Part 1: How Does EMDR Work?
Before trying something new, you typically want to know if it's going to work for you. You don't want to spend all of your time, energy, and money on something if it isn't effective. The same can be said about therapy. Whether you've heard about EMDR therapy or it's a completely new acronym, let's find out exactly how it works.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Response. It's a form of therapy that is used to help your brain process and release traumatic memories through your eye movements. EMDR differs from traditional talk therapy because it doesn't incorporate talking. EMDR is more of a mindfulness-based approach to therapy. This therapy helps individuals work through painful memories using their own body's natural processes to recover from their trauma.
How Does EMDR Work?
When someone experiences a traumatic event, the brain cannot properly process what happened, even after the trauma occurred. The trauma can cause the rational thinking part of your brain to not properly control the emotional part. This is why you may feel overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed. This reaction causes the memories to appear stuck, which means the brain cannot process them fully.
During sleep, we can process memories with the help of Rapid Eye Movement or REM. REM is comparable to EMDR therapy. During an EMDR therapy session, a therapist will work with you to help move your eyes from side to side, similar to what happens when you're dreaming. This movement helps to slow down your brain and process the traumatic memories that weren't able to be processed when the trauma initially took place.
What EMDR Looks Like
EMDR has eight phases. Here's what you can expect out of an EMDR therapy session:
1: History Taking
To begin with EMDR therapy, you will first work with a therapist to determine your goals as well as a treatment plan. You may go over your history, any symptoms you may be experiencing, and any known triggers.
2: Client Preparation
During phase 2, your therapist will help prepare you for your upcoming EMDR therapy session. They'll go over the EMDR process, explain how EMDR works, and help answer any questions you may have. They'll also help prepare you by helping you develop coping mechanisms to help you better manage your emotions during and in between your next session.
3: Assessment
The third phase's primary goal is to identify and evaluate the memory that may be causing you emotional stress. This assessment will be used during the rest of your sessions to reflect on your progress throughout your EMDR treatments.
Phases 4-7: Desensitization, Installation, Body Scan, and Closure:
Phase 4 is the start of the "D" of EMDR. It's the Desensitization stage. During this phase, your therapist will work with you to try to remember pieces of the negative memory. While doing this, your therapist will help guide your eyes in different directions. After you've identified your memory, your therapist will help you work through any thoughts, feelings, and emotions that the memory may have triggered. At the end of the session, your therapist will decide if the memory was partially or fully reprocessed based on the responses to the memory.
8: Reevaluation
The final phase of the eight-phase process is the reevaluation phase. This is when you and your therapist will look back on the treatment and how it worked for you. You'll go over the memories you reprocessed and any memories you'd like to approach during your next treatment.
Who Benefits from EMDR
EMDR was first developed to help individuals experiencing trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). A licensed and trained mental health provider may also use this therapy for any of the following:
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Dissociative Disorder
Eating Disorders
Grief
Pain Management
Personality Disorders
Phobias
Sleep Disorders
Stress
Substance Use, Abuse, or Addiction
Next Steps
Interested in learning more about EMDR before jumping in? Our next post will be about how long an EMDR session and treatment usually take. Stay tuned!
If you're ready to take the next step in your healing journey, reach out to me today to set up a consultation for EMDR Therapy.