Our EMDR courses can be used to treat psychological traumas like PTSD. But what’s the difference between normal stress and PTSD? When something terrible happens to us – a bereavement, rape, assault, accident etc – our brain has its own coping mechanisms which can range from denial to extreme fatigue. It’s here the line between normal emotional coping mechanisms and PTSD begins to blur.

Normal reactions to a trauma include:
•    Feeling numb, shocked, disconnected or puzzled – this should gradually fade over hours/days in the case of a normal, coping person
•    Bad dreams and trouble sleeping – this is just one of a range of physical manifestations of the trauma. Over days/weeks these should pass (in the case of a PTSD sufferer they likely increase in intensity)
•    Fear the event will happen again – this is completely normal and is only a sign of PTSD when that fear becomes flashbacks etc.

Symptoms of PTSD are grouped into three main categories:
1.    Re-experiencing the traumatic event repeatedly
2.    Avoiding reminders of the trauma e.g. sounds, places, people etc. (part of this can be based in a fear of remembering the event more clearly)
3.    Increased anxiety and emotional arousal most of the time

PTSD training is designed to provide a framework upon which sufferers can rebuild their mind and return to normal.

What Causes Depression?
That’s a bit like asking why people fall in love. It’s going to be different in every case. Some people have a genetic predisposition to various forms of depression, some go through a single damaging event, and others slip gradually into the pit of depression without themselves being able to identify a focal culprit. Keeping an eye open for symptoms rather than causes is the first step in helping yourself or another person to address their problem.

What Are the Symptoms?
Again, it’s a broad umbrella that is extensively covered by our psychotherapy training. Common symptoms include continuous low mood, low self-esteem, inability to make decisions, changes in appetite, lack of energy, insomnia, lack of motivation and suicidal thoughts. That’s just a splattering of the symptoms on offer, and any case could include from one to all symptoms.

EMDR and Depression
EMDR training is based on the groundbreaking work by Francine Shapiro, and aims to promote the skills needed for sufferers to cope with their illness effectively. EMDR has successfully been used to treat bereavement, post-natal depression and various forms of depression associated with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Veterans

The most common group associated with PTSD, veterans are typically placed in very high stress situations which don’t always elicit the normal response to trauma. This can result in PTSD which needs to be treated as a psychological trauma by an expert – that’s where we come in.

Attack Victims

Rape, physical abuse, being beaten up on the way home from work – these are typical events that can lead to PTSD. There’s no way to know how a person will respond to severe trauma. A very sensible, strong person could fall victim to PTSD after an attempted rape or mugging. At the opposite end of the scale a very fragile, physically small person could recover normally.

Accidents and Family Loss

Something like a shocking car accident – even one where no-one is seriously physically hurt – can cause PTSD. As can the loss of a friend or family member. Their death doesn’t need to be sudden or even very unpleasant to send a person into a spiral of PTSD symptoms.

Our EMDR courses are designed to use Francine Shapiro’s award winning techniques to rebuild the fractured mind of a PTSD sufferer. PTSD is a treatable illness which is best addressed through professional skill and a sympathetic ear.

What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) was first conceived in 1987 when American psychologist Francine Shapiro observed that persistent eye movement reduced the intensity of the disturbing thoughts and feelings she was feeling at that time in her life. Enthused by her discovery, Shapiro tried out variants of this treatment with her clients and it soon became clear that this new form of treatment could be very beneficial indeed.

How does it work?
When a person experiences a psychologically traumatic event, it can often become ‘frozen’ in their mind. This can sometimes result in flashbacks and an inability to move on from the event. EMDR psychotherapy training works by getting a patient to pinpoint the event that is the cause of their trauma, bringing it to the surface of their consciousness and then redirecting the eye movements that accompany it. In time, the negative emotions which are associated with this event are released and eliminated. Following a successful treatment; a patient will still be able to recall their traumatic memory, however they will no longer be plagued by the negative emotions that surround it.

Post traumatic stress disorder
One of the most common clinical issues associated with EMDR psychotherapy training is that of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Indeed, EMDR treatment is well suited to the effects of PTSD as it can help sufferers to deal much better with symptoms such as flashbacks and enable them to recall their traumatic experiences with far greater emotional control

Depression
“Depression” is an umbrella term which is used to refer and relate to a wide range of mental issues. Nonetheless, EMDR can be very advantageous in treating certain types of depression as it can help sufferers to effectively work through specific life experiences or significant life adjustments, such as a bereavement or post-natal depression.

