In the heart of Los Angeles, where dreams are made, there's a transformative therapy shining like a star – EMDR! This innovative approach, known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is making waves in the realm of mental health treatment. Whether you're struggling with past traumas or seeking to overcome life's hurdles, EMDR therapy in Los Angeles is your red carpet to healing from depression and personal growth. Step into the spotlight of emotional well-being and let EMDR guide you to a blockbuster life transformation!

EMDR Therapy Explained

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a highly effective psychotherapy technique effective in treating trauma and depression. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR has gained widespread recognition as a powerful therapeutic approach. The therapy involves a structured eight-phase process, during which the client recalls distressing memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, typically in the form of side-to-side eye movements or tapping. This bilateral stimulation is thought to mimic the natural processing that occurs during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, where the brain consolidates memories and emotions. As a result, EMDR helps individuals reprocess traumatic experiences and negative beliefs, leading to reduced emotional distress and the promotion of adaptive, positive cognitive changes.

The mechanism of change in EMDR therapy is explained by the adaptive information processing model. Traumatic events and negative experiences can overwhelm the brain's natural coping mechanisms, leaving them unprocessed and stored in a maladaptive manner. These unresolved memories contribute to the development and maintenance of psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. EMDR therapy facilitates the reprocessing of these distressing memories by linking them with more adaptive information and integrating them into the individual's existing belief system. Through bilateral stimulation and guided processing, clients often experience a reduction in the emotional intensity associated with the traumatic memories. Thus, leading to decreased symptoms of trauma and depression and fostering a sense of emotional healing and resilience.

Adaptive information processing Model

 Adaptive information Processing Theory is the supporting theory behind the EMDR therapy observed results. This theory purports that the brain processes  new information and  experiences and assimilates them by categorizing them and storing them in memory networks. 

The beliefs, feelings, body sensations, thoughts, will be linked to specific memories and will be stored in the networks based on the memory network categories and corresponding beliefs.  When a traumatic event occurs, aspects of the memory/ experience are stored maladaptively in memory networks which then can cause symptoms of PTSD such as re-experiencing, flashbacks, and emotional reactivity as a result. By applying bilateral stimulation these maladaptively stored memories can be reprocessed and stored more adaptively resulting in reduced disturbance. 

Depression in Los Angeles

Rates of depression  during the pandemic reached 44 percent according to an LA times article  in August of 2020. Since then, rates of depression in Los Angeles, CA have continued in a similar vein. Depression in Los Angeles, affects many people everyday and it can feel excruciating to personally experience as well as to watch a loved one go through.

When you are depressed, every day feels like a relentless battle against an invisible force draining the color and joy from your life. Your once vibrant passions now seem dull and meaningless, as if the world has lost its luster. The weight on your chest feels insurmountable, making each breath an arduous effort. Simple tasks become overwhelming hurdles, and even getting out of bed feels like confronting a daunting mountain. Emotions fluctuate from numbness to deep sadness, leaving you feeling disconnected from the world and those around you. The days blur into a haze of isolation, and despite the support from loved ones, a sense of loneliness persists, trapping you in a cycle of self-doubt and despair.

In this state of depression, even the smallest setbacks can trigger a cascade of negative thoughts, reinforcing the belief that you are a burden to others and unworthy of happiness. The future appears bleak, devoid of hope, and the constant mental exhaustion makes it challenging to see any glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Each day, you put on a façade to hide your pain from others, afraid that revealing your true feelings will only burden them further. The struggle seems never-ending, and finding the strength to seek help becomes an elusive task. In the depths of depression, it feels as though you are trapped in a dark pit, desperately yearning for an escape but unable to find a way out.

 There are many types of depression ranging from major depressive disorder, to Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), Post Partum depression, bipolar depression, seasonal affective disorder, and dysthymia or persistent depressive disorder.   Symptoms of  depression vary from person to person and between diagnoses, but here are some common depressive symptoms to look out for:

• difficulty making decisions,

• missing work, school, or social events,

• lack of interest in activities that used to bring you joy,

• changes in sleep patterns and eating patterns (eating too much or not enough), failing to engage in self-care routines such as showering.

• social isolation,

• fatigue,

• insomnia,

• slowed speech and movements,

• body aches, 

• sadness,

• extreme irritability and anger,

• crying spells,

• feeling numb,

• thoughts of death or suicide

    If you have been experiencing any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, reach out for help by talking to your PCP, or scheduling an appointment with a trained therapist. 

