The EMDR Institute Incorporated states EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes.
More than 30 positive controlled outcome studies have been done on EMDR therapy. Some of the studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90-minute sessions. Another study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after only six 50-minute sessions. In another study, 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions. There has been so much research on EMDR therapy that it is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense. Given the worldwide recognition as an effective treatment of trauma, you can easily see how EMDR therapy would be effective in treating the “everyday” memories that are the reason people have low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, and all the myriad problems that bring them in for therapy. Over 100,000 clinicians throughout the world use the therapy. Millions of people have been treated successfully over the past 25 years.
EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment. Eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation) are used during one part of the session. After the clinician has determined which memory to target first, he asks the client to hold different aspects of that event or thought in mind and to use his eyes to track the therapist’s hand as it moves back and forth across the client’s field of vision. As this happens, for reasons believed by a Harvard researcher to be connected with the biological mechanisms involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, internal associations arise and the clients begin to process the memory and disturbing feelings. In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level. For instance, a rape victim shifts from feeling horror and self-disgust to holding the firm belief that, “I survived it and I am strong.” Unlike talk therapy, the insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from clinician interpretation, but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes. The net effect is that clients conclude EMDR therapy feeling empowered by the very experiences that once debased them. Their wounds have not just closed, they have transformed. As a natural outcome of the EMDR therapeutic process, the clients’ thoughts, feelings and behavior are all robust indicators of emotional health and resolution—all without speaking in detail or doing homework used in other therapies.
There are several ways to schedule an appointment.
You can call me directly at 970.672.0664. I do my best to answer phone calls, but if you get my voicemail that means I’m either in session or simply away from the phone. Please feel free to leave a message on my confidential voicemail, and I will return your call as soon as possible, typically before the end of the business day.
You can send me an email at kate@kateheitzler.com
If you have any questions, just ask! I’m here to help. I sincerely look forward to hearing from you!
Great question! When you make the decision to begin counseling, you take a huge step toward obtaining mental and emotional health for yourself and your relationships. However, I understand that this can be intimidating and scary. Please know, one of my top priorities is to provide a non-judgmental environment where you feel safe, listened to, and understood. My goal is to help you and your relationships become the healthiest they can be. If you have any questions or concerns as we begin, please bring them to my attention before or during our first session.
Upon scheduling your first appointment, you will be sent the forms to complete online via simplepractice.com. As soon as you complete them I will get an electronic notice and will be able to read them. These forms will provide me with some information about you, but also give you additional information about the counseling process with me. Its best to complete these forms ahead of time so we can get started right away and maximize our time together.
When you arrive, please have a seat in our waiting room. I will be out to greet you at the scheduled time. From here we will walk to my office and I will invited to share your story and we will begin to identify why you are seeking help at this time. I will find out from you what is not working and help identify ways we can work together to make it better. Our first session will primarily be a time to identify what brought you to therapy as well as to establish your goals for therapy. This early time is significant as I come to understand your history and any other contributing factors related to your therapy goals. If all goes well, we will then decide how often we will meet and what issues we will work on together.
Keep in mind that therapy is a team effort and, as a team, our purpose is to accomplish the goals you desire to reach. I want to encourage you to be realistic and patient about this process as therapy is rarely a quick fix, but rather a rich process that requires time as well as a trusting relationship built between us.
I sincerely look forward to meeting you!
As a highly trained therapist, Licensed as a Professional Counselor, my goal is to help you feel better and to have the healthy, happy relationships you deserve! Counseling sessions are 45-50 minutes in length and cost between $120-$150 per 45-50 minute session. Acceptable forms of payment include check, cash and all major credit and debit cards.
If you have questions about my fees, please contact me at 970-672-0664 or kate@kateheitzler.com. I will do my best to return your call by the end of the business day.
I understand that having health insurance can be important when you have medical issues and expenses. However, using medical insurance for counseling has some risks involved that I want to make you aware of. In order to use your medical insurance for counseling, you must be given a mental disorder diagnosis and that diagnosis will become a part of your permanent medical record. Having a mental diagnosis on your record may carry long-term implications and may hinder you from being able to obtain life insurance, disability or health insurance in the future. Additionally, filing an insurance claim means your diagnosis, dates of service, etc., are no longer totally confidential, and your insurance company will be aware of your treatment and diagnosis.
Most insurance companies do not pay for couples counseling as they do not see relationship struggles as a medical problem.
This is why I do not accept insurance directly. I want to help you with your relationships– not potentially cause more problems or frustrations later due to a diagnosis on your records!
Some therapists accept insurance for reimbursement without informing their clients of this crucial information. I want you to be fully informed of these risks and implications before you make a decision to use your insurance for counseling. Hopefully, this knowledge will help prevent any unwanted emotional, relational and financial stress that may be caused by having an mental disorder diagnosis on your medical record.
For individuals who completely understand the risks involved with being given a mental diagnosis, and who still want to use their insurance for counseling, I will provide a statement via email 24 hours after each session for insurance reimbursement for out-of-network counseling.
You will be responsible for the full fee and charged for the time reserved when cancellations are received less than 48 hours in advance.
Yes. Confidentiality is a key component of the counseling relationship, allowing you a safe place to work through personal issues. Your right to confidentiality will be carefully maintained and will not be disclosed without your permission. Exceptions to confidentiality include possible harm to yourself or others, child abuse, or a court subpoena.
Please note that in couples counseling I do not agree to keep secrets. Information revealed may be discussed with either partner.
Also, please be aware that emailing is not a guaranteed form of confidentiality.
