Understanding EMDR Therapy
Understanding EMDR Therapy
Studies have shown that over 70% of people have experienced at least one traumatic event in their life. While some people may be able to process what has happened to them on their own, it is often necessary to enlist the help of a professional. If you can’t kick the flu on your own, you can go to the doctor. If you can’t kick the effects of trauma on your own, you can go to a therapist. Therapists use many different techniques and modalities to treat trauma, and one fantastic option is EMDR. This blog post will talk a little bit about what EMDR is and why it could be a helpful option to help you process your trauma.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This involves using bilateral stimulation (think moving your eyes back and forth) in order to help your brain heal unprocessed memories. EMDR was developed in the late 1980’s by Francine Shapiro and is now a well-tested treatment for trauma, including PTSD. The overall purpose of EMDR is to help individuals process and recover from traumatic experiences.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4869975/
How Does EMDR Work?
There are 8 different phases within EMDR therapy. They are listed below with a brief explanation of each phase.
History-taking: Getting the client’s background history and making sure the client is a good fit for EMDR.
Preparation: Educating the client on how EMDR works, as well as making sure appropriate coping skills are in place.
Assessment: The therapist and client will work together to determine the appropriate memory to be processed (target memory), depending on what the client’s current problems are.
Desensitization: Therapist will lead the client in eye movements in order to decrease the traumatic arousal that is associated with the target memory.
Installation: Therapist will help the client “install” a sense of resilience specifically focused around the target memory.
Body Scan: Therapist will help the client release the stored trauma from their body.
Closure: Therapist will help the client ensure that the memory has been fully processed.
Reevaluation: Therapist will work with the client to continue reprocessing additional memories as needed.
These phases are often spread out over many sessions and are not always in chronological order. You will work with your EMDR therapist to make sure the treatment is tailored to your needs.
Here is a great little video on using EMDR for PTSD:
And here is a short but informative video on why EMDR works:
Benefits of EMDR Therapy
There have been many clinical trials that affirm the effectiveness of EMDR therapy for a variety of conditions. Besides PTSD, EMDR can help with anxiety, depression, phobia, and panic disorders. Some studies have shown that EMDR helps up to 90% of people and works faster than other forms of therapy. EMDR is also endorsed by organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), American Psychiatric Association, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense.
EMDR can be done with a wide range of populations, including children. EMDR can also be done in person or virtually which makes it an accessible option. EMDR is even possible for people who are unable to do the eye movements, by utilizing other forms of bilateral stimulation.
Getting Started with EMDR Therapy
If you are interested in trying EMDR therapy, talk to a qualified EMDR therapist. Ask the therapist about their training and their credentials. If you are interested in trying EMDR virtually, I would love to set up a consultation with you!
Common Questions and Misconceptions
There are many questions that may come up when you are considering EMDR therapy. Here is a great list of FAQs provided by the EMDR Institute.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22641-emdr-therapy
https://www.ptsduk.org/how-effective-is-emdr/
About The Author
Jorden Groenink, MS, AMFT, APCC an associate marriage and family therapist (AMFT136162) and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC12906), supervised by Jeremy Mast, MS, MDiv, LMFT, CSAT, CPTT (CA90961). She has been trained in Experiential Therapy and loves working with couples and individuals who want to experience a more fulfilling life. Jorden wholeheartedly believes that every person is worthy of love and relationship. When not working with clients or listening to audiobooks, Jorden enjoys spending time with her family (husband, dog, & cat) and doing DIY projects around her house.
