Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

WHAT IS EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a treatment that focuses on healing distressing and/or traumatic memories while implementing bilateral stimulation (i.e., eye movements, tapping, pulses), which helps reduce vividness and emotions associated with these memories.

Trauma or adverse events can become “stuck” in our bodies, if we did not feel safe, at the time of the event(s), to successfully release these experiences. Often, if left untreated, these experiences can impact our beliefs, thoughts, bodily sensations, behaviors, and overall health long-term. The goal of EMDR is to help create balance in your nervous system to help you recover from trauma, adverse experiences, and/or PTSD symptoms. EMDR is an extensively researched psychotherapy and has been helpful for treatment of depression, anxiety, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences.

HOW DOES EMDR WORK

EMDR treatment uses bilateral stimulation, including eye movements, tapping, or pulses. The bilateral stimulation helps the right and left brain communicate with each other to improve thought patterns and emotional responses around the distressing memories. In addition, the side-to-side movements help reduce arousal and activate your parasympathetic nervous system to help calm your mind and body.

• The bilateral stimulation is rhythmic and helps the body calm and relax. It helps decrease the intensity of emotional arousal to help release distressing memories.
• The left-right movement also mimics REM sleep and can improve communication between the left and right hemispheres of your brain.
• EMDR activates your limbic system (emotion), hippocampus (memory and learning consolidation), and prefrontal cortex (reason, self-regulation) areas of your brain to improve information processing and to teach your body that trauma is not happening now.
• Dual attention stimulation initiates the “orienting response” and helps improve focus with novel stimuli. This can improve your brain’s ability to be present and sit with your past experiences.

WHAT IS AN EMDR SESSION LIKE

Once we agree EMDR is a good fit, the client and therapist will discuss and identify specific event(s), early distressing memories, and future desired outcomes. We will address negative images/experiences, beliefs, and body sensations related to each distress memory we identify.

When the client experiences less distress associated with the memory, the client will focus on a positive belief or sensation they would prefer to belief about themselves instead. The therapist will encourage the client to focus on the distressing memory, while the therapist begins the bilateral eye movements, sounds, or taps. The client will be asked to notice whatever comes up for them in that moment, including emotions, thoughts, and/or sensations.

The bilateral stimulation will continue until client no longer reports uncomfortable body sensations and improved beliefs around the distressing event(s). At that time, clients may gain new insights and changes in thoughts, emotions, or beliefs associated with target memories. The client can stop EMDR, at any point in time, in session. The client can also communicate to therapist, or therapist can offer resources to help client self-regulate while in session.

The client and therapist will identify resourcing and safety planning to help support the client during and after the sessions. Client is encouraged to contact therapist for additional support outside of session. An EMDR therapy session is 60 minutes in duration.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE VIDEO BELOW, FROM EMDRIA'S WEBSITE. THE VIDEO EXPLAINS WHAT EMDR THERAPY IS AND TREATMENT OUTCOMES.

WHO DOES EMDR HELP

EMDR is an evidenced based treatment that has been shown to effectively treat post-traumatic stress and developmental trauma.

It has also been helpful in treating several other mental health conditions, including:

• Complex Trauma
• Single Trauma Event
• Complex PTSD/PTSD
• Generalized Anxiety
• Social Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Grief & Loss
• Phobias
• Depression