Why EMDR for Doctors?
Doctors often encounter vicarious trauma, also known as secondary traumatic stress, through their exposure to patients' suffering and traumatic experiences. This can lead to symptoms such as chronic fatigue, emotional numbness, anxiety, depression, and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment. Over time, vicarious trauma can affect a doctor's ability to empathize and connect with patients, potentially leading to burnout. Recognizing and addressing vicarious trauma is essential for maintaining doctors' mental health and ensuring they can continue to provide effective and compassionate care.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that helps individuals process traumatic experiences. It involves recalling the traumatic event while simultaneously engaging in a specific type of bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping. EMDR is evidence based for use with trauma and relies on our nervous system to begin the healing process.
EMDR has been shown to be beneficial for those with a history of trauma, depression, anxiety, perfectionism, performance anxiety, addictions, and more.
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What to Expect
EMDR therapy is a highly effective treatment for processing traumatic experiences. A typical session lasts from 60-90 minutes, and it may take one or several sessions to process a single traumatic experience. The goal of EMDR therapy is to completely process the traumatic experiences that are causing problems and to include new ones needed to restore health and build resilience. Although EMDR therapy may produce results more rapidly than other forms of therapy, speed is not the goal of therapy, and it is essential to remember that every client has different needs.
​Complete treatment of a single EMDR target involves a three-pronged protocol to alleviate the symptoms and address the complete clinical picture. The three prongs include past memories, present disturbance or symptoms, and future actions. There are eight phases to EMDR therapy: initial history and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation.
How EMDR Can Help Doctors
Burnout & Compassion Fatigue
Doctors are prone to burn and compassion fatigue due to the demanding nature their work. Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization reduced personal accomplishment. Compassion fatigue is a form of secondary stress resulting from caring for patients who have experienced trauma.
Toxic Shame
​ Regain a sense of control in your life.
Chronic & Cumulative Stress
EMDR facilitates reprocessing of negative self-beliefs and fosters a more balanced and realistic self-perception.
Breaking Free from Unhealthy Coping
Build resilience to cope with everyday challenges more effectively.
PTSD & Vicarious Trauma
By addressing feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness, women learn to embrace their achievements & recognize their competence.
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Learn techniques to prioritize self-care & nurture your own wellbeing.