Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
(EMDR)
EMDR is a therapy that helps people process traumatic memories. It uses bilateral stimulation to activate both brain hemispheres. EMDR is effective for treating PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions. It's an evidence-based option for resolving past traumas.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a protocol-based therapy that assists individuals in processing distressing memories and reframing negative beliefs. By utilizing bilateral stimulationx to tax the working memory, such as eye movements or taps, the brain can reprocess traumatic events in a way that reduces their emotional impact. This evidence-based approach can be highly effective in addressing conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, phobias, and other mental health issues. The process is a non-invasive, powerful tool for healing from past experiences.
How long does EMDR take to work?
The duration varies depending on factors such as the type and severity of trauma, how the individual responds to treatment, and any underlying conditions. During each session, I'll guide you through dealing with past traumatic memories. Some may find relief after a few sessions, while others may need more extensive therapy to achieve their goals.
Healing past into present
How do I begin?
We begin by assessing your needs and goals. During the assessment, we collect necessary information, establish goals, and create a safe and trustworthy environment. By assessing thoroughly, we can customize the EMDR therapy approach to best support you as you work through the challenging issues you want to resolve. EMDR therapy follows a standardized 8-phase process. Treatment is complete only when all 8 phases have been finished, and you report no overwhelming disturbance around the issue that brought you into therapy.
The 8 phases OF EMDR Treatment
History Taking: I gather relevant information about your developmental and family history and the reason you are seeking treatment to create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Prearation: You learn techniques to manage distress and stress, ensuring you are better prepared to engage in the EMDR process effectively.
Assessment: You share the specific memories and events that hold the activated feeling states, as well as negative beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations associated with the experience. This material becomes the target of EMDR treatment.
Desensitization: This is the more well-known part of the EMDR process. In this process, we use bilateral stimulation to focus on traumatic memories and associated feelings. We tax working memory by engaging in memory recall while exercising eye movements or taps, which alternate which hemisphere of the brain you are thinking from. This helps to promote the reprocessing and desensitization of these memories.
Installation: When your distress associated with the target memory reduces, we use bilateral stimulation to reinforce positive beliefs and reset overwhelming activation related to the traumatic memory. You will remember that it happened but be less activated when that memory is tapped.
Body Scan: In this phase, you scan for sensations of activation in the body to address any residual physical tension or discomfort related to the targeted memories.
Closure: The session is closed, and we will check to make sure you feel stable and calm before ending.
Re-evaluation: We have a re-evaluation session to evaluate progress and address any remaining distressing aspects to promote healing and resolution.
Each phase is crucial in the EMDR process, guiding individuals toward healing. Treatment is complete once all eight phases are concluded. After deactivating a target memory, we identify other targets that may need attention for complete resolution. This is more likely when a recent trauma links to an earlier event, known as a feeder memory. The less complex a person's trauma history, the more likely EMDR can be completed in a short course of treatment. A more complicated history may require multiple courses of treatment. Thorough history-taking helps determine treatment length.
Course of Treatment
EMDR is an 8 Phase treatment protocol. Each phase must be completed before progressing to the next. The number of sessions required for each phase will vary by individual. Estimates below are averages.
Phase 1: History Taking and Treatment Planning
One or two, 50 minute sessions
Phase 2: Preparation
Two to four, 50 minute sessions (depending on an individuals ability to tolerate disturbing emotions phase 2 can require many more additional sessions)
Phase 3-7: Assessment and Reprocessing
Phases 3-7 are repeated for each memory target. The number of targets is dependent on the individual
Reprocessing sessions may be 60- 90 minutes long depending on how activated the material you bring forth is.
Several sessions can be required for each target
Phase 8: Reevaluation
Generally one session for each target
Additional Information
Video courtesy of EMDRIA
Articles & Research
To look at research regarding EMDRs effectiveness, visit any of the links below:
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/emdr_pro.asp
https://emdrresearchfoundation.org/resources/emdr-therapy-research-bibliography/