Perinatal EMDR

Perinatal mental health is a critical component of women's health, encompassing the time from conception to one year postpartum. During this time, women experience significant physical and emotional changes that can be overwhelming, and many women also face the challenges of infertility, pregnancy loss, and traumatic childbirth experiences. These experiences can lead to a range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

EMDR is an evidence-based treatment that has been shown to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health issues, including those that affect the perinatal population. EMDR works by helping clients process traumatic memories and experiences, allowing them to reprocess and integrate the memories in a more adaptive way. The treatment involves a series of eye movements, sounds, or taps that stimulate both sides of the brain, which has been shown to help clients process memories more effectively.

For women in the perinatal period, EMDR can be particularly helpful in addressing issues related to pregnancy loss, traumatic childbirth experiences, and other traumatic events related to the perinatal period. Studies have shown that EMDR can be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD and anxiety related to traumatic childbirth experiences, and can also help women cope with the grief and loss associated with pregnancy loss.

In addition to its efficacy, EMDR has several other benefits for the perinatal population. Unlike medication, EMDR does not have any side effects and is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. EMDR is also a relatively short-term treatment, typically lasting 6-12 sessions, which can be particularly helpful for women who may have limited time and resources.