What Is EMDR?
If your therapist has recommended EMDR you may be wondering what this all
entails and what does it even stand for? This blog post is here to give you a general idea of what EMDR is and if it is pertinent to you.
In recent years, EMDR has become the standard for trauma/PTSD treatment and other disorders that are not chemically based. Even if you don't have PTSD, but you are struggling with depression, anxiety, OCD, etc. that was triggered by a traumatic event, EMDR may be an effective treatment option for you.
EMDR stands for Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Eye-Movement is the use of bilateral stimulation (BLS) whether from eye movement, tapping, or auditory stimulation. Desensitization is essentially a form of exposure therapy, wherein we practice re-exposing yourself to the trauma (by thinking about the memory, not actually reenacting the event) to where it feels neutral to your body. Reprocessing is changing the way you now presently experience the memory. What we know about memory is still far and few between, but we do know that we build our ability to process the present from what we've experienced in the past.
For example, have you ever found yourself reacting in extreme anger, anxiety, or depression to something seemingly normal? Do you start getting heart palpitations, nausea and even the feeling of being "checked out"? Then the cycle of frustration, shame and embarrassment starts when you don't understand why something as mild as a miscommunication with a friend feels like the world is ending.
This type of response may be for a myriad of reasons - communication patterns from family of origin, emotionally manipulative parent, childhood abuse, domestic violence, etc. - but regardless of the severity of the trauma/harm, it has impacted your ability to function well and congruently in the present. EMDR would help your brain to reprocess the memory so that the past isn't replaying in your mind/body in the present.
EMDR is done in 8 phases to make it safe and effective. Depending on the trauma endured and the stamina of the client, EMDR can feel daunting, particularly the idea of desensitization. So prior to any of the actual processing, we would first assess if you're a good fit for this type of therapy - address any ongoing addictive behaviors, eating disorders, and build up healthy coping skills. In this time we may slowly chip away at phases 1 and 2 - Trauma Timeline and Preparation. Phase 3-7 are more active processing stages and tend to move along faster than phases 1 and 2. These stages involve (3) Assessment of the memory, (4) Desensitization, (5) Installing a new way of thinking of the memory, (6) Body Scan - checking the body for any lingering sensations, and (7) Closure - feeling calm and grounded, though often tired. The next session we will move onto phase 8 and Reevaluate the memory that was
worked on to see how it's settled or if anything else has come up in the time.
Overall, EMDR is a lifesaver for many clients and one of the greatest joys I've experienced with clients is working with them through the process of changing the way they think of their trauma. The freedom one feels when they get to a place where a memory that once caused them distress they can now talk about with neutrality is incredible. Even more so than neutrality, clients often report feeling more empowered, capable, and gracious towards themselves and others.
If you're interested in talking more about how EMDR might be helpful for you, click the "Book a Consultation" button below.
If you'd like more information on EMDR, here are a few resources:
Book: "EMDR Essentials: A Guide for Clients and Therapists," by Barb Maiberger
Article: "Exploring the 8 Phases of EMDR", (https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/emdr-phases)
See below for understanding of Christian faith beliefs and EMDR -
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