EMDR Therapy
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a structured psychotherapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and resolve distressing memories, emotions, and beliefs. EMDR therapy is recognized as an effective form of trauma treatment in numerous practice guidelines and psychological associations worldwide.
How does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR helps individuals process memories that are “stuck” in their nervous system due to trauma or other distressing experiences. The goal is to reduce the emotional charge of these memories and promote psychological healing.
Based on the underlying model known as the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, EMDR posits that trauma disrupts the brain’s natural ability to process and store information adaptively. This may result in trauma-related symptoms such as flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, nightmares, etc. EMDR facilitates reprocessing, allowing distressing memories to shift from a current, overwhelming experience to a neutral past event.
EMDR follows a structured, 8-phase protocol that includes:
- Phase 1: History-taking and treatment planning.
- Phase 2: Preparation and stabilization.
- Phase 3: Assessment.
- Phase 4: Desensitization of identified memory.
- Phase 5: Installation of positive beliefs.
- Phase 6: Body scan for residual distress.
- Phase 7: Closure.
- Phase 8: Reevaluation in subsequent sessions
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (BLS), typically through guided eye movements, tactile taps, or auditory tones. This stimulation helps the brain access and reprocess traumatic memories, integrating them into a more adaptive framework.
What Conditions or Symptoms Can EMDR Therapy Address?
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD)
- Recent Traumatic Events
- Dissociative Disorders
- Phobias
- Pain Conditions
- Panic Disorders
- Complicated Grief
- Sleep Disturbances
- Depression
- Difficulties with Anger
- Performance Anxiety
- Addictive Conditions
Why EMDR Therapy?
We might not always be thinking about past traumatic experiences, but they can leave imprints that show up as negative beliefs, unsettling body sensations, uncomfortable feelings, and unhealthy relationship patterns.
A moment of trauma can feel frozen in time. The sights, sounds, smells, and emotions feel like the event is happening right now, keeping us hypervigilant. These persistent memories can negatively influence how we see the world and interact with others. They can also disrupt our ability to live fully in the present, establish trusting relationships, focus at work, complete everyday tasks, and take care of ourselves.
The way the right and left parts of the brain process information is different. The left logical part of the brain knows that “you are good enough”, “safe enough”, or “smart enough”. However, the right part of the brain that holds the trauma brings up feelings of being “different”, “not safe”, or “inadequate”. EMDR works by helping your brain bridge the gap between what you know and what you feel, enabling you to process past experiences and start the healing process.
EMDR has a powerful effect on the brain’s information-processing capabilities. It helps release old wounds. After an EMDR session, you may notice that you are no longer haunted by traumatic memories. You will remember the event, but it won’t continue to upset you or hinder your pursuit of a fulfilling life.
What to Learn More?
If you would like to know more about EMDR therapy please watch this video courtesy of EMDR International Association.
If you would like more information, studies and references, please visit their website for more details.