EMDR for Children
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapy that can help children recover from difficult traumatic experiences such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse as well as, seeing their parents fight, adoption issues, bullying, violence, phobias, seeing someone die, feeding issues, or going through invasive medical procedures.
How is EMDR different for Children?
Some of the most amazing transformations I have seen in my time as an EMDR therapist have been with children. This is because children’s brains are still developing and are more flexible due to increased neuroplasticity. This increased flexibility means they can often move through the therapy more easily.
Slight adjustments may have to be made to the standard EMDR protocol when working with children to help them reprocess more effectively. Children may get sleepy due to the relaxing nature of the bilateral stimulation. Toward the end of the session I will often take extra time to play a game or do another activity to reward them for their hard work, keep them motivated, and help them transition back to their lives.
Trauma Symptoms in Children
Children have many of the same symptoms as adults, but the following may be unique or especially true:
Trouble sleeping and nightmares.
Bed wetting, even if toilet trained.
Trauma related play, drawings, and stories.
Increased aggression, irritability, and rage.
Concentration and attention problems.
Spacing out.
What ages do you treat?
I am comfortable treating children ages 8 and up. However, other EMDR therapists work with children much younger, and even babies.
EMDR Transformations
Typically when a child completes EMDR they are more confident, feel safe, have less anxiety, less irritability, have a more cheerful disposition, and seem more alive.
If you are interested in EMDR for your child please click the button below to schedule a phone consultation.
If you want EMDR for your child please click the button below for a free phone consultation.