EMDR Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is a form of therapy that allows people to heal from the adverse effects created by disturbing life experiences.
By using auditory patterns, visual cues, or tapping, EMDR allows clients to effectively process and work through emotional distress. And while it was initially developed to target trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR has proven to be effective in a wide range of mental health challenges.
Founded by Francine Shapiro in 1987, EMDR comes from humble roots. Shapiro began using this therapy on herself upon observing that rapid eye movement had a calming effect on her in distressing situations. From there, she began developing and researching eye movement and desensitization as a therapeutic treatment and found that the benefits of EMDR tended to show up much more quickly in clients, when compared to other approaches that took months or years to produce positive results.
EMDR’s effectiveness in healing emotional pain and trauma stems from the fact that this approach to therapy calls on the body’s innate systems for healing. Just as the body contains healing mechanisms for physical traumas, EMDR unlocks the brain’s ability to clear blockages and heal psychological wounds.
Today, EMDR is a widely used, evidence-based treatment model for an array of mental health conditions not limited to but including anxiety, depression, panic disorders, phobias, trauma and post-traumatic stress, grief, intimacy issues, body dysmorphia, and low self-esteem.
What Does The EMDR Treatment Process Look Like?
Treatment using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing typically follows an eight-phase process. In the first phase, the clinician gathers a client’s history, which would include presenting problems, prior experience with EMDR and other forms of therapy, and goals for treatment.
From there, the therapist prepares the client for the EMDR process. At this time, the client is encouraged to identify “a peaceful, happy place” they can refer to during moments of emotional pain or discomfort. This is meant to instill confidence in the client, which helps to ensure them that even during the most distressing moments, they possess the control and capacity to calm their nervous system.
Once the client has been educated on the EMDR process, they will assess a target in the third phase. This is the step when the client identifies a specific image, memory, or sensation that can be used to understand a particular trauma or negative belief. The therapist will ask the client to assess their distress or discomfort level with the goal of reducing these feelings to a level 0 over the course of the session.
Some clinicians use auditory or visual tools for phases 4 through 7 to process the memory to a resolution, but my approach involves a light tapping that serves to calm and center the client during EMDR treatment sessions. Once these phases are repeated to the point wherein the client’s distress level is reduced or mitigated entirely, they then move on to the next target memory or sensation.
Since EMDR therapy can help clients clear and process memories that have not been fully processed yet, they can develop more self-awareness, better regulate their emotions, and improve their relationships. This, in turn, can help them to prioritize what is most important in their lives.
How I Approach EMDR Therapy
I began using EMDR treatment after observing that my clients were not getting the relief they needed with talk therapy or other conventional approaches, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Upon introducing EMDR to my practice, I noticed my clients achieving a sense of relief and healing that I had not seen with other methods. Not only did their associations with uncomfortable and traumatic memories from the past change but also their entire perspective on the world around them.
In comparison with other therapeutic approaches, I have noticed EMDR’s effectiveness in particular when it comes to quickly changing how my clients react to trauma and daily stressors in their lives. Once a target memory is cleared, my clients are no longer triggered by the negative associations and feelings that come up with that specific memory. As a result, they are able to get rid of limiting self-beliefs and become more productive in their daily life and relationships.
Mine is an empowering and empathetic approach meant to increase self-esteem and awareness in all of my clients. Having practiced as a therapist since 2009, I have witnessed the impact that this trauma-informed approach can have on the lives of the people I serve. I believe that all individuals maintain the capacity to heal themselves from within and am confident that EMDR therapy can expedite that process.
You Possess The Innate Ability To Heal
If you struggle with anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, grief, or other mental health challenges, EMDR treatment can help you reduce limiting self-beliefs and heal from internalized distress. To learn more about how I can help or to schedule a free consultation to find out if EMDR is the right kind of therapy for you, please contact me.
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