I (Sheri Bhirdo, LCSW) received my Masters in Social Work (MSW) from New York University. Although I have training and certifications in other modalities, I have personally found EMDR to be one of the most effective modalities in addressing trauma and challenging memories due to the immediate relief most clients experience. I have received my EMDR training from EMDRIA. I continue to go for regular consultation and supervision to ensure I am providing the best quality care for my clients with expert support from the EMDR field.

Currently, I am working on towards my EMDR certification so that I may continue to better serve my clients with EMDR and hope to support other clinicians in their EMDR training journey in the future with my certification.

It is found that EMDR therapy is generally a safe form of therapy for everyone regardless of what is occurring in one’s life.

Some areas where EMDR can support one’s therapeutic journey:
Trauma or PTSD

Anxiety
Chronic pain
Childhood trauma or complex trauma
Unresolved grief
Eating disorders
Treating addictions
Phobia’s or fears

To determine whether EMDR is right for a specific client usually involves an initial assessment with provider, Sheri Bhirdo, LCSW.ew Clients who may struggle with dissociation or extreme emotional dysregulation may benefit from working on foundational therapeutic skills with their primary therapist first prior to starting EMDR.

EMDR therapy is a form of evidenced-based trauma informed care modality that allows clients to reprocess challenging and distressing memories and the symptomatology that may accompany them. What is appealing about EMDR for most clients is that it involves reprocessing trauma without having to talk in detail about the memory itself. This is beneficial as speaking the details about traumatic memories may often be triggering for clients. With the support of an EMDR therapist, clients will utilize eye-movements to help the way maladaptive memories are stored in the brain. If you are further interested in learning more about EMDR, please see here.

All clients will be formally and properly assessed before beginning EMDR therapy. Whilst EMDR is a good fit for most, some may need to further build up their foundational therapeutic skills with their primary therapist. Those with more severe diagnoses should be under the treatment of a psychiatrist and primary therapist. Dissociative features should also be addressed prior to beginning EMDR treatment.

From EMDRIA:

“After the therapist and client agree that EMDR therapy is a good fit, the client will work through the eight phases of EMDR therapy with their therapist.

Attention will be given to a negative image, belief, emotion, and body sensation related to this event, and then to a positive belief that would indicate the issue was resolved.

A typical EMDR therapy session lasts from 60-90 minutes. EMDR therapy may be used within a standard talking therapy, as an adjunctive therapy with a separate therapist, or as a treatment all by itself.”

From EMDRIA:

The Eight Phases

The eight phases are 1) history taking and treatment planning, 2) preparation, 3) assessment, 4) desensitization, 5) installation, 6) body scan, 7) closure and 8) reevaluation.

Phase 1: The first phase begins with a discussion between the therapist and client regarding what brings the client into therapy and how EMDR therapy can be used best for that client. The therapist and client develop a secure working relationship. The client’s history is discussed and a treatment plan is developed with attention to the pacing of therapy and the selection of traumatic events that will be part of treatment. In addition, the client’s internal and external resources are assessed.

Phase 2: In the preparation phase, the therapist explains the EMDR therapy process, terms, and sets expectations. Any client concerns and questions are addressed and a safe therapeutic alliance between therapist and client is established. The therapist and client collaborate to prepare specific techniques to cope with any emotional disturbance that might come up. Some clients need quite a bit of time in phases 1 and 2 in order to feel ready to move on to the following phases.

Phase 3: In assessment, the event to reprocess (also known as the target event) is identified, along with images, beliefs, feelings, and sensations about the event. Initial baseline measures are set by using the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scale and the Validity of Cognition (VOC) scale.

The next three phases are known as the ‘reprocessing’ phases and all involve dual attention bilateral stimulation (BLS). Dual attention BLS activates the client’s information processing system while keeping the client anchored in the present moment. Dual attention BLS can be side to side eye movements, sounds, or taps.

Phase 4: In the fourth phase, desensitization, the side to side eye movements, sounds, or taps are begun while focusing on the traumatic event, and continue until the client’s SUD reduces to zero (or 1 if appropriate). During this time, new thoughts, sensations, images, and feelings may emerge.

Phase 5: When desensitization is complete, installation begins. In this phase, the client associates and strengthens a positive belief with the target event until it feels completely true.

Phase 6: During the body scan, the client is asked to hold in mind the target event and the positive belief while scanning the body from head to toe. Any lingering disturbance from the body is reprocessed.

The last two phases ensure safety for the client both at the end of a current session and at the beginning of the next session.

Phase 7: Every session of reprocessing ends with the seventh phase, closure, in which the client is assisted to return to a state of calm in the present moment whether the reprocessing is complete or not. Reprocessing of an event is complete when the client feels neutral about it (SUD=0), the positive belief feels completely true (VOC=7), and the body is completely clear of disturbance.

Phase 8: Reevaluation, is how each new session begins after reprocessing. The client and therapist discuss recently processed memories to ensure that distress is still low and that the positive cognition is still strong. Future targets and directions for continued treatment are determined.”

It is important to recognize that therapists can be of a great support to you. However, it is imperative that if you are in a mental health crisis, you may need to utilize more immediate supports. Please see the resources below to utilize if you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis at this time:

Where to get help 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekIf you or someone you know talks about suicide, self-harm, a mental health crisis, a substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress, get help right away. You can:

-Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

-Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

-Text HOME to 741741 to access the Crisis Text Line.

**Consider saving these numbers in your phone.

Call or seek immediate medical care (911) if:

-You have one or more warning signs of suicide. For example, call if:

-You feel like giving away your possessions.

-You use illegal drugs or drink alcohol heavily.

-You talk or write about death. This may include writing suicide notes and talking about guns, knives, or pills.

-You start to spend a lot of time alone or spend more time alone than usual.

-You hear voices.

-You start acting in an aggressive way that's not normal for you.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.

Peace of Mind Psychotherapy LLC takes most in-network insurances for mental health services including: Aetna, Cigna and Evernorth, Oscar Health, Oxford, United Healthcare UHC | UBH and BCBS. Peace of Mind Psychotherapy LLC also works with out-of-network benefits by providing a superbill to clients or submitting claims on behalf of clients. Peace of Mind Psychotherapy LLC also provides select sliding scale slots to those in financial need.

Self-pay rates for mental health services for clients are $200. Select number of sliding scale slots are available.