Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a type of therapy that is commonly used for the treatment of people who suffer from trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). During the therapy, you will relive the traumatic experiences while the therapist directs your eye movements. To learn more about therapy in relation to the trauma, check out this article as well.
Experts believe that EMDR works because the eye movement directs thoughts and attention away from the traumatic memory or thought which lets you reduce the emotional or psychological response. Over time, the thought is that the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy will allow you to better manage interaction with the trauma, memories, and thoughts because their impact will be reduced.
Benefits of EMDR
While most of the research regarding EMDR has focused on the benefits for those who suffer from PTSD and other issues related to trauma, there seems to be evidence that points that it may be an effective treatment for some other disorders and mental health concerns.
Many mental health professionals use EMDR to treat addiction, anxiety, ADHD, depression, eating disorders, and more. It may be effective for these conditions because the thought process behind EMDR is because, like trauma, many of these mental health concerns also make changes in the brain.
The changes in the brain can force the mind to stop processing information correctly which leads to intrusive thoughts. When EMDR is properly performed, then the eye movements may help the brain to process the memories or experiences and fit them adequately into the person’s narrative.
EMDR Sessions
EMDR sessions are typically somewhere between an hour and an hour and a half long. This provides the time to sufficiently promote eye movement and recollection, but not so long that it would be too distressing.
During the session, the therapist will move their fingers in front of the client’s face. The client will watch the movements and think about the event or experience that caused the trauma. They will recall the physical and mental feelings associated with the experience.
This process is often done in a semi-meditative state. The thoughts may move to different memories and experiences. Some therapists will even use music during the therapy sessions.
EMDR is safe and effective, but there are some side effects. The sessions cause a heightened sense of awareness and thinking. This feeling will not end immediately after the session which can lead to vivid dreams and light-headedness.
It often takes several sessions for the process to work, but there may be some beneficial effects after a single session. When you first begin EMDR therapy, you may feel increased emotional stress because you will be dealing with your trauma. It is important to mention any concerns or negative feelings with your therapist before and during your therapy.
EMDR Phases
EMDR therapy will look at the past, present, and future in different phases. The first phase involves the planning of your treatment. It goes into your personal history as well. This will help you and your therapist develop a thoughtful and effective treatment plan.
The first phase will include a discussion about your trauma and the identification of traumatic memories. These memories can be treated individually. The therapist will also want to evaluate your ability to tolerate exposure to traumatic or distressing memories and experiences. This will help them create a treatment plan that is designed specifically for you.
The second phase of EMDR therapy is the preparation phase. During this phase, you will set expectations for the treatment plan and begin the therapeutic relationship with the therapist. The therapist will teach you how to manage and you will discuss signals to cease treatment if the feelings become too intense or difficult to manage.
During phase 2, the therapist will provide the groundwork for the treatment plan. They will also tackle any concerns you have and educate you on EMDR. They should also teach you coping methods to deal with distressing thoughts, feelings, and memories that you may experience during treatment. They may implement deep breathing, mindfulness, or other stress management methods that you may benefit from.
Phase 3 is the assessment phase. In this phase, your therapist will identify and focus on specific memories that need to be addressed. The client will be guided to focus on any details that are associated with the trauma or experience.
The client will focus on everything about the memory including positive aspects. You may discuss the ways that it has helped you build resilience or learn coping methods in addition to the negative aspects related to the memory.
This process will be done for every targeted memory. All the physical and mental sensations, feelings, and thoughts will be discussed. A positive thought that is associated with the memory may help to replace the negative thoughts and beliefs about the experience.
Phases 4 through 7 are the actual treatment phases. During the fourth phase, the desensitization phase, you will evaluate, discuss, and focus on a specific traumatic event or experience.
This phase includes the eye movement while you focus on the target event. The thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with the target experience may begin to change. Furthermore, you may start to feel like you are gaining insight into the trauma.
The purpose of phase 4 is to reduce your negative reactions to the traumatic experience or memory. This includes the physical sensations that affect you when you think about the event. Physical sensations often include increased heart rate, sweating, and stomach or gastrointestinal problems.
Phase 5 is the installation phase. This phase focuses on installing positive thoughts associated with the target event. These positive thoughts should have been identified during the third phase.
The therapist will attempt to replace the negative associations with positive ones. The aim of this phase is to increase the positivity and decrease the negativity associated with the target event.
Phase 6 is the body scan phase. A body scan is a meditative technique where the person will identify any physical sensations after a scan from head to toe. Then, the therapist can target those specific physical sensations. This can help the person calm their nervous system.
Phase 7 is the closure phase. At the closing of each session, the therapist will stabilize you and bring you back into equilibrium. This process usually involves some of the techniques that were discussed during the second phase.
Then, the therapist can help you understand what to expect between sessions and explain what the upcoming sessions will entail. They will likely ask you to keep a record of any of your negative experiences so that you can target them during the next session.
The eighth and final phase is the reevaluation phase. This phase is to examine and reevaluate your experiences. You will be able to discuss how effective the treatment has been. This phase can also help you and your therapist determine the next steps for further treatment if any.
Final Thoughts on EMDR
EMDR can be an effective therapy option for those suffering from PTSD and other mental health concerns. It may sound different than what you typically think of when you think about therapy because it is. However, it may be beneficial because the eye movement may help to reduce the negative thoughts and feelings associated with an event, experience, or memory.
If you are suffering from PTSD or another mental health issue, then it may be good to speak to a mental health professional. You could even mention EMDR to see if they may believe that it could be effective for your situation.
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
