The women that I work with often don’t relate to having experiences identified as “trauma” or traumatic experiences”. Even when what they have been through me would be considered trauma. I always like to mention that I’m not here to try and persuade you necessarily that what you’ve experienced is trauma but to at least recognize those were painful experiences. Regardless of if you call it trauma or a painful experience, it’s important to recognize those are experiences that may be impacting you today. Many people don’t want to dwell on the past but would rather move on. The truth is if we don’t address those negative experiences in the past they will continue to play a role in our lives even when we don’t want them to. EMDR therapy is a therapy that has been known to treat symptoms of trauma and PTSD but something that surprises people when they learn about EMDR is that it addresses the negative beliefs you may be holding onto yourself. You don’t have to buy into having trauma PTSD, but those negative beliefs are worth changing, and the best way I know how to change deeply ingrained negative beliefs is through EMDR therapy.
What are examples of negative beliefs?
Everyone has a different way of saying the negative belief they have about themselves, and language is important in connecting with the negative beliefs. Here are some of the common negative beliefs that I see that come up when using EMDR:
I’m not good enough
I’m a failure
I’m unworthy
I’m dirty
I’m disgusting
It’s all my fault
I’m unloveable
I’m powerless
I’m helpless
I have no control
I’m weak
I’m damaged/broken
I’m stupid
I’m a burden
I’ll never be ok
Can EMDR help with negative thoughts?
Our negative thoughts might come in themes that come from the negative beliefs we hold to about ourselves. EMDR therapy can help negative thoughts by processing the negative beliefs that they are connected to. Negative beliefs that influence negative thoughts come from past negative experiences that can impact depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and other mental health issues. Negative beliefs impact our self-esteem and the negative things we tell ourselves. Through EMDR therapy, you are guided through a past experience when you remember believing the negative belief about yourself using bilateral stimulation such as tapping, eye movements, or sounds. EMDR can help you process an experience and belief about yourself that you may never have done so effectively. This therapeutic experience helps you see yourself more accurately and in a more helpful way. You can think and feel better about yourself as a result of EMDR.
EMDR therapy in Utah can help change negative beliefs
If you’ve been struggling with how you feel about yourself, it can be changed. You might believe that this negative belief is true and shouldn’t be changed but the truth is that it can and should be changed. You are able to be a better version of yourself when you can let go of those painful experiences that may have led you to think of yourself as less than you are. Through EMDR therapy you can see situations and experiences in a different light. You can start to feel more neutral about what’s happened and not feel such strong emotions. EMDR therapy has the power to free you from experiences you never thought possible.
Start working with an EMDR therapist in Utah
You are good enough and you deserve to realize it. You don’t have to keep going through life carrying a heavy weight of believing you are to blame for things that you were never meant to take responsibility for. EMDR therapy can help you. This Utah Counseling Clinic has an EMDR therapist who specializes in EMDR and can help. To begin counseling follow the steps below:
Meet with an EMDR therapist near Provo, Utah
Begin changing your negative beliefs.
EMDR Therapy Online in Utah
Many people are surprised to know that EMDR therapy is also done through online therapy and is just as effective as in-person therapy. When doing EMDR therapy, online software is used to simulate bilateral stimulation to process negative beliefs the same way you would if you were in person. EMDR therapy online is more effective than in-person therapy for some people. This is why I offer online therapy in Utah so you can still have access to an EMDR therapist without having to leave home.
Online counseling means I work with clients all over the state. I work with clients in St. George, Cedar City, Provo, Salt Lake City, Heber City, Logan, and more.
Other mental health services near Provo, Utah
EMDR therapy isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah Counseling Center. Other mental health services provided by Maple Canyon Therapy include eating disorder therapy, body image therapy, anxiety therapy, binge eating disorder treatment, counseling for college students, and birth trauma therapy. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to see how I can help.
About the Author
Ashlee Hunt is a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Maple Canyon Therapy near Provo, Utah. Ashlee has a bachelor's degree in family life and human development and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Southern Utah University. She holds a master's degree in social work from Utah State University. Ashlee has had training in EMDR from EMDRIA and utilizes it to treat not only trauma but to help in eating disorder recovery. She believes EMDR is a tool to utilize outside of PTSD or traumatic experiences.