What can EMDR do that plain therapy can't do for Betrayal Trauma ?
Today, I wanted to introduce you to a powerful method we've embraced at Couples Counseling ATL for healing people experiencing symptoms of PTSD after being betrayed by their partner: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR therapy sessions are facilitated by our dedicated counselor and EMDR trauma specialist, Jessica Hart, MFT.
Understanding EMDR Therapy: A Beacon of Healing
EMDR therapy is a well-established and highly effective approach designed to address the deep emotional wounds caused by traumatic events, such as the aftermath of betrayal. It involves a comprehensive process that helps individuals process distressing memories, reducing their impact and enabling healing.
EMDR therapy is especially transformative in cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), offering a path to recovery that many find profoundly empowering. We love offering intensives for this form of therapy to promote rapid healing. EMDR is a structured therapy in which a therapist guides a client to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typical eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the intensity and vividness and strong emotions that are associated with the traumatic memories.
EMDR Therapy in Couples Counseling: Healing Relationships After Betrayal
Betrayal within a relationship, such as an affair, can shatter trust and inflict significant emotional trauma on both partners. EMDR therapy, under an expert’s guidance, becomes hope for couples navigating the aftermath of such betrayal. By facilitating intensive EMDR therapy sessions, an expert therapist helps couples effectively process their emotions, allowing for healing and understanding. This method aids not only in individual recovery but also in rebuilding trust within the relationship.
A Story of Renewed Connection
"Sarah"*, facing the profound impact of her partner's recently discovered betrayals including infidelity, wasn't sleeping, was disturbed by images of her partner with his affair partner, among many other symptoms. She knew that she needed a specialist in trauma and relationships to support both her and her partner through healing. Through EMDR intensive therapy, Sarah began to feel less intensity of her PTSD symptoms, and she and her partner embarked on a journey to heal the wounds in their relationship.
Their shared sessions using both EMDR provided a safe space to process the betrayal, fostering understanding, empathy, and healing. It was a very helpful step they needed before starting the Gottman Method of couples therapy to begin the process of affair and betrayal recovery (atone, attune and attach). Today, their relationship stands much stronger, rooted in renewed trust and connection, and although Sarah still has negative feelings about the betrayal, she no longer suffers PTSD symptoms, and she and her partner know how to handle discussing the past hurts.
If you or someone you know is navigating the challenging aftermath of betrayal within a relationship, I encourage you to explore the transformative potential of EMDR therapy with our expert Jessica Hart. To learn more, please reach out to Jessica directly at Jessica@counselingatl.com or visit counselingatl.com/jessica.
Click on the bottom link to watch our latest video on this topic, with our EMDR & Gottman-Trained therapist at Couples Counseling ATL, Jessica Hart, where she explains in further detail! Finally, stay tuned these next couple of weeks to learn more about different upcoming topics!
*names and identifying details have been changed to protect identity
