EMDR
EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy treatment developed in the early 1990’s by Francine Shapiro. EMDR is designed to alleviate the distress associated with overwhelming or traumatic memories that are impacting present day functioning and beliefs about self.
Life events are revisited and watched as if from a train window or a movie with bilateral stimulation (eye movement, tapping, sound) and many small breaks to check in on what you are noticing. The experience of going from the beginning to the end of the memory with support allows for complete processing, elimination of emotional distress, and new insights and perspectives.
EMDR therapy can be in person or online. EMDR can be a part of our weekly or bi-weekly sessions. EMDR can also be a stand-alone treatment or an adjunct to therapy with another therapist.
Research has shown that a single event (e.g., car accident or assault) can be processed within 3 sessions for 80-90% of individuals.
Not all grief is traumatic, but all trauma involves grief.
EMDR: 8 Phases of Treatment
The 1st phase is a history-taking session(s). We identify possible targets for EMDR processing. These include distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress.
During the 2nd phase of treatment, we will learn different skills to handle emotional distress that arises in daily life and when processing traumatic memories.
Skills will include visual imagery, deep breathing techniques, tapping, and intentional distraction activities.
In phases three to six, a target is identified and processed. These involve identifying three things:
- The vivid visual image related to the memory.
- A negative belief about self attached to the memory and then a hoped for positive or neutral belief about self in relation to this event after EMDR.
- Related emotions and body sensations.
Next, focus on the image, negative thought, and body sensations while simultaneously engaging in EMDR processing using sets of bi-lateral stimulation (BLS). BLS consists of eye movements, tapping, or sound. At this point, instruction is to just notice whatever spontaneously happens.
After each BLS set, you will be asked what you notice; thought, feeling, image, memory, or sensation. Just a quick headline check in. This is not a time to process content and insights as in regular talk therapy.
Repeated sets with directed focused attention occur numerous times throughout the session. If the processing becomes too overwhelming, processing is stopped and grounding exercises – established in Phase 1- are done together to calm emotional dysregulation.
When there is no more distress related to the targeted memory or any new details reported, a preferred positive or neutral belief that has been identified at the beginning of the session is explored to see if it fits now.
At this time, the positive or neutral belief may be adjusted to something that feels truer given a new understanding of events. The agreed upon positive belief is focused on for more sets of BLS.
Keep a log between sessions. The log should document dreams, moods, changes in behavior related to targeted issue. Reminder to use grounding techniques as needed.
Phase eight consists of examining the progress made thus far and plans are made for the session or sessions in the future.