EMDR

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. It was developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has since gained widespread recognition as an effective treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here’s an overview of how it works and its benefits:

1. Phases of EMDR Therapy: EMDR therapy is typically divided into eight phases:

   • History Taking and Treatment Planning: The therapist assesses the client’s history and identifies potential traumatic events to target in therapy.
   • Preparation: The therapist establishes trust and explains the EMDR process, including how to cope with emotional or psychological stress.
   • Assessment: Identification of a specific traumatic memory, along with the associated negative beliefs, emotions, and body sensations.
   • Desensitization: The therapist uses bilateral stimulation, typically in the form of guided eye movements, while the client focuses on the traumatic memory, to reduce its emotional impact.
   • Installation: Strengthening of positive beliefs to replace the negative beliefs associated with the trauma.
   • Body Scan: The client is asked to focus on the traumatic memory again and identify any residual bodily tension. Further processing is done if needed.
   • Closure: Ensuring the client leaves each session feeling better than at the beginning, with techniques to manage any residual distress.
   • Reevaluation: Assessing the client’s progress and determining if there are more targets to address.

2. How It Helps: EMDR therapy helps by allowing the brain to reprocess trapped memories of traumatic events. The bilateral stimulation (eye movements) used in EMDR is believed to mimic the psychological state of REM sleep, which plays a crucial role in processing emotional experiences. By simultaneously activating both hemispheres of the brain, EMDR helps to diminish the emotional impact of memories and allows the individual to integrate these experiences in a healthier, more adaptive way.

3. Benefits of EMDR:

   • Reduction of PTSD Symptoms: Studies have shown that EMDR can significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD.
   • Decreased Anxiety and Depression: EMDR can help reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms often associated with trauma.
   • Improved Coping Mechanisms: It assists in developing healthier coping strategies and belief systems.
   • Shorter Duration of Treatment: EMDR often achieves results more rapidly than traditional talk therapy.

4. Considerations: While EMDR is considered effective for trauma and PTSD, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some individuals might not respond to it as well as others. It’s also important to have a trained and experienced therapist to guide the process, as reprocessing traumatic memories can be intense and potentially overwhelming.

In summary, EMDR therapy is a complex, multi-phase approach that helps individuals process and integrate traumatic memories, leading to reduced distress and improved emotional well-being. Its effectiveness varies depending on the individual and the nature of their trauma, but it has become a key tool in the treatment of PTSD and other trauma-related disorders.

What Does An EMDR Session Look Like?

An EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy session is unique compared to traditional talk therapy and follows a specific structure. Here’s a general overview of what an EMDR session might look like:

Preparation Phase

• Introduction: The session begins with the therapist explaining the EMDR process, ensuring the client understands what to expect.
• Safety Measures: The therapist establishes a ‘safe place’ or calming technique for the client to use if they become overly distressed.
• Building Trust: It’s important that the client feels comfortable and trusts the therapist, as EMDR can be emotionally intense.

Assessment Phase

• Target Memory Identification: The client and therapist identify a specific traumatic memory to target. The therapist might ask about the visual image associated with the memory, negative beliefs about oneself linked to the memory, emotions, and body sensations that arise when recalling the event.
• SUD Level: The therapist assesses the level of distress (Subjective Units of Distress Scale – SUD) associated with the memory.

Desensitization Phase

• Bilateral Stimulation: The therapist guides the client through sets of bilateral stimulation, most commonly through guided horizontal eye movements. Other forms can include auditory tones or tapping.
• Processing the Memory: The client focuses on the traumatic memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This phase is the core of EMDR and can vary in length.
• Checking In: The therapist frequently checks in with the client, asking about the images, thoughts, feelings, and body sensations they are experiencing.

Installation Phase

• Positive Belief Reinforcement: Once the distress associated with the traumatic memory decreases, the therapist helps the client focus on and strengthen a positive belief about themselves in relation to the memory.

Body Scan

• Identifying Residual Tension: The client is asked to scan their body for any residual tension or discomfort while thinking about the memory and the positive belief.
• Additional Processing: If any tension is found, further processing with bilateral stimulation may occur.

Closure

• Returning to Equilibrium: The therapist ensures that the client leaves the session feeling grounded and stable. The ‘safe place’ technique or other calming methods may be used.
• Homework or Reflection: The client may be asked to keep a journal or reflect on the changes they observe.

Reevaluation (In Follow-up Sessions)

• Assessing Progress: In subsequent sessions, the therapist will reevaluate the client’s progress and determine if the targeted memory has been fully processed or if further sessions are needed.

Key Points

• Duration: An EMDR session typically lasts between 60 to 90 minutes.
• Client’s Role: The client is an active participant but is not required to talk in detail about the trauma, as in traditional talk therapy.
• Therapist’s Role: The therapist guides the process, ensures the client’s safety, and monitors the client’s reactions and progress.

Each EMDR session is tailored to the individual’s needs and reactions. The process requires a skilled therapist trained in EMDR to ensure it is conducted safely and effectively. It’s important to note that while this overview provides a general idea of what to expect, each person’s experience with EMDR can be quite different.