What is EMDR Therapy and How Does It Work?
EMDR Therapy Explained
Psychotherapy, better known as talk therapy, is a well-established and accepted method for helping people overcome challenging or traumatic life events. It offers a safe space to reprocess impactful experiences and learn tools for healing and coping with daily stressors. One type of therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), is especially renowned for its effectiveness in resolving emotional issues that stem from trauma.
EMDR therapy is a form of trauma therapy which helps people confront and resolve painful memories that continue to impact their life. Oftentimes, these memories are from childhood and it’s possible that a person is unaware of how much impact these incidents have had on them. It also helps with other issues such as phobias, anxiety, flashbacks of the traumatic event, relationship problems, and self-esteem issues.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR therapy is a well researched and proven therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the 1980s. Originally developed to aid individuals suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EMDR therapy has since expanded to treat a variety of anxieties, including perfectionism, relationship issues, phobias, and limiting or negative self-beliefs. Dr. Shapiro's groundbreaking discovery occurred during a walk in the park when she realized that certain eye movements significantly reduced the emotional distress associated with her own troubling memories. This observation led to further research and development, culminating in the creation of EMDR therapy.
EMDR is predicated on the idea that rapid eye movements can mimic the psychological state associated with REM sleep, which is instrumental in processing and integrating emotional experiences. During therapy, a trained EMDR therapist directs the client to recall distressing images while simultaneously inducing bilateral sensory input, such as side-to-side eye movements, taps, or tones. This process is intended to facilitate the brain's natural healing abilities, allowing the individual to reprocess traumatic memories in a way that reduces their long-term impact. Clients will often report feeling “unstuck” from previous long-lasting thought patterns and triggers after EMDR treatment.
This technique has proven especially effective for those grappling with trauma, leading to significant improvements in symptoms for many sufferers. EMDR has since been endorsed by numerous mental health organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization, as an effective treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences.
EMDR therapy can be done on a typical weekly basis with sessions that last between 60 to 90 minutes, or a therapy intensive format where sessions take around three hours each, thus leading to faster results. In either format, your therapist should be well-trained and experienced in preparing clients for the emotional intensity and release that comes with EMDR therapy.
Benefits of EMDR
Numerous people need therapy to improve their relationships, have a good quality of life, and free themselves from traumas of the past. If you’re someone who feels stuck in a loop and wants to improve your mental health, EMDR therapy can help improve your mindset.
Reduction of Stress and Anxiety: By reprocessing upsetting memories, this technique aids in the general decrease of anxieties and stress reactions.
Improved Relationship Dynamics: People may connect and build relationships with others more effectively by overcoming previous trauma.
Relief from Fears and Phobias: By treating the underlying reasons, this method is effective in eliminating irrational fears and phobias.
Helps with Moving Past Trauma: facilitates the processing and assimilation of painful memories, reducing their emotional impact and influence on your current life.
Better Emotional Regulation: Helps control and stabilize daily life by helping to manage intense emotions.
Reduction of Intrusive Thoughts and Flashbacks: Reduces the frequency and intensity of distressing memories and flashbacks associated with past events..
Flexible and Adaptive:This therapy can be tailored to address a wide range of psychological issues beyond trauma, including chronic pain, low self-esteem, and performance anxiety.
What Makes EMDR Therapy Unique?
EMDR therapy stands out from other therapeutic approaches due to its distinctive 8-phase treatment method and use of bilateral stimulation (BLS). Here’s what makes it unique:
8-Phase Process: EMDR follows a structured 8-phase approach, which sets it apart from other therapies. This comprehensive process includes phases such as history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation. Each phase is crucial for effectively addressing and processing trauma.
Bilateral Stimulation (BLS): A key feature of EMDR is its use of bilateral stimulation. This can involve directed eye movements, auditory tones, or tactile taps. BLS helps to reprocess traumatic memories by mimicking the brain's natural processing during REM sleep. This process reduces the emotional charge associated with traumatic memories.
Direct Memory Processing: Unlike many therapies that focus on talking about trauma, EMDR directly targets the brain’s storage of traumatic memories. Clients engage their senses to recall distressing events while undergoing BLS, which facilitates the reprocessing of these memories. This helps to lessen their emotional impact and integrate them into a more manageable perspective.
