EMDR: A Unique Technique Helping Girls and assigned female at birth – girls and assigned female at birth Heal From Trauma
Healing symptoms of trauma using eye movement may sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but it’s actually a very effective technique for some teens struggling with trauma. At Solstice, we utilize Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, to help teens who could benefit from the technique. 
What is EMDR and how does it help teens struggling with trauma?
Through EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), we utilize eye movement to move traumatic memories that are stuck and deeply engrained within the body to a more functional state. Here are a few ways EMDR helps teens:
- Transform negative core beliefs into positive beliefs:
When someone is traumatized, their memory gets stuck in that moment. That trauma causes them to carry negative core beliefs about themselves. Those negative beliefs begin to frame the way they view themselves and the world. EMDR takes those negative beliefs and transforms them into positive beliefs.
For example, if the traumatic event left the student believing a negative core belief like “I am disgusting”. Through EMDR, we would replace “I am disgusting” with something like “I am worthwhile”.
- See that their trauma is not their fault:
As EMDR progresses, clients begin to develop more realistic beliefs about their trauma as the trauma moves from a stuck state to a more functional state. In the functional state, trauma doesn’t drive behavior or symptoms.
- Overcome anxiety:
One of the ways we utilize EMDR is called future template. Many of our students struggle with anxiety. For those students, we’ll utilize EMDR to help them frame future events which they may have a lot of anxiety about. For example, if a student fears public speaking, EMDR will help them envision the moment they are speaking in public. Instead of being anxious in that moment, they imagine feeling confident. We’ll utilize eye movement to help solidify a different belief about public speaking.
- Relieves somatic representations of trauma:
EMDR focuses on the memory that lives in the body. Somatic representations of trauma often occur because of this. These may look like chronic headaches or stomach aches that take place without medical reason.
EMDR often eliminates these somatic representations. It does this by moving memories to a functional place. They are no longer held within a specific place within the body, which is causing the physical symptoms in the first place.
Solstice can help
Solstice is a groundbreaking residential treatment center for girls, ages 14 to 18. Our girls and assigned female at birth often grapple with trauma, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other emotional or behavioral problems when they come to us. Dealing with these issues can get confusing and overwhelming fast–but we’re here to help guide you.
Through a unique combination of therapeutic programs based upon both traditional and holistic mental health treatment, we treat our clients with age and gender specific techniques. We strive to empower teenage people with the ability to believe in themselves and provide the tools and motivation required to instill these beliefs for life.
Learn more by calling (866) 278-3345
