I have a good opinion of EMDR based on many people?s feedback of the therapy, which is suppose to be excellent for PTSD. There?s lots of info in the internet, just search EMDR. If she was employing a form of hypnosis, I can?t comment.
Based on my ?unprofessional? understanding and knowledge of the subject, it sounds like you ?were? having some memories return that were being stimulated by the environment you were in. I don?t want to presume, but it may have been the best therapy for you. It sounds like she didn?t complete the process and just left you hanging. You don?t open a can of worms and leave the person to deal with the mess without assistance and adequate information. That?s irresponsible.
Let me give you an example of how it can work. Say that you had a very harsh mother. She frequently called you stupid, harshly criticized your efforts, and mistakes resulted in severe consequences and/or violence. Using the computer as an analogy, that software gets loaded- I?m stupid and can?t do anything right, and there will be harsh consequences if I make a mistake. Often times, there is a coping mechanism associated with it, like pacing or rocking, cataplexy- mental paralysis (zoning out), etc. Later in life you may have a boss who is critical and always looking over your shoulder. This can bring up the old feelings without conscious awareness of any association with your mother.
While you wouldn?t resort to ?sucking your thumb? or other coping mechanisms you developed as a child, you might get nervous, or stressed, sweat, etc. And rarely will a person be able to rationalize when they are in the presence of the stimulus, not until after some therapy anyway. Another person, with the same boss, would not necessarily have that reaction, because they weren?t ?programmed? with that particular software. They may have been ?programmed to know their worth and how to blow-off irrational people; and will simply ignore him/her or move on if the boss is too unreasonable.
A very important reason that we should be careful what we model for our kids. They are like sponges and and are being ?programmed? every minute. If they see you dealing with difficult situations in a reasonable way, if the self worth program is installed, they will have a much easier time dealing with difficult people and situations when faced with them. This was one of my major concerns when my son spent two years in a program against my wishes. I knew there would be much software to re-write, much to ?de-program?, when he returned.
The way it played out for my son (the older) who also did time in a military program?. He was heinously abused which resulted in a successful lawsuit. While there and unable to even vent about all the abuse and injustice, he turned it inward. He was cutting and devil worshipping when he got to my house, and smoked lots of pot to keep the rage at bay. In a nutshell, he was treated disrespectfully. Anytime he was in a situation and even ?felt? disrespected, he couldn?t contain the rage. Even though he made no conscious connection, it was as if he were back in that situation, only currently with no fear of retaliation, free to express the anger he felt. He still turned it inward most of the time, hurting himself by hitting a wall or something similar.
Trust was very difficult for him too. I set him up with the best EMDR therapist in our town. He would rarely go to appointments, so I went and gained what knowledge I could so I could help him. I was the only person he fully trusted, so I spent many hours, late nights, 'counseling' him.
So, what EMDR and/or really good therapy does- if done correctly- is re-write the software. It doesn?t always happen that one will be totally free of the old software/feelings, depends on the degree of trauma associated with it. But, you can learn to recognize when it?s happening and develop strategies that will make it easier when you?re in those stressful situations that might tend to recall the feelings attached to the old software.
I'd hate for you to reject a potentially benefical therapy based on the misbelief that it 'caused' those behaviors. But, I don't know what she actually did and you should get your records or otherwise inquire, and hope that the answer is contained in the notes.
