EMDR Therapy in Roseville, MN
PTSD doesn’t always look dramatic from the outside.
Sometimes, the lingering impact of past psychological wounds are subtle, showing up as chronic stress, emotional numbness, intense rage (even if it’s suppressed), compulsive behaviors, and constantly feeling like you have to ‘perform’ just to feel ok.
These symptoms may sometimes be easy-to-disguise, but they’re certainly not easy to live with. Symptoms of chronic burnout and PTSD never stay inside. They spill over into your waking life, your relationships, your career… everything.
At Vital Mental Health, we address this issue head on. EMDR therapy is an evidence-based, trauma-focused approach that has proven to be successful at helping your brain process intense stress and unresolved experiences so that the past no longer has control over your reactions, relationships, or sense of self.
This isn’t surface-level work. EMDR is gentle but highly effective, and it’s deigned for individuals who are ready to address the root cause once and for all – not just manage symptoms.
What is EMDR therapy?
During an EMDR session, we don’t rely solely on talking. We follow a structured protocol for engaging both hemispheres of your brain to help you process disturbing, unsettling, or highly intense memories that never had the chance to resolve. Once the memories have been properly processed, they lose their emotional charge, and the symptoms connected to those memories often disappear or else significantly reduce.
EMDR is empirically validated, which means it has been extensively researched and proven to be a highly effective form of psychotherapy. Additionally, EMDR has been endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), American Psychiatric Association (APA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as an effective form of treatment for many mental health concerns including PTSD, Complex PTSD, depression, anxiety, and others.
What does eye movement have to do with EMDR?
Our brains are designed to process and categorize all types of experiences and events, even intensely stressful ones. But sometimes, an event or experience can be so distressing and overwhelming that our brains literally turn off and stop communication with the rest of our body. While mentally ‘shutting down’ can be very helpful for survival, this disconnect comes at a cost. The brain’s processing function becomes frozen – stuck on the raw, unprocessed form of the memory.
That is why memories about the event(s) continue to trigger intense emotional and physical reactions long after the experience has passed. And this is why bilateral stimulation – engaging BOTH hemispheres of the brain – is needed.
Through bilateral stimulation, EMDR therapy helps reunite neural pathways so the brain can access the ‘stuck’ memories and process/resolve the experience.
The methods we use to achieve bilateral stimulation are simple, but the neurological impact is powerful.
For clients participating in an in-person EMDR session, we may use:
- Guided eye movements
- EMDR tappers*
- Butterfly tapping (a self-administered technique for achieving bilateral stimulation)
*EMDR tappers are small panels you hold with our hands that gently vibrate at alternating intervals. This provides the dual-hemisphere stimulation your brain needs to effectively ‘come back online’ and reprocess the memories. It does not hurt at all. In fact, most find it grounding and even calming.
For virtual clients, we use a secure app that guides clients through gentle eye movements or butterfly tapping from home.
How does EMDR therapy work?
EMDR can help your brain access, reprocess, and integrate unresolved memories so you can move on with your life with a clear head. The process follows a clear, well-structured protocol to ensure safety and effectiveness. Before we get into bilateral stimulation and reprocessing, we focus on stabilization, emotional regulation, and preparation so you know exactly what to expect at every stage of the process.
Frequently asked questions about EMDR
EMDR goes neurologically deeper than traditional talk therapy by helping your brain reprocess distressing experiences. It is especially effective for PTSD, cPTSD, and trauma-related symptoms. If you’ve tried traditional talk therapy and didn’t find the relief you were hoping for, EMDR therapy may be the next right step for you.
What if I can’t remember everything?
EMDR works even if you don’t remember everything. Also, you don’t need to say everything. If you’d prefer not to share or discuss certain details, that’s ok. EMDR works at the neurological level regardless of what you do or don’t share.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
EMDR therapy has three core stages:
- Preparation – It takes 1-2 two preliminary ‘strategy’ sessions to prepare for EMDR therapy.
- Reprocessing – Around 6-12 EMDR therapy sessions are typically needed, depending on the individual’s needs. Most clients start to notice improvements within 1-3 EMDR sessions.
- Integration – We’ll meet 2-3 more times to ensure successful integration and recovery.
How long does EMDR treatment take?
There’s no rush. Whether we meet twice-weekly or once a week, we can take it at a pace that works for you.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No. You remain fully alert, aware, conscious, and in control throughout the entire process. Nothing is done to you. This is a collaborative, fully conscious, guided process based on neuroscience.
Benefits of EMDR therapy
- Better sleep – less insomnia and nightmares
- Resolved or greatly reduced symptoms of PTSD
- Less emotional reactivity
- Greater overall sense of calm
- Relief from anxiety, anger, and chronic stress
- Improved nervous system stability and emotional regulation
- Fewer intrusive memories and flashbacks
- Increased self-confidence and self-trust
- Improved relational connection and sense of safety
- And more
EMDR Therapist
Adam Wick specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapy designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic or distressing experiences. Through a supportive and structured approach, he helps clients work through past challenges and move toward greater emotional balance and well-being.
The bottom line
Please don’t suffer in silence. You don’t have to figure this out alone. Real help exists. Real healing is possible.
EMDR is well researched and has been proven to be a highly effective treatment for a myriad of mental health issues. If you’d like to explore whether EMDR therapy is a good option for you, please contact us to schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. We’ll be glad to answer any questions you may have so that you can make an informed decision with confidence.