Anxiety & stress
A lot of stress and anxiety-based disorders are rooted in confusion or paranoia. EMDR treatment can be of great benefit in such circumstances as it can help to channel sufferers’ cognitive practices into a more positive direction.

Long-term psychological trauma
Patients who suffer from long-term trauma cases such as neglect or abuse are frequently recommended for EMDR treatment because of its ability to help people work through their life experiences.

You can only suffer from it if you’re a soldier
Hollywood has used stress disorders as a narrative for many popular war films so it is no surprise that so many people make the assumption that they are military-specific conditions. Of course, this is complete nonsense as, although military operatives can suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, it is not unique to them – it can in fact be experienced by any person, of any age, from any background.

It is always triggered by one single event
Although they are usually associated with a single event (e.g. a car crash), Post Traumatic Stress Disorders can actually lie dormant for many years. This means that they can be triggered by something completely unrelated and at a seemingly arbitrary time.

It is only a short-term illness
Even though some people who suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder find their symptoms improving after a relatively short time; many others do not. In fact, some symptoms can last for many years or even indefinitely.

Medication is the only ‘cure’
Although medication such as serotonin is sometimes prescribed; it has been shown that cognitive therapies and EMDR courses produce the most effective long-term results.

For some of us the search for meaning might manifest itself in charitable giving or volunteer work, in the way we raise our children or take care of our elders, or even in carrying on social traditions or observing a religion. The drive to leave the world a better place than we found it is a powerful one, and it drives some people to do wonderful things.

The luckiest people are those who manage to find jobs that provide meaning as well as a salary. As providers of psychotherapy training we are doubly lucky. Not only to we get to do what we can to improve the treatment of serious illnesses like PTSD and other conditions related to psychological trauma, but we can also help others along the path towards a career that is truly rewarding.

While an EMDR course is not suitable for everyone, it can be a great option for individuals who really want to give something back to the community and have a background in counselling, psychology, medicine or social work. If you’re looking to acquire skills that will allow you to better help people during your working day, take a good look at the training we offer.

If you’re newly qualified or trying to advance your career by moving into a new job you’ll need a CV that stands out from the crowd. That often means more than just having a neatly produced document, good grades, and a few positive references. There are plenty of people who can offer the same. You’ll need to show initiative and commitment, and one way to do that is by seeking additional training. That might mean EMDR workshops or some other courses relevant to your field.

EMDR courses are excellent additions to any CV in the psychology or psychotherapy field. It’s a well-recognised discipline but one that is growing fast, so you can demonstrate an interest in new techniques without getting too specialised, and it’s an unfortunate truth that there are huge numbers of people who could benefit from such treatments but currently don’t have access to them.

You don’t have to have a degree to start. We can offer EMDR training courses to GPs, qualified counselors, occupational therapists, and even social workers. There are many positions where our training can be used effectively and just as many positions where job applicants might find it useful to have it on their CV.

EMDR is just as useful in PTSD training as it ever was but every year the medical and psychological community understands more about it and the ways in which it can be used to change lives for the better. One recent field of enquiry is the use of EMDR techniques in the treatment of depression.

The NHS estimates that 10% of adults in Britain are affected by depression at some point in their lives. Perhaps even more worryingly, about 4% of UK children from five years to 15 also fall into that category. Regardless of the corresponding statistics for PTSD sufferers, it is clear that there is a huge call for professionals who are able to help those who suffer from the condition and that there should be an equally strong push to improve the range of treatments available, and their effectiveness.

We hope that in the future graduates from our training courses will be able to assist patients with a wide variety of psychological difficulties, including depression. Even to a casual observer, it’s obvious that is still a great deal of work to do before EMDR treatments realise their full potential. Tremendous scope still remains for the science.

In order to deliver EMDR treatment to patients, healthcare professionals need to attend specialised EMDR training courses and workshops.

Here at EMDRWorks, we deliver seven-day courses which contain comprehensive EMDR training in four phases. Our courses put great emphasis on “learning by doing”; therefore attendants can look forward to plenty of interactive learning opportunities that will enable them to put what they learn into practice and work through their materials from the view of both client and clinician.

We are very proud to say that our courses are designed to ensure attendants get the most out of their training. Indeed, the maximum number of attendants on any one course never exceeds 12 as we believe this is the best way to ensure ample focus and tutor support. Once attendants have completed their seven day training course with us, they receive an EMDR Europe certificate of completion that qualifies them to practice EMDR treatment.

Sound like something you’d like to do? If so, call us now on 020 8441 2457 to find out more.