08 Apr
If you’re struggling with anxiety that feels like it never stops, there’s hope. At Novu Wellness, we offer EMDR for GAD as a powerful tool. You will feel better, calmer, and more in control.
Let’s explore how this innovative therapy can help reduce excessive worry. It can also improve daily life, especially when anxiety feels too big to manage alone.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy designed to help people process traumatic memories and reduce emotional distress.
It was developed by Francine Shapiro and uses a technique called bilateral stimulation—often through eye movements—to help the brain reprocess disturbing thoughts and negative experiences.
While EMDR was first used to treat posttraumatic stress disorder, it’s now also used to treat panic attacks, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more.
At Novu Wellness, our mental health practitioners use EMDR as part of our treatment plan for clients who deal with generalized anxiety disorder, mood disorders, and complicated grief.
The basic principles of EMDR are simple: help clients face painful life events, reduce the emotional intensity, and give them the tools to live a better life. It’s one of the most effective treatments for managing anxiety and healing from past traumatic experiences.
EMDR and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder causes constant excessive worry, physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing, and makes it hard to enjoy daily life.
EMDR for GAD helps clients process negative memories and life experiences that may be triggering or fueling their anxiety. The goal isn’t to forget—but to remember in a different way that no longer causes emotional distress.
Our team at Novu Wellness works closely with each person to uncover the root causes of their anxiety symptoms, whether that’s a series of traumatic events, a single original event, or a buildup of negative beliefs.
This therapy technique gives the brain a chance to reprocess these distressing memories, lowering the anxiety levels and offering a real significant reduction in symptoms.
EMDR helps people feel more in control of their thoughts and their emotional state, so they can handle stress, triggers, and social situations without fear.
In our Intensive Outpatient Program and Partial Hospitalization Program, we integrate EMDR to support those living with severe anxiety on a daily basis.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy for GAD
There are many benefits of EMDR for those with generalized anxiety disorder. One of the biggest is that it doesn’t require talking in detail about the painful memories to work.
This makes it especially helpful for those who struggle with negative emotions, emotional intensity, or shame about past life events.
EMDR can help you feel relief from physical symptoms like chest tightness or body sensations that come with anxiety. It can also help reduce the impact of traumatic stress disorder or major depressive disorder when both are present—known as dual diagnosis.
At Novu Wellness, we’ve seen a significant improvement in clients’ quality of life. Many report fewer panic attacks, less emotional distress, and better sleep. Some even say it’s the first time they’ve felt like themselves again.
We include EMDR in our holistic therapy model because it treats the whole person—not just the symptoms. From cognitive-behavioral therapy to EMDR, we use a variety of options to meet the unique needs of each client.
Comparing EMDR with Other Therapies for GAD
While cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often the first choice for treating anxiety, EMDR for GAD provides another effective treatment—especially when anxiety stems from traumatic experiences or long-term emotional distress.
CBT focuses on challenging and changing negative beliefs, while EMDR helps people process and reframe distressing memories at a deeper level.
Both can work well, but EMDR may show faster results for those who haven’t improved with talk therapy alone. In clinical settings like Novu Wellness, we often combine both therapies for a more comprehensive treatment plan.
CBT helps people with social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, while EMDR can address traumatic events that contribute to those mental health conditions.
Unlike medication, EMDR doesn’t involve side effects, which makes it a great treatment option for people who want to avoid or reduce reliance on prescriptions.
As published in the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, even control group studies have shown strong evidence for the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization in treating anxiety disorders.
What to Expect in an EMDR Session for GAD
During your first EMDR session at Novu Wellness, we’ll help you feel comfortable in a supportive environment. We’ll start by getting to know your current symptoms, past experiences, and triggers.
Then, our trained EMDR therapist will guide you through the eight phases of EMDR based on Adaptive Information Processing theory.
In each session, you’ll recall disturbing thoughts, negative memories, or traumatic experiences while following a visual cue (like a light or hand movement) to create bilateral stimulation.
This helps the brain process those memories differently, reducing the emotional intensity tied to them.
Over time, you’ll likely notice a significant reduction in anxiety levels, fewer panic attacks, and better control over your emotional state.
You might feel tired afterward or have vivid dreams, but these are part of how your brain is healing.
Our sessions are tailored to your unique needs, whether you’re in our PHP or IOP program, and we’ll adjust the treatment plan based on how you feel after each session.
Potential Side Effects and Risks
While EMDR is a safe and effective treatment, it can bring up strong emotional distress in the beginning. You may feel tired, tearful, or anxious after recalling traumatic memories.
Some clients experience temporary changes in sleep, mood, or body sensations like headaches or tension.
However, these are usually short-lived and part of the brain’s way of working through negative experiences.
At Novu Wellness, our EMDR sessions are always done in a safe, trauma-informed setting with trained professionals. We create a supportive environment so clients feel secure when intense feelings arise.
If you have history of substance abuse, sleep deprivation, or bipolar disorder, we’ll assess if EMDR is right for you.
Our team also monitors for any side effects and makes sure you have support between sessions if needed.
Overall, EMDR has very few risks when guided by a qualified therapist, and most clients experience a significant improvement.
Finding a Qualified EMDR Therapist
Choosing the right EMDR therapist matters. At Novu Wellness, all EMDR providers are trained in EMDR Practice and Research and follow guidelines from the APA.
Our clinicians understand how complex mental health disorders like GAD, panic disorder, or traumatic stress disorder impact your daily life.
We don’t just focus on current symptoms, create a custom treatment plan. We take into account your past events, family history, and emotional state.
If you’re in Atlanta, Roswell, or Woodstock, Georgia, we can help you begin your healing journey. Whether you’re entering our PHP, IOP, or need individual therapy, we’re here to support your growth.
Our approach is always compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-based. With EMDR, we help clients move beyond traumatic events and find peace in the present.
Call us today at (706)-890-5410 to see how EMDR for GAD can help you or your loved one.
Finding Strength
EMDR for GAD is a powerful, science-backed therapy. It helps people overcome anxiety, heal from trauma, and feel better in their everyday lives.
At Novu Wellness, we’re proud to offer this innovative therapy to support your path to recovery. Contact us to help you move forward—starting today.