Integration of Positive Beliefs: In the final phases of EMDR, therapists guide clients in replacing negative beliefs formed from traumatic events with positive ones. BLS is used to reinforce these new, positive beliefs, helping clients hold onto them even when recalling the trauma.
Focus on Neurological and Physiological Aspects: EMDR differs from traditional talk therapy by addressing the neurological and physiological components of trauma. It helps clients reconnect with their thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations related to the traumatic event, allowing for more rapid and profound healing.
Quicker Results: Research shows that EMDR can often lead to quicker and more significant improvements in trauma symptoms compared to conventional talk therapies. This efficiency makes it a compelling choice for those seeking effective relief from trauma-related issues.
Overall, EMDR’s unique combination of structured phases, bilateral stimulation, and direct memory processing offers a powerful approach to overcoming trauma and achieving lasting healing.
Get Unstuck from the Past
In comparison to standard talk therapy, EMDR takes a very different approach. Traditional talk therapy often involves discussing and analyzing feelings and experiences, helping clients understand why a traumatic event affects them deeply. However, understanding alone doesn’t always change how these memories impact daily life. Many clients start EMDR therapy after feeling stuck for years despite various other treatments.
For example, consider Sarah, a client who had been in traditional talk therapy for several months to address her trauma from a car accident. While she made some progress in understanding her fear of driving, she still experienced intense anxiety every time she got behind the wheel. The emotional distress was so overwhelming that it kept her from driving altogether.
When Sarah began EMDR therapy, her therapist used bilateral stimulation to help her reprocess the traumatic memory. Instead of just talking about the accident, Sarah engaged in guided eye movements while revisiting the event. This approach helped her process the memory at a deeper level, reducing its emotional charge. Within a few sessions, Sarah found that her anxiety around driving significantly decreased, allowing her to drive again without the crippling fear that had once paralyzed her.
EMDR therapy focuses more intensely on the neurological and physiological aspects of trauma, directly addressing how traumatic memories are stored in the brain. By reconnecting with thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations tied to the trauma, clients like Sarah can process and release stuck memories more effectively.
Studies have shown that EMDR can produce faster and more significant improvements in trauma symptoms compared to conventional therapy. Many people experience considerable reductions in trauma manifestations and achieve relief in fewer sessions. This makes EMDR a valuable option for those seeking rapid and effective recovery from trauma-related discomfort.
How To Get Started with EMDR Therapy
The first step in beginning EMDR therapy is finding the right therapist for you. EMDR is particularly effective for individuals dealing with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, debilitating fears, and other deep-seated emotional issues. If traumatic experiences are affecting your daily life, EMDR could be a viable option to consider. It's essential to seek out a therapist with whom you feel comfortable and believe you can build a safe and trusting relationship. The connection between therapist and client is one of the most significant factors in the success of treatment.
When choosing a therapist, look for someone you naturally connect with and trust. The relationship between the therapist and the client is one the highest determining factors of the efficacy of treatment. It’s important to be open and honest about your experiences during the initial consultation and throughout the therapy process. During this time, your therapist will ask detailed questions to understand your psychological history, current symptoms, and specific concerns. This helps them assess whether EMDR is suitable for your situation and establish clear treatment goals.
Another key consideration is ensuring that the therapist is qualified. It is crucial to find a licensed mental health professional with appropriate certifications from recognized organizations, such as the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), which has over 16,000 trained members. A well-qualified therapist will ensure the success of your treatment.
If you're unable to find a local specialist, there are many online therapist directories available that allow you to search for qualified EMDR therapists across a wider area. Virtual EMDR therapy has been proven to be just as effective as in-person sessions, so don’t hesitate to expand your search beyond your immediate community. Additionally, filtering your search to find a therapist with experience in your specific concerns will help you achieve the best outcome.
EMDR therapy offers a powerful method for overcoming trauma, anxiety, and other emotional challenges. It can help you break free from the past and lead a more fulfilling life. To meet the owner and therapist of Solum Life Therapy, please email barbara@solumlifetherapy.com.