  According to the California Department of Public Health, between 2018-2020 Los Angeles had 2, 651 suicide deaths and in 2020 suicide was the 8th leading cause of premature death in LA County. 

How Does emdr therapy treat depression?

Depression can give rise to negative core beliefs that significantly influence an individual's perception of themselves, others, and the world around them. When someone experiences depression, it often involves a prolonged and intense state of sadness, hopelessness, and low self-esteem. These persistent negative emotions can lead the person to form deeply ingrained beliefs that they are inherently flawed, unworthy, or destined to fail. Depression can distort thoughts and create cognitive biases, causing individuals to interpret experiences in a pessimistic light, focusing on their perceived shortcomings and dismissing positive aspects of themselves and their lives. This negative self-view becomes a central part of their core beliefs, impacting how they view future situations, relationships, and their own abilities. As these negative core beliefs persist, they can reinforce and perpetuate the cycle of depression, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that further perpetuates feelings of sadness and worthlessness. Recognizing and addressing these negative core beliefs in therapy can be a crucial step in breaking free from the grips of depression and promoting a more positive and balanced view of oneself and the world.

Shifting negative core beliefs to be more adaptive can be a powerful and transformative strategy in treating depression using emdr therapy. Core beliefs are deep-seated, ingrained assumptions about oneself, others, and the world, which influence how individuals perceive and interpret experiences. In depression, these core beliefs are often negative and self-critical, fostering a pessimistic outlook on life and reinforcing feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness. By challenging and replacing these negative core beliefs with more adaptive and positive ones, individuals can alter their perspective and self-perception. During phase 5, the installation phase of EMDR therapy, the EMDR therapist helps the client establish and reinforce a positive belief in connection with the target event until it is perceived as entirely truthful.  As individuals learn to embrace healthier core beliefs, they develop a greater sense of self-acceptance, resilience, and optimism, enabling them to navigate life's challenges with increased confidence and emotional well-being. This process, helps individuals break free from the grip of depression, leading to a more fulfilling and satisfying life. Traditionally the method of treating negative core beliefs has been through cognitive behavioral therapy, (CBT), however, this process can take much longer than EMDR therapy to provide results. 

In a systematic review of 90 studies conducted by Scelles & Bulnes (2021), research demonstrated that EMDR therapy helped clients make progress to relieve symptoms faster than CBT and resulted in fewer relapses after treatment ended.  Additionally, EMDR was found to be significantly more effective than Treatment As Usual on quality of life in a study of patients suffering from a major depressive disorder.  EMDR was found to significantly reduce suicidal ideas in multiple studies on suicidal thoughts in major depressive disorder (Scelles & Bulnesm 2021).

EMDR Therapy With Flourish Mindset in Los Angeles

At Flourish Mindset, we take a holistic approach to treating depression and treatment-resistant depression in our Los Angeles office. Our trained EMDR therapists support clients in getting relief from depression by targeting negative core beliefs, and helping disrupt negative thought patterns that are contributing to treatment-resistant depression. We offer EMDR treatment in Los Angeles that takes an individualized approach and helps individuals take their power back. You don’t have to experience treatment-resistant depression in Los Angeles alone. We are here to help you get relief more efficiently than with traditional methods of treatment

Contact a Depression therpaist in walnut creek, ca and Begin EMDR Therapy

If you are interested in finding an EMDR therapist in Los Angeles to help treat your depression, use the link below to get to know our therapists. Or you can visit our contact page to ask us a question about the emdr therapy process. Start your therapy journey with Flourish Mindset by following these simple steps:

• Get to know our THERAPISTS HERE

• BOOK A FREE 20-MINUTE CONSULTATION

• Begin your new and exciting journey to healing
  
  
  Sources: Scelles, C., & Bulnes, L. C. (2021). EMDR as Treatment Option for Conditions Other Than PTSD: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 644369. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.644369

OTHER SERVICES OFFERED WITH FLOURISH MINDSET

Depression THERAPY isn’t the only service offered at Flourish Mindset. Our team is happy to offer a variety of services in support of your mental health. These include in-person therapy options in Los Angeles and ONLINE THERAPY options across California. Other services offered include COUPLES THERAPY, EMDR THERAPY, and CHILD AND TEEN THERAPY. We also offer ANXIETY THERAPY, Ketamine therapy, and THERAPY FOR SEXUAL TRAUMA.