EMDR

What Is EMDR Therapy?

When we experience trauma, its emotional impact often remains unresolved in our psyche. Although the brain naturally wants to heal from past traumatic experiences, sometimes the process gets interrupted. And whenever painful memories get stuck in the nervous system, our Fight-Flight-or-Freeze Response is easily triggered, causing ongoing physical and emotional distress.  

Utilizing bilateral movements that help connect the two hemispheres of the brain, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helps us complete the nervous system’s cycle by processing and clearing these unresolved memories from our brain. Oftentimes, after only one session of EMDR therapy, clients report experiencing less distress when recalling the painful memory.  

Since being developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the 1980s, EMDR therapy has gained popularity throughout the mental health field. Today, EMDR is recognized by world-renowned organizations—such as the World Health Organization, American Psychological Association, and US Department Of Veteran Affairs—as an effective modality for the treatment of trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) anxiety, and depression. [1] 

What EMDR Therapy Sessions Look Like With Me 

To prepare clients for eye movement and desensitization techniques, I usually begin with more traditional talk therapy to get a history to determine what they’re struggling with. In instances where unresolved trauma is a factor, I will provide them with psychoeducation before getting EMDR treatment underway.

I usually ask clients to go back to the first time they felt like they weren’t good enough, even if this memory wasn’t the worst trauma they experienced. I will ask them to rate from 0-10 how distressing this memory is, as well as engage in a body scan to focus on what they are feeling when summoning this memory.

Next, while holding buzzers in their hands with eyes closed, the client will recall the memory while focusing on their bodily sensations and whatever negative beliefs or emotions they may be feeling. Holding the buzzers activates dual attention bilateral stimulation—the EMDR process that activates both hemispheres of the brain at once. Once the buzzers are turned off, I will ask them about what in particular they noticed. The client will tell me as much or as little as they feel comfortable sharing.

Depending upon whether the disturbing memory was a one-time or recurring event, we may decide to conduct multiple EMDR therapy sessions. Repeated sessions will diminish the activation that they associate with the event. Post-sessions, I recommend clients keep a journal and engage in mindfulness or distraction techniques that exert mental energy, as well as some form of physical movement. I advise them to also set time aside after a session to adequately decompress and recover.

Who Can Benefit From EMDR Therapy?

Teens and adults who are suffering from anxiety or depression as a result of unresolved trauma or PTSD can experience relief and healing with EMDR treatment relatively quickly. Research conducted by Kaiser Permanente concluded that six 50-minute sessions helped 100 percent of single-trauma victims and 77 percent of multiple-trauma victims resolve their PTSD. Other studies have shown that three 90-minute EMDR therapy sessions helped 84-90 percent of single trauma victims, and 12 sessions helped 77 percent of military veterans become PTSD-free. [2]

Working with an EMDR counselor, clients will develop self-awareness of how the mind and body are interconnected. What’s more, they will be able to better identify what triggers the nervous system and develop better coping techniques for handling stressful situations. In conjunction with EMDR therapy, clients will also learn grounding techniques such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, and guided visualizations that engage each of the five senses. These techniques can be used outside of EMDR counseling sessions when needed to further regulate and soothe the nervous system.

With any therapy that addresses trauma, there is always a concern that the process will make clients relive painful memories. With EMDR therapy, clients get to decide how much they want to share with the therapist about their experience. And because the process includes a component of desensitization, each time the memory is revisited, the physical and emotional reaction to it will diminish.

How EMDR Complements Talk Therapy 

In conjunction with talk therapy, EMDR treatment can be a winning combination in treating trauma-related disorders. With its top-down approach, talk therapy helps clients logically understand what’s causing their distress and provides them with coping skills. However, this approach isn’t always enough to address their trauma’s underlying emotions. Taking a bottom-up approach, EMDR therapy helps clients get in touch with and process these emotions, releasing any trauma trapped in the body via the nervous system.  

I have been in the field of counseling since 2005 and have worked with a wide variety of populations—from the unhoused and underserved to clients with access to resources. The one thing they all have in common is a desire to heal past emotional wounds and become more centered, stable, and grounded.

Realizing this, I wanted my practice to incorporate modalities that help get to the root of healing trauma quickly and effectively. Sharing EMDR therapy with clients has demonstrated that it has the potential to bring about transformation that can be life-changing.

Find Out How EMDR Therapy Can Help You 

To find out more about how EMDR therapy can help you, please visit my ​contact page or call (970) 305-5860 to schedule a free 20-minute consultation with me.

[1] https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy

[2] https://www.discovermagazine.com/mind/emdr-therapy-what-is-it-and-how-effective-is-the-treatment

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