Peaceful Hearts Counseling Services Inc.

Peaceful Hearts Counseling now offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. EMDR helps people decrease the powerful negative effects of trauma.

While trauma has traditionally been associated with catastrophic events such as war, hurricanes, tsunamis, accidents, rape, or violence, more recent concepts broaden traumatic experiences to fit the dictionary definition: any event with a lasting negative effect.

People experience trauma in very individual ways, and trauma can come from a multitude of experiences ranging from lost jobs, loved ones, pets and even past memories of long- or short-term physical, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse in childhood or early life.

EMDR uses an 8-phase approach to treat emotionally disturbing memories. Guided eye movements, the most unique aspect of EMDR, alternately stimulate the left and right hemispheres of the brain—back and forth. That process helps a person desensitize traumatic memories—memories that are over and now harmless but remain very frightening.

Desensitization means that the person becomes comfortable with the memory. Reprocessing the memory means trying to understand it in a way that becomes useful instead of frightening. This process allows the brain to connect the trauma with more positive and empowering emotions and thinking, which can spontaneously lead to more appropriate behaviors.

Once a person completes the process of desensitization and reprocessing, EMDR can further assist that person to amplify memories and sensations of safe and pleasant experiences and to work toward a more positive future.

Dr. Francine Shapiro began developing EMDR in 1987 to work with trauma victims. Since that time, a wealth of research has backed EMDR and inspired expanded use in many areas of the mental health field to work on a variety of traumatic memories.

"I started counseling with Linda in March 2006 after another relapse. While I've been able to stay sober for months at a time, I've never truly been able to maintain a happy, healthy lifestyle. My life was like a roller coaster ride that I wanted to stop. I was tired of the up and down emotions, tired of fighting, tired of dreaming. I was determined to beat the addiction and get my life back.

I felt different after my first appointment with Linda, it was a feeling I had never experienced before. I felt God beside me telling me to keep on fighting. For over 30 years I've been dealing with the effects of being sexually abused by a family member when I was 9 years old. During the past 30 years I have tried different ways to ease the pain. I would go from one Counselor to another telling my story over and over unable to find the answer. There were times of joy and happiness until the dreams started. I couldn't get the visions out of my mind. I was reliving the abuse and rapes over and over again.
Linda asked me if I was willing to try EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy. EMDR helps people decrease the powerful negative effects of trauma. After some research and discussion with Linda, I was ready to give it a try.

Praise God! After several sessions of EMDR Therapy with Linda I no longer have recurring nightmares of my past. Today I am focused on the present and what God has in store for my life. While I still continue to take anti-depression medication, the mood swings are not as severe. I have finally gotten off the roller coaster.

Thank you Linda for your guidance and prayers of support. With your help, I was able to change how I view the events of the past. Today guilt and shame no longer control my life, God does. I am grateful to God for sending me to Linda. She is a kind, companionate, caring person who can help you turn your life around."