Tapping the power of memory reconsolidation.
Trauma work using EMDR
Heal through EMDR
On-site in NY and MA | One-on-one meetings
EMDR is a powerful intervention for directly addressing wounds stored as traumatic memory. For many people, direct reprocessing of these memories results in immediate changes in their emotional experience, mental health symptoms and relationships. Clients often describe feeling unburdened from something they have been carrying a long time.
EMDR is about working directly with a client’s trauma history. For many people, thinking about embarking on this kind of course can be intimidating if not downright scary. Even some talk therapists perpetuate the notion that trauma work is not for the faint of heart. In reality, trauma work is a lot like most work out there: challenging, yes, but not damaging. Working with an EMDR therapist has been likened to working with a physical trainer; they will help you apply full effort while guiding you away from injury.
“If you are trapped in your past, the answer does not reside in the past. The way forward is in introducing your past to the present moment.”
The process
A retreat with you in mind, in three steps.
Schedule a call
The retreat process begins with a conversation between me and the client, either over the phone or on a Zoom call; this can be scheduled by visiting the ITR website at intensivetherapyretreat.com. Shannon, our Intake Coordinator, will set up an initial call, either with myself or another of our trauma therapists.
First call
In the first call I ask the client to tell me about the reason for their interest and how things have been going for them recently. I also ask a few informational questions about demographics and the client’s history. At the end of the call, if the client so chooses, I send out forms allowing the client to learn more specifics and reserve time for a retreat by making a deposit.
The retreat
The on-site part of the retreat happens at one of my offices, either in Beacon, New York or in Northampton, Massachusetts. The retreat is spent on processing of memories, generally done in chronological order. The retreat ends either when the time allotted is reached or the client’s list of target memories is finished (whichever comes first). It lasts between 3 to 5 days.
About me
My name is Peter Bishop (not to be confused with the character on the sci-fi show “Fringe”) and I have been employed as a psychologist for twenty four years. I specialize in clinical work with people who are affected by serious trauma. I did my undergraduate work at both NYU and the University of California at Santa Cruz (Go Fighting Banana Slugs!); I did my graduate work at DePaul University.
I believe that people often have surprising capacities to heal themselves, given the time and place to do so; nothing has demonstrated this more to me (over and over again!) than my trauma work using EMDR.