EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a trauma therapy shown to be helpful for a range of mental health conditions including PTSD, anxiety, OCD, etc. It uses a phased treatment approach to help clients with complex trauma become more stable before doing trauma reprocessing so that they have more capacity to work through the emotions of the trauma without being overwhelmed by them. Additionally, the bilateral stimulation that EMDR is famous for helps facilitate the processing by desensitizing the intensity of the memories and helping those memories become more integrated with other memory networks rather than feeling fragmented or overwhelming.

For clients with complex trauma, standard EMDR protocol is often insufficient, which is why David combines it with other interventions such as somatic techniques, the Safe and Sound protocol (in the preparation phase), or parts work. This helps clients achieve more stability in managing the intensity of the affect so that trauma reprocessing can be more successful and help bring things to a resolution in the nervous system. This will helps clients start to be able to feel more calm and open to connection along with the amelioration of trauma symtpoms, obsessions, ruminations, panic attacks, etc.

David Chism has been EMDR certified since 2023 and is experienced in applying EMDR to clients struggling with the impacts of complex trauma.