ACT & EMDR

Sometimes certain events in life can be so intense that they have a huge negative impact on the quality of life. Although ACT can be very helpful in accepting that these events have taken place, it can also be that the memory of a trauma brings with it too many psychological problems. With the help of EMDR, I can help to blur the sharp edges of this memory.

How does it work?

Fading the memory of a trauma by distracting your working memory in your brain. That is roughly what you can do with EMDR therapy. During EMDR therapy, you retrieve a painful memory. The moment you see the memory vividly, you have placed it in your working memory. While you continue to see the event in front of you, I ask you to follow a light on a light bar with your eyes. At the same time, I can ask you to name the colors of the light or to spell words backwards. Other methods include listening to beeps with headphones or buzzers that vibrate alternately in your left and right hands. They all do the same thing: they distract your working memory. The working memory becomes full and the bad memory slowly loses its emotional charge.

During the intake interview we can jointly consider whether there is a need to start with an EMDR session prior to the ACT trajectory. An EMDR session is not necessary for the ACT trajectory but should be seen as a supplement.