EMDR therapy
EMDR therapy in Arkansas.
EMDR is a form of trauma therapy that works on one painful memory at a time. It's one of the approaches Kristen I. Speer, LPC uses.
or call 479.777.2776
- Telehealth across Arkansas
- Adults 18 and over
- Free 15-minute video consultation
What it is
What EMDR is, in plain words.
EMDR is a structured, widely researched form of trauma therapy. It works on one specific memory at a time, not on how your week went. The letters stand for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which is a mouthful.
The idea is simple. Most of what happens to us gets filed away over time and stops feeling urgent. Some experiences never get filed.
Those stay vivid. Something ordinary, like a smell, a tone of voice or a particular room, can bring the whole thing back as if it were happening now.
EMDR works on those memories. You bring one to mind while your attention also follows something that goes back and forth: a movement from side to side, taps on alternating sides, or tones in alternating ears. That back and forth is called bilateral stimulation. The goal is for the memory to settle into the past, so it carries less charge now.
EMDR doesn't ask you to describe the memory in detail. For many people, that's what makes it feel possible when talking the whole thing through doesn't.
EMDR is one of several approaches Kristen uses, along with trauma-focused therapy, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and others. In her words: "I do not believe in a one size fits all treatment."
What it's for
What people bring to EMDR therapy.
EMDR was built for trauma, and that's where most EMDR work happens. It also comes up with anxiety and depression, when something specific that happened is part of what keeps them going. All four are areas Kristen works in.
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Trauma
Something that happened once, or a childhood of things that kept happening. EMDR works on the memory itself, not on telling the story out loud.
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PTSD
Flashbacks, nightmares, jumping at small sounds, always bracing for the next thing. PTSD is what EMDR is best known for.
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Anxiety
Not all anxiety has a memory underneath it. Some does. When an anxious reaction traces back to something specific, EMDR is one way to work on it.
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Depression
Depression is rarely one thing. When part of it is tied to a loss, or to something you've never been able to set down, that part can be worked on directly.
Is EMDR right for what you're carrying? A website can't tell you. That takes a conversation, and the free 15-minute consultation is a good place to start.
By video
Does EMDR work over video?
It's commonly done by video. EMDR was designed for an office, and therapists adapted it for video the same way they adapted everything else.
The back and forth is the part people wonder about. Over video it's usually something on the screen to follow with your eyes, sounds that alternate through headphones, or tapping your own knees or shoulders, one side then the other. The rest stays the same.
What video changes is the practical part. You're in your own space, behind your own door, with no drive home afterward. For a lot of people, that's not a compromise. It's the reason therapy happens at all.
Kristen holds every session by secure video, anywhere in Arkansas. Ask her in your consultation whether EMDR by video is right for you.
Questions
Questions about EMDR.
Do I have to describe what happened?
Not in detail. EMDR asks you to bring the memory to mind, not to tell it. When you do say something, it's often a word, an image or a feeling rather than a story. For many people, that's the difference between being able to do this work and not.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No. You're awake and aware the whole time, and you can ask to pause, take a break or stop at any point.
How do I know if EMDR is right for me?
Ask her. The consultation is free and takes 15 minutes. You can request a time in Kristen's portal or call 479.777.2776. If you want to know about cost first, see insurance and rates.
Free consultation
Ask Kristen whether EMDR fits you.
Your first step is a free 15-minute consultation by video, or by phone if you would rather. It's a conversation, not a commitment.
or call 479.777.2776
Pick a day and time from Kristen's calendar. The form runs on SimplePractice, the secure system she uses for sessions. She confirms every request.