR for PTSD, our Batavia, IL clinicians have also reported success with EMDR therapy for anxiety.

Treatment is used for the following conditions:

• Panic Attacks
• Complicated Grief
• Sexual and/or Physical Abuse
• Phobias
• Performance Anxiety
• Personality Disorders
• Body Dysmorphic Disorders
• Addictions
• Stress Reduction

What Can I Expect From EMDR?

Psychotherapy can work in a variety of different ways in our brain, so there is no one way to reach recovery. What is known is that when an individual is very upset over an event, the brain cannot always process that information correctly. That particular moment becomes “frozen,” so to speak. Recalling the event, again and again, can often be as painful as the event itself. All of the images, sounds, feelings, and smells feel like they are right in front of you again, only they are not. Memories like these have a lasting effect on you, and often cause problems regarding the way the afflicted person sees the world.

EMDR therapy is an enormous help in this area. The approach has a direct effect on how the brain processes information. Once a person has been through an EMDR therapy session, they will no longer recall these traumatic events in the ways they once were. The sights, sounds, smells, and feelings will become dull and start to fade away. You will still remember what happened, only the event will not be as upsetting to you. EMDR therapy has similarities to what happens during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle sleep or dreaming.

EMDR Therapy for PTSD for Batavia Clients

There are multiple stages that need to be completed for EMDR Therapy because it is a multi-layered treatment plan.

The first two are history and treatment planning. This phase takes 1 or 2 sessions in which a thorough history of the client is taken, and a treatment plan is developed. The therapist will start to identify target areas. These include what the stressful situations are, and the skills needed to bring the client into a future of well-being.

The next few sessions will deal with EMDR therapy for anxiety or PTSD. Here is where the client will learn specific techniques for those times when anxiety levels rise, so they can deal with them quickly. A bond of trust needs to be created between the therapist and the client, which is the main component of this phase.

Once that has been completed, the next phase in the process is memory targeting. This goes beyond merely talking about the event. The client will be asked to recall a specific scene from their memory. Then, they choose a statement that expresses a negative self-belief that connects with the event. The client then picks a positive statement that they would prefer more. This phase looks at all of the negative emotions and positive re-affirmations that will replace the negative. During reprocessing, the groundwork will be laid for the rapid eye movement therapy that is about to commence.

The client’s responses to the targeted events will be analyzed by the therapist as this stage moves forward. This gives the client an opportunity to address similar events, and to resolve elements of each. The therapist will lead the client in sets of eye movements, with changes of focus, that gradually reduce the event in the mind of the client. The client rates the disturbance levels based on the SUD scale (Subjective Units of Disturbance), from 0 (no disturbance) to 10 (the worst feeling ever).

Once that phase has been completed, we will look at the positive beliefs that the client has identified to replace their negative feelings and emotions. We are trying to help our client accept that the positive self-statement they created earlier is actually the truth during this phase. The client understands they must learn new ways of dealing with their anxieties for treatment to be successful. New skills have been introduced, and it is crucial the client learn them going forward. This is ongoing, so the eye movement therapy treatment can reach its goal.

The next step is known as body scan. Once recognition of positive skills has been reinforced, the client is asked to picture the traumatic event, in order to evaluate residual feelings and thoughts still lingering in their mind. When a person has been negatively affected by trauma, that information is stored in the motoric (or body systems) memory and not in narrative memory. You will have to accept these positive beliefs as reality on more than an intellectual level.

Finally comes closure and re-evaluation. Each session ends with closure. Our goal is for the client to feel better leaving than when they did when they entered. The client is always in control in every session, and it is ok for the participant to raise his or her hand and say “stop” at any time. Clients are encouraged to journal their experiences between sessions. When the client comes back for another session, the therapist checks that positive results are still in place and that EMDR therapy is still working. Often, clients feel relief from the early sessions, but it is important to continue through all the phases of treatment.

Call Braden Counseling Center Today With Any Concerns 

Please get in touch with us today if you are looking to learn more about eye movement therapy for our Batavia, IL clients.

The friendly and knowledgeable counselors at Braden Counseling Center want nothing more than to help you achieve happiness. Learning how to cope with the traumatic events of your life is difficult, but once you do, you will be able to live your life in a way that you never thought was possible again.