EMDR stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing.” This treatment modality was first developed in 1989 by Dr. Francine Shapiro. It is an 8 phase process which includes treatment planning, development of coping skills, reprocessing, and re-evaluation. This therapy approach mimics what our brain does in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) state of sleep, a critical point in our sleep cycle that processes information from our day. The eye movement stimulates both sides of our brain simultaneously (described as “bilateral stimulation”), which in turn processes memories and information. This reprocessing allows the information to be properly stored in our brain.
How Our Brain Works
Our brain goes through a series of steps to process and store information every day; when we experience a distressing event, our brain sometimes does not complete these steps to process the event and it then becomes stored improperly. This can sometimes result in negative perceptions of ourselves or develop triggers that are seemingly unrelated. Negative perceptions would include things like self-blame (“I know that the abuse wasn’t my fault, but I sometimes can’t help FEEL that it was my fault.”) Through EMDR therapy, the client can go through the steps of desensitizing themselves to reduce the emotional reactions they have to the stressor and reprocess the information more appropriately.
What EMDR Therapy Can Treat
EMDR has been found to be a highly effective form of therapy for individuals struggling with PTSD; but it is also effective in treating depression and anxiety. An individual does not have to experience severe trauma (i.e., active combat in war or childhood sexual abuse) to receive the benefits of EMDR therapy. Small traumas (i.e., being teased in elementary school, experiencing the death of a pet, or severe anxiety with public speaking) can also be addressed through this treatment modality. No trauma is ever “small”, because how we experience these events can certainly affect our psychological health significantly. More than 28 years later since its initial development, EMDR therapy has evolved to more than just eye movements. Bilateral stimulation can also occur through simple taps as well as through sounds.
What EMDR Therapy is NOT
EMDR is not a form of hypnosis. EMDR requires a client to be fully present in the room. When processing distressing memories, I want my client to recall these memories as if they are watching a movie or looking out of the window of a moving train. By being fully present in the session, it prevents the client from becoming re-traumatized and experiencing the memory again. EMDR therapy does not erase the memory or event. Just how the acronym “Desensitization and Reprocessing” describes, EMDR therapy desensitizes the emotional impact the memory has on our psychological well-being and reprocesses it so when we recall the memory of that particular event it can be viewed as merely an event that occurred in our lives rather than this looming stressor that we are trying to stuff down and forget.
Is EMDR Therapy Right For You?
EMDR therapy is quite effective for the treatment of trauma and has even shown a reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms. There are a variety of different therapeutic approaches that are just as effective, however research has shown that EMDR therapy can exhibit improvement in symptoms in less sessions compared to other treatment modalities. If you would like to know more about this, give Zoe a call at (916) 642-9343!