What services does New Frontier Psychiatric & TMS provide?

We offer such a variety of services (or refer to the appropriate specialist), including:n n ✅ Brief psychotherapy (15 minutes) during half-hour visits with the psychiatrist n ✅ Referral to a therapist for 45- to 60-minute sessions, if needed n ✅ Cognitive behavioral therapy n ✅ Interpersonal therapy n ✅ Psychodynamic approaches n ✅ Exposure therapy n ✅ Behavioral activation n ✅ Many more n

What should I do if I need help?

Don’t live with the misery of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD or another mental health issue. Schedule an appointment with a female psychiatrist by calling 414-763-6910 or use our convenient Request an Appointment form. We welcome patients from Milwaukee, New Berlin, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, West Allis and surrounding communities.

EMDR Treatment Near You

EMDR in Milwaukee

EMDR therapy has been extensively researched over the years, and has successfully treated millions of patients suffering with PTSD and other trauma-based mental health issues, and is now being used in at least 130 countries. Positive outcomes can be seen in patients suffering from depression, anxiety, trauma, pain and other ailments. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy. It can help reduce the overwhelming emotion and vividness associated with painful memories.

At New Frontiers, we are excited to offer this effective treatment option here at our Milwaukee psychiatry clinic. Currently, Dr. Brian Flynn LCSW is the provider at our office who is trained in EMDR. Please contact us today about setting up an initial consultation.

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What Is EMDR? Understanding Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

This treatment is developed based on the Adaptive Information Processing model. When trauma disorders develop, it is believed that the memory is not properly processed. These memories contain the thoughts, sensations and emotions experienced at the time of the traumatic event and can be unleashed when disturbed or triggered. EMDR aims to correct the way the memory is stored with the goal to reduce the disruptive symptoms. During an EMDR therapy session, the patient carries some focus on that trauma while undergoing stimulation bilaterally that typically take the form of eye movements. It can also take the form of auditory taps. In effect, the trauma is processed with both sides of the brain stimulated. This process allows neural networks to connect from one side of the brain to another, hopefully promoting more adaptive storage of the memory. It is important before doing EMDR that one consults a mental health professional experienced in this therapy. A detailed intake and history gathering needs to take place to get an idea of the patient’s background, what they are looking to address as well as level of readiness and commitment to therapy. The provider then needs to develop a detailed treatment plan and assess what activities are most appropriate at this time, taking into consideration where the individual is at in their healing journey. During treatment, some may experience increased anxiety, emotional distress or vividness of their dreams. But with a well-trained EMDR provider near you and motivated collaborative work, these symptoms are expected to be transient on the road to recovery and better quality of life!

Common EMDR Techniques

The process of EMDR happens in various phases:

History Gathering and Treatment Planning – Mental health history is gathered, including information about traumas of the past, symptoms and triggers. In addition, measurable goals or expectations are discussed. Typically, for the most complete treatment plan and for best outcomes, adjunctive treatments are often recommended. This can include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, exposure therapy, and more.
Preparation – The process of EMDR is explained and time is provided for any questions to be asked. Coping tools will also be provided, and practiced to help navigate the experience of EMDR. This can include breathing techniques, mindfulness exercises, ways of cognitive reframing and practicing the eye movement.
Assessment – Dual attention stimuli (DAS) such as finger movements, eye movement, and musical tone are applied. Associated negative beliefs, memories, imagery and sensations are assessed while the focus is on the original traumatic event that is creating distress. The targeted memory is being activated in session as each of the memory components are identified: cognition, image, sensations, and affect. Changes in emotion and cognition are measured during treatment, such as using the Validity of Cognition scale and Subjective Units of Disturbance scale.
Desensitization, Installation, Body Scan, Closure – As the troublesome memory is identified, individuals are encouraged to speak while participating in the bilateral stimulation, allowing creation of new neural connections with triggers and memories. Reactions and feelings are emotionally processed in this recall with an aim to be able to visit the memory with minimal distress and be able to focus on more positive/healthier beliefs. Installation is the process of strengthening the healthier cognition. Body scan is the sixth phase of EMDR as one observes their physical response while thinking of the memory and healthier cognition, identifying ongoing physical distress. If found, bilateral stimulation is used to help process this. Closure is the process of ending the session peacefully, to provide containment and safety until revisiting at the next session.
Re-evaluation – At the following session, the provider examines the current clinical state, if benefits of treatment of maintained, and works on identifying targets of the current session.

Examples of EMDR

There are many cases of successful outcomes for patients who have undergone EMDR therapy.

Steph’s Story

This is a story about a victim of rape. For several years after the incident, she carried a heavy weight of complex and overwhelming emotions. It was described as a sticky infection of guilt, shame, and blaming of the self ever since the morning after the incident. The experience and after effects have been described as terrifying and years of fear and anger. After such an incident, this victim describes traumatic events as having an effect as if the fight or flight response jams. Where nothing can be trusted in the same way. It is a sense of constantly being on the watch, even when we are not trying, for danger and what ifs. The animalistic and instinctive part of the brain is where trauma likes to live. And logic cannot get very far. It’s fear and flight. This individual describes EMDR as something that helped kick that log. The experience was described as tapping into the instinctive mind while the person is awake and aware, retrieving the ragged and damaged contents and helping that traumatic memory be stored in a more adaptive way. Their experience was described in a way where the mind can be more freed and the stream may flow again. After being over 2 years since undergoing EMDR, feeling more free and able to more fully experience their lives.

The full story can be found at this following link: https://thesurvivorstrust.org/survivor-stories/my-experience-of-emdr-treating-trauma/

Katy’s Story

Katy described a history of chaotic relationships that had fights, conflict and even sometimes encounters with physical violence. She had been in various forms of therapy since 13 years of age and also carried a history of OCD. The hope was engaging in various forms of psychotherapy would promote healing and optimize functionality in life, but there appeared to be a missing part of the treatment plan and there were still goals that were not met. A turning point is when her significant other indicated that if matters did not improve, their relationship may not have longevity, and this was a relationship with potential for much stability and fulfillment throughout life. The experience in EMDR was described as intense, and it was an endeavor that continued for months. But notable improvement in mental health and relationships was noted, and her and her partner did move in together. To her pleasant surprise, she realized she may have been doing EMDR for years in a DIY manner. She had been playing drums since 17 years old while singing. She does not consider it an exaggeration in saying that playing drums saved her life. And she recalled the freedom she felt in such an experience. Katy and her therapist also discussed that other forms of bilateral stimulation can also be helpful, such as walking, swimming and so forth.

The full story can be found at https://www.nami.org/other-treatments/how-emdr-healed-my-trauma/

Contact New Frontiers About EMDR Therapy Near You

f you are looking for help and a clinic that offers EMDR therapy near you, we are here. At New Frontiers, we offer a number of therapeutic approaches, and our counselors will work with you to determine the right course of treatment for your particular needs. EMDR therapy can be a very effective therapy method to bring about positive changes in a person’s life. If you are looking for a mental health office that offers EMDR therapy near you in Milwaukee, we invite you to contact our friendly and compassionate team so we can set up an initial visit. Call 414-763-6910 or contact us online using our contact form.

Don’t live with the misery of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, psychotic spectrum disorders, or another mental health issue. Schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist by calling 414-763-6910 or by Requesting an Appointment online.

We welcome patients from the Milwaukee area, including New Berlin, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, West Allis, and nearby communities.