Do you feel like memories and the impact of trauma can make it feel like you’re experiencing it all over again? Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy offers a way to process and work through these experiences.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on memories or thoughts to heal from traumatic or triggering life experiences. This form of therapy is structured to help individuals recover from these experiences and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. EMDR is guided by the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model that considers symptoms from previous experiences and PTSD that continues to cause stress in an individual’s current day to day because the memory hasn’t been processed. The theory behind this therapy is that because these events and memories haven’t been processed, its impact continues to affect the individual by causing the body to act like this event is occurring again. By using AIP, the individual can reprocess such an event to move past it.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR therapy focuses on traumatic memories while practicing bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation is the process where there is alternating stimuli to both sides of the brain. This stimulation can occur through eye movement shifts, tactile stimulation like tapping and auditory stimulation such as listening to tones. This is a key aspect of EMDR therapy that can help memories become “unstuck” in the brain.
How does Bilateral Stimulation Do this?
Bilateral Stimulation is shown to have a calming effect on the brain and nervous system. It does this by activating the parasympathetic nervous system which is our body’s rest and digest response. It calms the fight or flight response by inhibiting the amygdala which is the part of the brain that is responsible for this. By alternating between left and right stimuli it activates both hemispheres of the brain which also allows them to communicate effectively with each other and decrease physiological arousal for traumatic feelings or memories.
There are eight phases of EMDR that include the following:
- History taking and treatment planning
- Preparation and building trust
- Assessment of target memory or event
- Desensitization through bilateral simulation
- Installation of positive beliefs
- Body scan to release physical tension
- Closure
- Reevaluation
In the first phase, history taking and treatment planning , the client will be asked about their history to make a treatment plan and determine any resources that are available to them.
In the second phase, preparation, the therapist will explain the process of EMDR therapy and set expectations. This also gives the client time to ask any questions and address any concerns before beginning.
In the third phase, assessment, the memory or event will be identified that needs to be reprocessed. This can be done through looking at pictures, beliefs and feelings and sensations associated with this event.
The next three phases help with reprocessing and all include bilateral simulation. In phase four, desensitization, horizontal eye movements or sound will occur while holding the target event in mind which may also bring up new feelings, thoughts, images and sensations. In phase five, installation, the client works to strengthen a positive belief associated with the event until it feels true to them. In phase six, body scan, both the target event and the positive belief is held in mind while the body is scanned. This is to address and lingering or new disturbances that may have occurred from the bilateral simulation.
In phase seven, closure, the client is returned to a calm state and brought back to the present moment. Reprocessing is completed when the client no longer associate’s the event with traumatic symptoms and feels neutral about it and the positive belief feels true. Closure can occur if reprocessing is complete or not.
In the last phase, reevaluation, a debrief of the process takes place between the therapist and client to confirm that distress levels are low. This allows to unpack any experiences, and answer any questions or concerns about the process that the client just went through. This also allows a chance to plan future goals and treatment.
Who can EMDR benefit?
Often, EMDR therapy is recommended for individuals with PTSD. However, it can also help other conditions such as anxiety, panic disorders, depression, grief, loss, phobias and performance anxiety. This therapy is to help individuals that have a traumatic attachment to events and memories and are continued to be impacted by it.
It is important to consider if you feel ready to reprocess traumatic memories, events and feelings. It is also important to also find a qualified EMDR therapist that you feel comfortable with.
