Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing(EMDR)
What is EMDR and why is this so important? Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique designed to remove the profound effects of prior traumatic experiences.
When we suffer in silence, it is often that our emotional problems and destructive behavioral patterns feel like they are impossible to overcome when fueled by the ongoing influence of trauma. Change requires the working through these memories and/or experiences. EMDR is a powerfully effective therapy that helps in how we suffer with the pain from trauma, even when events are repressed or forgotten. It helps the unconscious and thought blocking defense mechanisms to back down and desired changes are able to be resolved and cleared out.
EMDR is particularly effective in the treatment of victims of accidents and crimes, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, PTSD, loss, performance anxiety and anxiety/panic. It is also becoming quietly wide known for use with people who suffer from eating disorders, history of cutting issues, as well as substance abuse disorders. Whether the trauma is a single incident or something to which someone is exposed over a long period of time, EMDR can provide quick and lasting relief. Before beginning EMDR treatment, you should gain a good therapeutic rapport with your therapist and feel comfortable.
The EMDR process varies for each person, and could be a faster or slower process depending on the issue or core issues in a person’s life. When discussing EMDR understand the process fully so you don’t get confused on why you might feel that you aren’t “finished” or “completed” yet.
There are 8 treatment phases of EMDR.
EMDR therapy involves attention to three time periods: the past, present, and future. Focus is given to past disturbing memories and related events. During this process there is focus to current situations that cause distress, and to developing the skills and attitudes needed for positive future actions. With EMDR therapy, these items are addressed using an eight-phase treatment approach.
Phase 1: The first phase is a history-taking session(s). The therapist assesses the client’s readiness and develops a treatment plan. Client and therapist identify possible targets for EMDR processing. These include upsetting memories and current situations that cause emotional frustration, anxiety, anger or sadness. Other targets may include related incidents in the past. Emphasis is placed on the development of specific skills and behaviors that will be needed by the client in future situations.
Phase 2: During the second phase of treatment, the therapist ensures that the client has several different ways of handling emotional distress. The therapist may teach the client a variety of imagery and stress reduction techniques the client can use during and between sessions. A goal of EMDR therapy is to produce rapid and effective change while the client maintains equilibrium during and between sessions.
As a therapist I personally like to give my client the tools to be able to self soothe immediately and use this process before beginning anything that would not be able to be contained or self-soothed when completed.
Phases 3-6: In phases three to six, a target is identified and processed using EMDR therapy procedures. These involve the client identifying three things:
- The vivid visual image related to the memory
- A negative belief about self
- Related emotions and body sensations.
In addition, together we will work on identifying a positive belief about the client that they will work on through their phases. The therapist helps the client rate the positive belief as well as the intensity of the negative emotions. After this, the client is instructed to focus on the image, negative thought, and body sensations while simultaneously engaging in EMDR processing using sets of bilateral stimulation. These sets may include eye movements, taps, or tones. The type and length of these sets is different for each client. At this point, the EMDR client is instructed to just notice whatever spontaneously happens.
This is the phase I like to call the “full meal”. This is where we work together and focus on everything from the way the client thinks to the way a person feels physically. It will also focus on the positive and negative belief systems and help to lower the negative belief and increase the positive beliefs. Together the session will allow a person to feel better about both the negative and positive issue, and be able to self contain, as well as self-soothe to deal with any residual issues that might come up to wait until the next appointment or that might occur during the time between appointments.
Phase 7: In phase seven, closure, the therapist asks the client to keep a log during the week. The log should document any related material that may arise. It serves to remind the client of the self-calming activities that were mastered in phase two.
Phase 8: The next session begins with phase eight. Phase eight consists of examining the progress made thus far. The EMDR treatment processes all related historical events, current incidents that elicit distress, and future events that will require different responses.
EMDR therapy is an accepted treatment for PTSD by the American Psychological Association (APA), Veterans Administration (VA), the Department of Defense (DOD) and The International Society for Traumatic Stress (ISTSS).