noodle

Never, ever, EVER allow someone who doesn't have a certificate in EMDR treat you. I've seen what happens when someone who isn't specifically trained in it tries to practice EMDR. It isn't pretty. In fact, one lady almost went literally insane. She was institutionalized for six months to re-pattern her brain to not react in horror to minute occurrences. When performed by a clinically trained, certified professional, it can work wonders.

I was counseling a child while my co-worker was using EMDR with her mother. I saw the mom go from (literally) falling asleep over a trashcan from all the Thorazine, Lithium and Xanax the other doc had her on, to being able to get up in the morning, make lunch for her kid and have a productive day doing chores, errands, and leisure activities. This woman had had her lifetime maximum of ECT, every drug known to man and was a raging psychotic, bipolar, traumatized, hallucinating alcoholic who couldn't get out of bed half the time. It took almost a year for the full effect, because she was so severe to begin with, but last I heard (about a year after she finished treatment), she had held a steady job for three months... for the first time in her life. She was 39 at the time.

That's my experience with it. I was almost sacked for doing research on my own and bringing it to my boss before I knew you had to be certified.

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