What is EMDR?
    Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a powerful fast-acting
therapy technique that can be used to relieve the effects of painful emotional experiences or
other traumatic events including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

    Many people who do not get results from other methods, such as talking with a counselor
or taking medications, do find safe, rapid and effective results from EMDR.  This technique does
not involve hypnosis or taking medications and it is non-invasive.  It may be used in conjunction
with any of the above methods, or as a stand-alone treatment.

    The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has listed a series of studies on EMDR
and concluded that, “Overall, argument can reasonably be made that there are sufficient
controlled studies that have sufficient methodological integrity to judge EMDR as effective
treatment for PTSD.”

    A therapist who is fully trained in EMDR will first meet with the client, and learn more about
the problems that the client faces.  The therapist will fully explain how the treatment is given and
there is plenty of opportunity for the client to ask any questions about the treatment.  Once the
therapist and the client agree that EMDR is the right treatment for a specific problem then the
treatment can begin.  Sessions last 50-90 minutes and the type and severity of the problem will
dictate the number of sessions.

    EMDR can be used effectively in a wide range of circumstances:

    •    Victims or witnesses of traumatic events such as accidents, burns, crimes, natural
    disasters who suffer from PTSD
    •    Physical or sexual abuse
    •    Bad recurring memories of any kind, including bad memories from childhood
    •    Loss, or injury of a loved one, including divorce
    •    Public speaking fears or other stage fright which contributes to performance anxiety
    •    Panic attacks
    •    Anxiety
    •    Phobias, including fear of being in crowds, driving, flying, of spiders or of being alone
    •    Undeserved feelings of guilt or shame
    •    Relationship problems (Suzanne sometimes uses

    Suzanne is a trained Maryland EMDR clinician with experience in treating all of the above
conditions, and more.  Please call Suzanne at 301-590-0204 to find out if EMDR may be right for
you.
Serving the Maryland communities of Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Silver
Spring, Potomac and all of Montgomery County
Suzanne Corcoran, LCSW-C
Marriage Counseling and Counseling for Individuals in Maryland