Annie came seeking help with a stressful situation at work. She had traumatic memories from her early teens and early twenties. She had six sessions of EMDR. After therapy she wrote
This is just to thank you so much for the EMDR therapy you gave me. I am back to work and feel so much better. I have gained an inner strength and confidence that I have never felt before. I am seeing things so much more clearly now and not catastrophizing everything. I have taken charge and not felt any undue stress. I do feel so much stronger now, so many people have remarked on the difference in me.
Thank you so much for your help and getting me through the darkest of times.’
18 months later Annie wrote
‘EMDR certainly worked for me, as I have gone from strength to strength. My last appraisal was absolutely glowing. I have so much more confidence in myself now. The therapy has also enabled me to improve my relationships with the staff at work and has given me insight in assisting them with their problems. I have recommended the therapy to others.
I cannot thank you enough for changing my life. I seemed to have dealt with all the baggage that had been dragging me down, of which I was completely unaware of, prior to the therapy.
During the EMDR sessions I had with you, I wasn't sure how they were helping me, but you said give it time. Somehow it has given me a whole different mindset in how to deal with problems and issues that arise in my life. I am much better at dealing with the relationships with my parents and sister, I am not so driven by guilt.’
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Karen sought help for a wasp phobia. We combined EMDR with some exposure to wasps. She came for five sessions. A year later Karen wrote
‘I just wanted to drop you a quick line as I came to you last year for help with my wasp phobia. As our sessions ended up running into the end of the summer, it was very difficult for us to judge exactly how much or if the sessions had been successful.
As an example of this summer, I was sat in my mum's garden when suddenly there was a swarm of wasps. I didn't even move but sat completely calmly brushing them away from other people who were panicking.
My whole family who have seen me for many years panicking at the mere sight of a wasp 50 yards away were totally stunned into silence. I didn't even realise I wasn't panicking until I saw their faces, I just didn't even think about it.
I just wanted to say thank you. I was hoping that the sessions would make my phobia bearable, I didn't expect such a huge difference, I enjoyed the summer this year for the first time ever.’
*some names may have been changed to protect privacy
