EMDR for Kids with Anxiety
As anxiety counselors in St. Louis, we know that therapy is not always one size fits all.
That’s why we are thrilled to share that our therapist, Allegra Grawer, is basic level 1 and 2 trained in EMDR, and is currently receiving EMDRIA certification supervision. Like our whole team, Allegra specializes in anxiety and anger management therapy for kids and teens, but her expertise in EMDR allows her to bring another huge tool to the table. EMDR helps us meet the needs of our kids, teens and college students that may benefit from a different kind of therapy than our typical CBT approach.
Allegra shares her expertise below on EMDR for kids, how it can help with anxiety, and when you should consider seeking this kind of therapy.
EMDR Therapist for Kids, Allegra Grawer
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based therapy that was initially designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the effects of trauma. While it is considered a highly effective therapy for the treatment of trauma, it is also very effective in the treatment of anxiety, depression, self-regulation, attachment issues, dissociation, and any distressing memory.
Trauma and anxiety get stored in the brain
When a traumatic or upsetting event occurs, the brain can have difficulty processing and storing the memories in a healthy, or adaptive, way. When memories get stored, all of the emotions, thoughts, body sensations (i.e. smells, sounds), and physical responses that happened at the time of the event can get tangled up in the memory network, in a similar way that having a skinned knee, and not cleaning it out from tiny pebbles and debris, would cause an ongoing issue and not heal properly. EMDR can be compared to cleaning the debris and tiny pebbles out of the skinned knee, so that it can heal properly and return to normal function. It doesn’t erase memories, or even change them, but it clears out the bad or yucky parts that have gotten stuck.
Why did you choose to become certified in EMDR?
I have been very interested in how trauma and bad experiences/memories affect the way the brain can store information, especially in dysfunctional ways, and how that inhibits growth and progress. And just as fascinating to me is how the brain can heal itself and adapt – the plasticity of the brain is amazing! I first heard about EMDR when it was a new therapy, and I was an undergrad studying social work (31+ years ago. After starting my work at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, I began seeing that many maladaptive memory networks can stem from everyday situations, often situations that a person wouldn’t describe as traumatic and yet these memory networks can cause a great deal of distress and be very triggering to people.
How safe and effective is EMDR for kids?
EMDR is very safe to use with children and teens.
Before we even get into the processing part, we have a preparation stage. In this stage, I get a thorough history (social-emotional, developmental and medical) of the child or teen, and I help my client in developing self-regulation resources and tools, which will be used during and outside of session time. There’s a lot of overlap between the tools I use in EMDR and the tools used in other therapies, like CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy).
Is EMDR only for those who have experienced trauma?
No, EMDR can be used with anyone who has experienced situations that they found upsetting, and that have caused continued distress. This can even include situations that the person doesn’t specifically remember, but by which the client is still being triggered.
How do you use EMDR for anxiety?
There are often upsetting events or memories that are at the root of a person’s anxiety, and these can be targeted for reprocessing, so that the memories no longer cause a negative reaction. Anxiety may be the presenting issue, but can be helped and symptoms can be made better, by reprocessing memories and experiences that may have caused, or be contributing to, the anxiety the client is experiencing.
Is there an age limit for EMDR?
EMDR can be used with all ages!
Even young children have been shown to benefit from EMDR when there was an earlier distressing or traumatic event.
EMDR can be used in conjunction with play therapy or other therapies that encourage natural processing of the distressing feelings, without necessarily talking about them. Children can be playing throughout the session while reprocessing is taking place!
Can you still do EMDR for kids with virtual therapy?
Yes, and that has been my only experience thus far due to Covid. There are many ways to do the bilateral stimulation (BLS), that is used as part of the reprocessing stage of EMDR, and this has been adapted nicely for virtual therapy. I’m looking forward to working in person with clients who are going through EMDR, but for now, virtual has been working very well.
When should you not receive EMDR?
EMDR should not be used with anyone who is currently abusing substances, and caution would be used with anyone with a neurological diagnosis, or with anyone with a severe dissociative disorder.
What do you wish people knew about EMDR for anxiety and trauma?
I wish more people understood that EMDR can make someone’s life feel so much better! This can be like a weight has been lifted, and people often come away feeling empowered and emotionally stronger and more resilient. People often struggle with past experiences, which may lead to shame and/or embarrassment, and a need to hide what the person is going through. It is amazing that there can be true healing, and people can experience wonderful transformations, after going through EMDR.
When should a parent consider getting their child EMDR therapy?
If the child has experienced any trauma or upsetting events in the past, I would say to definitely consider EMDR. If children seem to have extreme difficulty with regulating their emotions, or if they are being triggered often during normal daily activities, we can assess if EMDR might be an appropriate treatment.
When scheduling a session with you at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, should I specifically ask for EMDR on the consultation call or should we discuss during our first session?
You don’t have to be sure when you’re scheduling at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, but you can definitely share your interest in learning more about EMDR during the consultation call. Once you’re booked, we will still have a check-in and time to discuss what has been going on, in order to get more of that background information necessary as part of the preparation phase. Depending on the age of the child, more time may need to be spent with parents in the beginning, to complete the history taking and so we can begin to conceptualize how we will proceed with treatment. You will always be involved and know what is going on every step of the way!
Curious to learn more about EMDR for kids and anxiety therapy in St. Louis? Do your thoughts get way too loud? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anger management and anxiety therapy in St. Louis for kids, teens, and college students. We love helping with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. You can set up your free phone screening to see if we’re a good fit for your needs right on our website.