Photo of Heather McDermott, Psychologist in 60093, IL
Heather McDermott
Psychologist, PsyD, MEd, CAMS-II, CSAC
Verified Verified
Winnetka, IL 60093  (Online Only)
Individuals can lead a happier, more productive life when they are engaged in the therapy process. I specialize in assisting individuals who are experiencing life transitions including divorce, illness, bereavement, and change of careers. I also treat depression, anxiety, addictions (including substance abuse), trauma, and a variety of other psychological concerns. I routinely work with individuals' physicians and a variety of other practitioners to create a comprehensive treatment plan. I am an anger management specialist, certified by the National Association for Anger Management Specialists as well as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC). I am also a certified EMDR therapist.
Individuals can lead a happier, more productive life when they are engaged in the therapy process. I specialize in assisting individuals who are experiencing life transitions including divorce, illness, bereavement, and change of careers. I also treat depression, anxiety, addictions (including substance abuse), trauma, and a variety of other psychological concerns. I routinely work with individuals' physicians and a variety of other practitioners to create a comprehensive treatment plan. I am an anger management specialist, certified by the National Association for Anger Management Specialists as well as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC). I am also a certified EMDR therapist.
(808) 419-7820 View (808) 419-7820
Photo of Trauma Recovery Solutions at The Juniper Center, Psychologist in 60093, IL
Trauma Recovery Solutions at The Juniper Center
Psychologist, PsyD, CSADC, BCETS
Verified Verified
Northfield, IL 60093
Do you sometimes feel like you can't get beyond events that have happened in your life? Do you feel troubled or haunted by them despite your best efforts to move on? Are you withdrawn, unpredictable or irritable, releasing your feelings on the ones you love most. You may feel like you can't control your emotions or life. We work to help you understand what is happening in your brain and body that prevent you from digesting what has happened and to help you put it in the past, to move on. At The Juniper Center, we're helping you live your best life.
Do you sometimes feel like you can't get beyond events that have happened in your life? Do you feel troubled or haunted by them despite your best efforts to move on? Are you withdrawn, unpredictable or irritable, releasing your feelings on the ones you love most. You may feel like you can't control your emotions or life. We work to help you understand what is happening in your brain and body that prevent you from digesting what has happened and to help you put it in the past, to move on. At The Juniper Center, we're helping you live your best life.
(847) 892-4055 x1 View (847) 892-4055 x1
EMDR Therapists

Who is EMDR for?

EMDR was initially developed as a treatment for individuals with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for whom memories of a deeply distressing experience can be inadvertently triggered by random everyday events. The procedure has since been applied in the treatment of many other conditions. For example, it is used by some therapists to treat anxiety disorders including panic and phobias, depression, dissociative disorders, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and some personality disorders. It is suitable for adolescents and adults.

Why do people need EMDR?

People need EMDR as a way to manage distressing memories that in some way hamper the ability to function in the present. The procedure is believed to target the way memories are stored in the brain. Evidence indicates that past disturbing experiences cause ongoing distress because they were not adequately processed, and when such memories are triggered in the present, they are accompanied by all the emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations as the initial experience.

What problems does EMDR treat?

First and foremost, EMDR is intended as a treatment for PTSD, to defuse distressing memories that intrude on and impair everyday functioning. It is also often used to help those who are subject to panic attacks, phobias, and other forms of anxiety. In addition, EMDR has been used to treat individuals with depression, eating disorders, and personality disorders.

What happens in EMDR therapy?

First the therapist takes an individual’s history, and then the therapist and client decide which distressing experience(s) will be the target(s) of the exercise, delivered via a side-to-side visual stimulus requiring lateral eye movements. The client will be asked to activate thoughts, feelings, and any body sensations related to the troubling experience. The eye movements are said to reduce the emotional charge of the memory, so that the experience can then be safely discussed with the therapist and digested, minimizing its ability to trigger anxiety.