Adjunct EMDR Therapy: A Collaborative Approach to Comprehensive Healing
Are you currently engaged in therapy but noticing you feel stuck? Does it seem as though you continue to reflect on past trauma without seeing much change? You’re doing the work but still have intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, or negative beliefs that just will not budge.
Perhaps you really enjoy working with your current counselor, but you need something more in order to continue progressing in therapy.
Adjunct EMDR may be the catalyst to the deep and lasting change that you’ve been looking for.
What is adjunct EMDR therapy and how is it different from primary therapy?
Counselors at EMDR Therapy Austin are skilled in providing both primary and adjunct EMDR therapy services.
When we serve as your primary therapist, our counselors uniquely blend EMDR therapy along with other powerful modalities such as NARM, Somatic Experiencing and body-based approaches, attachment-focused psychotherapy, and parts work informed by IFS in order to treat and heal the full spectrum of trauma from start to finish.
On the other hand, adjunct EMDR therapy is a collaborative approach to treating trauma where you (the client) and your primary therapist (who is not trained in EMDR) partner with one of our EMDR trained therapists to ensure comprehensive and holistic care.
It’s not uncommon that clients and their primary therapist encounter stuck points in their treatment together. Yet, supplementing talk therapy with adjunct EMDR therapy can transform these challenging moments and accelerate treatment progression forward… without the need to end current treatment.
How does adjunct EMDR therapy work?
Adjunct EMDR therapy sessions can either be conducted concurrently with your primary therapy (meaning you will continue to meet with your primary therapist during the time period you are receiving adjunct EMDR therapy) or you can take a pause from your primary therapy and focus exclusively on EMDR processing.
Adjunct EMDR is typically conducted over a limited period of time and focuses on specific concerns. In our role as an adjunctive EMDR therapist, we will work with you and your primary therapist to create a customized treatment plan that identifies and targets specific memories, body sensations, disturbing or intrusive images or thoughts, and limiting beliefs that we’ll process via EMDR therapy. Once you’ve completed adjunct EMDR, you will return to working exclusively with your primary therapist.
It's important to note that adjunct EMDR therapy complements the existing therapeutic relationship and is not meant to be a substitution or disruption to ongoing treatment. The aim of this intensive form of treatment is to deepen the ongoing therapeutic work with your primary therapist by resolving what is getting in the way of your healing process.
What concerns does adjunct EMDR therapy treat?
Adjunctive EMDR can offer valuable benefits to a wide range of individuals healing from various emotional and psychological challenges, such as:
Trauma: Those who have experienced traumatic events, such as accidents, abuse, or natural disasters, can find relief from the distressing memories and the emotional aftermath through adjunctive EMDR.
Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Individuals struggling with anxiety and panic disorders can benefit from the integrated techniques of adjunctive EMDR to manage and alleviate symptoms, identify triggers, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Depression: For those battling depression, adjunctive EMDR can complement traditional talk therapy by addressing underlying traumas or negative beliefs that drive symptoms of depression.
Substance Abuse Recovery: Integrated therapy like adjunctive EMDR can bolster substance abuse recovery by addressing underlying traumas and emotional triggers.
Relationship Issues: Individuals facing relationship challenges can benefit from adjunctive EMDR by addressing past traumas or negative patterns that affect current relationships.
Additional therapies We offer
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model)
SE (Somatic Experiencing)
Attachment Theory
IPNB (Interpersonal Neurobiology)
Parts Work informed by IFS (Internal Family Systems)
Benefits to supplementing therapy with adjunct EMDR:
Enhanced Healing Synergy: Adjunct EMDR introduces a new level of synergy to your therapy experience. By integrating EMDR with your current therapeutic approaches, you're tapping into a deeper form of healing. This can lead to more comprehensive outcomes and lasting transformation.
Targeted Resolution of Underlying Concerns: While your primary therapy focuses on your overall well-being, adjunct EMDR hones in on specific distressing memories, triggers, and negative beliefs. This targeted approach allows for thorough processing and resolution of underlying emotional challenges within a fewer number of sessions.
Personalized Treatment Plan: When providing adjunct EMDR therapy, our counselors will collaborate closely with your primary therapist and with you to create a personalized treatment plan. This plan seamlessly integrates EMDR with your existing therapy goals, ensuring a unified approach that aligns with your needs.
Holistic Approach to Healing: Life's challenges are multifaceted, and so are you. Adjunct EMDR addresses your emotional, cognitive, and somatic dimensions, promoting holistic healing. This approach can lead to improvements not only in your emotional state but also in your relationships, coping skills, and self-perception.
Transformational Growth: The integrated nature of adjunct EMDR often leads to profound and lasting growth. By processing distressing memories, reframing negative beliefs, and fostering self-compassion, you're empowering yourself to overcome hurdles and embrace positive change.
Continuity of Care: At EMDR Therapy Austin, we value the continuity of your therapeutic journey. That’s why we work closely and collaboratively with your primary therapist. Your primary therapist remains a central figure in your care, ensuring that your treatment remains cohesive and aligned with your evolving needs.
Empowerment Through Choice: Integrating adjunct EMDR is a choice you make in collaboration with your primary therapist. This empowering decision reflects your commitment to your healing journey and your openness to exploring innovative avenues for growth.
Considerations for beginning adjunct EMDR therapy:
Seeing a Primary Therapist
The adjunctive EMDR approach is only for clients who are already working with a primary therapist. If you are not currently seeing a primary therapist but you are interested in receiving EMDR therapy, then we would be happy to discuss working with you as your primary therapist. Counselors at EMDR Therapy Austin are skilled in providing both primary and adjunctive EMDR therapy services.
Scheduling
If you would like to supplement your current therapy with adjunctive EMDR, you may need to find an additional time on your calendar for your additional sessions. If your availability is limited, you might consider the option of pausing your primary therapy until you complete adjunctive EMDR therapy work. We hope you’ll discuss your options with your primary therapist.
Cost
Although supplementing your current therapy with adjunctive EMDR therapy does involve an additional expense, clients often find that engaging in adjunctive EMDR therapy works faster than talk therapy alone. Given the targeted nature of this approach, your overall treatment duration may end up being shorter, thus reducing expenses.
Take the next step towards comprehensive healing.
Our counselors at EMDR Therapy Austin deeply respect the relationship you’ve formed with your therapist and the work you’ve already been doing together. So first, we recommend speaking with your primary therapist directly if you’re considering this add-on service to enhance your growth. If your primary therapist has previously recommended that you seek out adjunct EMDR therapy to supplement your current work, great! We will happily collaborate with them to help identify areas to focus on in adjunctive EMDR therapy work.
Next, send us a message through our contact form and select “Yes” for the question asking “Are you currently working with a therapist and seeking adjunct EMDR to supplement your therapy?” You would select “No” if you are not currently working with a therapist and you want one of our counselors to be your primary therapist. One of our EMDR specialists will contact you within 24-48 business hours to set up a consultation phone call.
During the call, we will discuss your interest in adjunctive EMDR therapy and how we may be able to help. If we decide to work together, we’ll ask you to complete a Release of Information (ROI) as part of your intake documents so that we can coordinate care with your primary therapist.
From there, in our first appointment we will begin to create a targeted and personalized treatment plan to aid your healing.
If you're ready to deepen your therapeutic journey and explore the transformative potential of EMDR therapy, we're here to support you. Our skilled therapists are experienced in integrating EMDR to create a tailored approach that fits seamlessly into your current therapy plan.